Chasing the ongoing consequences of the cascade of intervention during labour and birth

Abstract

This workshop will explore the work being undertaken by an international team of researchers on the short and long term effects of Intervention during childbirth on the health of women and children (in particular child immune responses). We will present four linked but discrete papers reporting on analysis from a single complete data set that includes all women (n = 500 000) giving birth in NSW, Australia from 2001–2016. (1) The effect of medical and operative birth interventions on child health outcomes up to 15 years of age: A linked data population-based cohort study with sibling analysis (2) The short and long term maternal and child health outcomes following induction of labour compared to spontaneous onset of labour in a low risk population: A 15 year linked data population based cohort study (3) The effect of medical and operative birth interventions on psychiatric and behavioural outcomes for children up to 15 years following birth (4) The effect of medical and operative birth interventions on maternal health outcomes in the fifteen years following birth The four studies will be presented (15 minutes each) followed by an interactive discussion of four important questions (60 minutes): (1) What future research needs to be undertaken? (2) How do we shape these messages for health providers who counsel women? (3) How do we engage with women to re-message and re-frame the normal birth discourse in a way that is inclusive and empowering and not divisive? (4) How do we work with consumer groups and the media to provide an evidence based projection of the implications of intervention during birth? Butchers paper and post-it-notes will be used along with group work. Feedback will occur to the entire group with the aim to inform a discussion paper (total 2 hrs).