Instruments Used in Birth: What They Do, When They’re Used, and Why Understanding Them Matters
Instrumental birth is one of the most poorly understood aspects of modern maternity care. For many parents, forceps or ventouse are only introduced at the point they are recommended — often during an intense, time-pressured moment.
Yet these tools have clear clinical indications, specific mechanical functions, and predictable implications for birth experience and recovery. Understanding them antenatally allows parents to engage with decisions from a place of knowledge rather than fear.
Understanding hCG and Progesterone: Your First Pregnancy Hormones
When you first become pregnant, your body undergoes a remarkable hormonal transformation — a delicate, finely tuned process that sustains early pregnancy and supports the development of new life. Two key hormones take the lead in these first crucial weeks: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone. Understanding their roles helps explain everything from positive pregnancy tests to the early pregnancy symptoms many women experience.
The Truth About Private Pregnancy Scans: What the Latest BBC Report Means for You
A recent BBC News investigation has put private pregnancy scan clinics under the spotlight, revealing serious concerns about unregulated providers giving false reassurance and missing critical issues in pregnancy.