06/03/2026
Midwives love research.
In fact, we rely on it.
But every now and then , a study gets published and we find ourselves smiling because it confirms something midwives have been observing for generations.
Delayed cord clamping.
Waterbirth.
Routine episiotomy.
These aren't new ideas to midwives. They're examples of how careful observation, lived experience, and evidence can work together. Good evidence doesn't replace wisdom. It helps explain why the wisdom has worked.
References:
ACOG Committee Opinion No. 684 (2017) - Delayed Cord Clamping After Birth
Anderson et al.(2011) - Effects od Delayed Cord Clamping on Neonatal Outcomes
BMC Pregnancy and Birth (2023) - Water Immersion in Labor and Birth
BMC Pregnancy and Birth (2025) - Network Meta-Analysis: Routine vs Selective vs Non-Episiotomy Strategies