30/05/2026
Continuous fetal monitoring has caused more unnecessary C‑sections than it has ever prevented bad outcomes.
And that’s not an exaggeration — that’s what decades of research show.
Continuous EFM:
**increases C‑section and vacuum/forceps rates
**does not improve outcomes for low‑risk pregnancies
**creates a constant stream of “concerning” tracings that aren’t actually predictive of distress
**keeps parents immobilized, anxious, and dependent on staff interpretation
**is used more for liability protection than for safety. Read this one again.
IT IS USED MORE FOR LIABILITY PROTECTION THAN FOR SAFETY.
Meanwhile, intermittent auscultation — the method used in countries with better maternal outcomes — is just as safe for healthy pregnancies without the cascade of interventions.
20/05/2026
To be clear, lack of prep isn't THE driving force for trauma and neither is prep the absolute prevention for trauma.
However, birth prep can absolutely offer protection against some birth trauma.
Birth is a normal physiological process. It can be beautiful and miraculous. But it is intense. And there are many variables. There are many variations of healthy births. And occasionally, things can become complicated.
Knowing what to expect in birth is half of preventing birth trauma. If you're unsure of what is really happenjng in your body during the intensity of birth, it can make even a textbook healthy birth feel traumatic.
When you know what to expect, have tools for coping, and information to make truly informed decisions about care, even if you have a difficult birth, it is less likely to be traumatic.
What can 20-50 hours of birth prep look like?
✨️ A book can take 5-10 hours to read, read 2-3 good books about birth
✨️ Work with a doula, this typically includes 2 two-hour prenatals
✨️ Take a comprehensive childbirth class which is often 4-10 or more hours.
✨️ Light exercise or walking for 30 mins per day most days
✨️ 2-3 one-hour consults with midwives and OBs to find the right provider for you
But some still think that's too much time?
How much are you investing in birth?
We also know not all people spend that much time on wedding planning. But one survey did find that to be an average.
