S5, E6: Understanding High-Risk Pregnancy: Induction, Assisted Birth and Caesarean Sections Explained

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Dr Jo Senior, Specialty Doctor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, to discuss what it means to have a high-risk pregnancy and explain some of the most common interventions during labour and birth.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: what “high risk” means in pregnancy; when induction of labour may be recommended; what happens during induction; how induced labour differs from spontaneous labour; the benefits and risks of induction; when an instrumental or assisted birth may be recommended; the risks and benefits of assisted delivery compared with spontaneous birth; when a caesarean section may be offered; the questions mothers should ask when deciding between an assisted birth and a caesarean section; and what these interventions may mean for future pregnancies.

Biographies:

Dr Jo Senior

Dr Jo Senior is a Specialty Doctor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with 14 years’ experience working in maternity care. She is passionate about improving antenatal education and reducing psychological birth trauma. Dr Senior is also the mother of a two-year-old son.

Resources

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) https://www.rcog.org.uk

NHS Inducing Labour https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/inducing-labour/

Birth Trauma Association https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org

About the Host

Theo Clarke hosts Breaking the Taboo and A Thread of One’s Own. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford, where she chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and has been included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list three years in a row. Theo is a high profile campaigner on improving maternity care and her petition with Louise Thompson resulted in the UK Government creating a new appointment for the first ever Maternity Commissioner.

Follow Theo: https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell:

https://www.irwinmitchell.com/

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP, midwife or obstetrician for individual medical advice.

Website:https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Founder and host: Theo Clarke

Producer: Adam Woodward

Researchers: Kate Kenyon

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter