The Obs Pod

My attention has recently been drawn to a report - The 'so what' of maternity data. Join me as I discuss my thoughts & reflections on the report as well as how we may equip ourselves better to understand data and make it useful. Want to know more: https://www.hqip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-So-What-of-Maternity-Data-report-FINAL.pdf https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/up...

Are we obsessed with blood clots , thrombosis in pregnancy? Why do we worry & what can we do about them. Want to explore more? Reducing the risk of venous thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth patient information leaflet | RCOG gtg-37b-1.pdf (rcog.org.uk) gtg-37a.pdf (rcog.org.uk) Antenatal venous thromboembolism - Crosby - 2021 - The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist - Wiley Online Library h...

When should you or shouldn't you travel during pregnancy ? What are the issues you need to consider when planning a trip whether it be for work, family or holiday, home or abroad? Want to know more? https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/lrupol45/air-travel-update_v4.pdf https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/travelling/ https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/pregnant-t...

Do you know your anatomy? When we doctors and midwives use the word perineum do you know what we are talking about? Here I explore some research on the level of knowledge people have about female body parts. Wan to know more? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/30/most-britons-cannot-name-parts-vulva-survey https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-021-04727-9 https://eveappea...

Why do we screen for HIV in pregnancy ? Here I give a little thought to women who are pregnant and HIV positive and how much their care has changed over the course of my career. Want to know more? https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/hiv-and-pregnancy-patient-information-leaflet/ https://www.bhiva.org/file/5f1aab1ab9aba/BHIVA-Pregnancy-guidelines-2020-3rd-...

Can you run in pregnancy &how do you get back into running afterwards? Here I chat to Megan doing a PhD on running postpartum, what advice is there, do we know about it & how could we be more supportive & encouraging? Please help if you are>18yrs, had a baby in the last 2years & ran at least 30min a  week pre pregnancy by answering Megan's e survey https://cardiffmet.eu.qua...

What are platelets, why are they important and why do you get packed off to the obstetrician if your count is low? Here I talk about thrombocytopenia or low platelets & th eimplications. Want to know more? https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2018/04/Remifentanil-PCA-for-Women-in-Labour-October-2017.pdf https://elearning.rcog.org.uk/sites/default/files/Haematological disorders/Myers_TOG_2009...

I have previously discussed caesarean birth in Episode 11 a bit about how my thinking and practice in Caesarean birth has change dover the years. I have also talked about caesarean rates in Episode 39. This week join me as a guest on the Birth-Ed podcast as I talk all things caesarean birth, why you might need one, why you might choose one and what to expect on the day. https://www.buzzsprout.com/...

It suddenly occurred to me that one of the key people behind the scenes in my career had been left out of TheObsPod story. In this episode join me as I chat to MrObsPod about the impact my career as an obstetrician has had on him and our family life. Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast pr...

It's my birthday week so I am reflecting on birth stories and the story of my own arrival in the world. Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore my back catalogue of episodes and feel free to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. If y...

What are we talking about when we say we are doing The WHO? What is it? When did it start & why is it important? Want to know more? https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa0810119 https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/safe-surgery-saves-lives-frequently-asked-questions https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery/tool-and-reso...

I wanted to share this episode of WildcardWS podcast with my friend Gill Phillips. If you haven't already listened to her podcast its a set of incredible thought provoking conversations. This one is a fantastic conversation with a fellow obstetrician Alison Wright currently working on the iDecide tool a tool to help ensure  informed consent in labour. Want to listen to some more? https://whos...

For International day of the Midwife I am reflecting on the theme of One Hundred Years of Progress.  Have we progressed, how much have we changed and how much of that change is a good thing? Want to know more? https://idm2022.com/ https://adc.bmj.com/content/88/12/1034 https://pmj.bmj.com/content/78/919/311 Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe...

This episode looks at the emergency situation that is Shoulder Dystocia when there is difficulty with the birth of the baby's shouders after the head has been born. Want to know more? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTz2eIiZOL8 https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/ewgpnmio/gtg_42.pdf https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/shoulder-dystocia-patient-information-...

To mark Maternal Mental Health Week 2022 I had a wonderful conversation with Maria Viner CEO of Mothers for Mothers a maternal mental health charity Trigger warning - This fascination chat covers difficult but important topics of baby loss, maternal mental health, infant mental health and the covid pandemic.  Want to know more? https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/maternal-mental-health-a...

Well here we are who would have believed I would reach Episode 100! Here I reflect on my podcast journey, who is listening, where you listen, who you are & have I achieved what I hoped? Want to know more? https://matexp.org.uk/the-matexp-journey/the-obs-pod/ Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on you...

Here I am pondering why we don't talk more about sex during pregnancy and after birth? I explore sex during pregnancy and  I am joined by expert urogynaecologist consultant Swati Jha from Sheffield to talk about a range of issues such as sex after birth, the impact of birth choices on sex and how to get help if you have problems with sex. Want to know more? Female sexual dysfunction (wiley.co...

NICE guidance suggests we should be seeing women for their first appointment before 10 weeks of pregnancy. Here I talk to Rose Ngadze  O&G doctor about her Book Before Ten campaign run with her  supervisor Dr Jivraj. The Book Before Ten campaign encourages women to see their midwife before they are ten weeks or two and half months pregnant. The campaign also encourages healthcare providers to...

Why are awards in the NHS or healthcare becoming common, are they a good thing or can they cause problems? Want to know more? You only have to google NHS awards and a myriad of categories and types pop up! If you have enjoyed my podcast please do share your thoughts by leaving a review on your podcast provider or get in touch. I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. if you have found my ideas help...

I can hardly believe its two years since I started my podcast journey. I'm starting to think about how to celebrate my one hundredth episode,  and since the best way I can imagine is to ask my audience - yes you.....I need your help!! So get in touch Twitter @TheObsPod Insta @TheObsPod Email TheObsPod@gmail.com Maybe send me a voice memo, ask me a question, suggest a topic for an episode, tel...

March is the end of the NHS Financial year. Does it matter to me as a clinician? Here I  explore budgets, end of year money and why with a NHS annual spend of £136billion we still need to be thrifty. Want to know more https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/key-facts-figures-nhs https://www.hfma.org.uk/docs/default-source/publications/nhs-efficiency-map-updated-january-2017.pdf?sfvrsn=0 If you ha...

One of the possible signs of labour is breaking your waters - actually this happens less often that you might think. Here I discuss what happens next and what advice we are or are not giving women on their options if the waters break before contractions start. Want to know more? https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/what-expect-when-your-waters-break https://www.cochranelibrary...

Through my work at the London Maternity Clinical Network I became friends with Laura James. Amongst other things Laura is an NCT Practitioner and a champion for maternity voice partnerships. In this episode we explore some common assumptions about NCT & talk about the importance of women's voices. Want to know more? For evidence-based information about labour, birth and parenting, further...

You are what you eat, or so they say, so what should we be eating or avoiding during pregnancy? Listen whilst I explore this topic that as obstetricians we can tend to overlook. Want to know more? https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-healthy-eating-and-vitamin-supplements-in-pregnancy.pdf   https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/have-...

Sparked by some comments on social media about what is and isn't appropriate work wear for healthcare staff today I am chatting about all things uniform and examining the NHS Uniform policy. Want to explore more? https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Uniforms-and-Workwear-Guidance-2-April-2020.pdf If you have enjoyed my podcast please do share your thoughts by leaving a review...