In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop

Why are so many women told that their labour must be started artificially? And what does the evidence actually say about waiting for labour to begin in its own time?

In 'In Your Own Time', midwife, researcher, and author Dr Sara Wickham explores one of the most important – and increasingly common – interventions in modern maternity care: the induction of labour.

Drawing on decades of experience in midwifery, research, and education, Dr Wickham examines the evidence behind due dates, induction policies and the management of late pregnancy. She looks at how current practices developed, questions some widely held assumptions, and explains what the research really shows.

Clear, thoughtful and grounded in evidence, this book helps listeners understand:

• how due dates became so central to modern maternity care

• why induction of labour is now so common

• what the research says about the benefits and risks of induction

• how policies and guidelines influence birth decisions

• why waiting for labour to begin in its own time may sometimes be the safest option.

Above all, In Your Own Time aims to help women, families, and birth professionals understand the evidence and feel more confident in navigating decisions about the end of pregnancy.

Chapters cover topics including:

• The advantages of the waiting days

• Why doesn't every woman get to birth in her own way?

• Guidelines, evidence and listening to women

• Due dates, windows and why the computer shouldn't decide

• Induction in late pregnancy - your baby isn't like a pumpkin

• Does my baby look big in this?

• Too old, too fat, too Black, too risky?

• Addressing the induction epidemic.

Calm, balanced, and accessible, this audiobook offers an informed and compassionate exploration of one of the most important questions in contemporary maternity care.