Ep. 22 - Dr Kirsten Small- CTG doesn't reduce cesareans

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Kirsten Small's PhD research was on CTG (formerly described as EFM- electronic fetal monitoring). In this episode we discuss what her research found and despite CTG not having the outcomes intended when it was 1st used to monitor women in labour, it is still routinely used in institutions. We discuss the history of obstetrics and the silence by her colleagues around this research. You can find Dr Small's research and referenced reading during the podcast here: Small, K. A., Sidebotham, M., Fenwick, J., & Gamble, J. (2021). Midwives must, obstetricians may: An ethnographic exploration of how policy documents organise intrapartum fetal monitoring practice. Women and Birth, in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2021.05.001 

Small, K. A., Sidebotham, M., Fenwick, J., & Gamble, J. (2020, Sept). Intrapartum cardiotocograph monitoring and perinatal outcomes for women at risk: Literature review. Women and Birth, 33(5), 411-418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.10.002 

Murphy-Lawless, J. (1998). Reading birth and death. Cork University Press.