In this episode, Dr Rachel Reed and I, discuss the all too common "diagnosis" of Gestational Diabetes, and how this affects a woman's treatment pathway, often leading to induction, women being treated as a source of risk for their baby, and the cascade of intervention. Rachel explains how so many women have come to be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, why else we're seeing so many women having an induction of labour, medical risk, and birth trauma. We discuss the ceremonial practice of birth, the "identity crisis" midwives are currently going through, and why birth is the forgotten feminist issue. 

You can read more from Rachel at her blog midwifethinking: MidwifeThinking

Her recent books are: Why Induction Matters and Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage

She also co-hosts the podcast The Midwives' Cauldron 

You can see Dr Rachel Reed formerly from USC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery was interviewed for Birth Time: The Documentary. She states:

“In Australia we have a heavily medicalised maternity system that leads to a lot of interventions for women, many of whom do not particularly want or need them,” said the Senior Lecturer in Midwifery.

“There have been reports of coercion and manipulation. Often, it’s not done intentionally – rather more as an attempt to mitigate medical risk. But what is not counted is the emotional risks facing women if they experience disrespectful care.

“Birth trauma is not about how a woman births. It’s about how she was treated during birth. There’s more to trauma than a physically traumatic experience.”