The Obs Pod

In this episode I talk with my wonderful collelague consultant midwife Frances Rivers about what the role looks like on the ground and why it matters for women, midwives, and obstetricians. We dig into evidence, inequality, and personalised care, and how respectful conversations can keep trust even when choices sit outside recommendations. 
• what a consultant midwife does and why the role was created 
• the four pillars: clinical expertise, leadership, research, education 
• how women can access consultant midwife support through their midwife 
• disparities in place of birth by ethnicity and why awareness matters 
• the evidence for midwife-led units, home birth and birth centres 
• why birth centre rates are falling and what leadership can change 
• working with healthy tension between midwifery and obstetrics 
• personalised care when national guidance and evidence do not align 
• freebirth, disengagement from care and the difference between information and coercion 
• communication that starts with yes, continuity of care and being heard 
Want to know more?
The role of the consultant midwife
https://rcm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/JGC2520-CM-Role-publication-v6-DIGITAL-1.pdf
Frances's research into ethnicity and place of birth
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-024-06977-z
A recent article by Frances and others about midwifery unit useage
https://www.all4maternity.com/racialised-womens-use-of-midwifery-units-barriers-and-facilitators/
https://birthrights.org.uk/

it'd be fantastic if you could subscribe, rate, and review on whatever platform you find your podcasts, as well as recommending the Obspod to anyone you think might find it interesting. 

Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth.
Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small.
Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor.
If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on TheObsPod@gmail.com Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience.
My bea...

We explain why palpitations and a fast heart rate are so common in pregnancy, and how to separate normal physiological change from signs that need urgent assessment. We walk through the questions we ask, the tests we choose, and how we stay reassuring while still taking symptoms seriously. 
• normal pregnancy physiology and a typical 10 to 20 bpm rise in resting pulse 
• why a high heart rate is a general sign of illness rather than a diagnosis 
• infection screening in pregnancy including urine and chest symptoms 
• iron deficiency anaemia and why low haemoglobin drives tachycardia 
• thyroid function tests as part of a sensible blood work-up 
• when breathlessness and oxygen levels point towards lung causes 
• recognising red flags for pulmonary embolism and checking for leg clots 
• ECG as a snapshot and why intermittent symptoms may need longer monitoring 
• what a 24-hour tape involves and how an event log helps interpretation 
• likely results including sinus rhythm and sinus tachycardia 
• rarer arrhythmias in pregnancy including SVT and atrial fibrillation or flutter 
• treatment options including carotid sinus massage, medication, and MDT care 
Want to know more?
https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/heart-palpitations/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470211824054617
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/supraventricular-tachycardia-svt/
https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/leaflets-a-z/bisoprolol/

it'd be fantastic if you could subscribe, rate and review on whatever platform you find your podcasts, as well as recommending the Obspod podcast to anyone you think might find it interesting.  

Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth.
Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small.
Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor.
If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on TheObsPod@gmail.com Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience.
My bea...

In this update I talk about why induction of labour is such a charged topic and why the real-world experience can feel long, uncomfortable, and out of step with what the evidence promises. We explain how drug shortages and new research are pushing the NHS towards oral and mechanical methods that could make induction more streamlined and less intrusive. 

What if you could take a tablet to start your labour?
Would you be willing to help shape treatment for the future by participating in research ? 
Want to know more?
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng207/resources/inducing-labour-pdf-66143719773637
https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/maternity/moli-study

If you have, it'd be fantastic if you could subscribe, rate and review on whatever platform you find your podcasts, as well as recommending the ObsPod to anyone you think might find it interesting. If you've enjoyed my episodes and by chance you do have a tiny bit to spare, you can now contribute to keep the podcast going and keep it free via my link to buy me a coffee. If you want to get in touch to suggest topics for future episodes, you can find me at the Obspod on Twitter and Instagram, and you can email me theobspod at gmail.com.

Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth.
Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small.
Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor.
If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on TheObsPod@gmail.com Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience.
My bea...

We talk frankly about why medicines in pregnancy and breastfeeding feel frightening, even though most women take something during pregnancy and many treatments are genuinely safe. We break down why the evidence is often patchy, how to think about benefit versus risk, and where to find clear information you can trust. 

• British Pharmacological Society statement and the scale of medicine use in pregnancy 
• why pregnant and breastfeeding women are often excluded from trials 
• how the BNF language can feel alarming and unhelpful 
• benefit versus risk and why untreated illness can be the bigger danger 
• common prescriptions in pregnancy such as antibiotics for UTIs, anti sickness drugs and reflux medicines 
• how pregnancy physiology can change dosing and drug clearance 
• women’s anxiety when advice is unclear or conflicting 
• practical resources: BUMPS for patients and UKTIS for health professionals 
• why considering research participation can improve care for future women
Want to know more:
https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/
https://uktis.org/
https://www.bps.ac.uk/fileadmin/uploads/bps/Policy_statements/BPS_Position_Statement-_Medications_in_Pregnancy_and_Breastfeeding__1_.pdf 
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/2/e004365

If you have, it'd be fantastic if you could subscribe, rate and review on whatever platform you find your podcasts, as well as recommending the Obspod to anyone you think might find it interesting. If you want to get in touch to suggest topics for future episodes, you can find me at the Obspod on Instagram, and you can email me atobspod at gmail.com. If you've enjoyed my episodes and by chance you do have a tiny bit to spare, you can now contribute to keep the podcast going and keep it free via my link to buy me a coffee. Don't feel under any obligation. But if you'd like to contribute, you now can. 

Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth.
Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small.
Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor.
If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on TheObsPod@gmail.com Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience.
My bea...

We explore what low amniotic fluid really means at different stages of pregnancy and when to act, when to watch, and how to personalise decisions. We share why routine induction for isolated low fluid may not improve outcomes and how to navigate monitoring, growth checks, and timing of birth.

• defining oligohydramnios and anhydramnios
• how gestation changes risk
• ruling out ruptured membranes with history and tests
• expert scans, infections, and maternal factors
• why fluid matters for lung development
• isolated low fluid late in pregnancy
• induction evidence and unplanned caesarean risk
• growth surveillance and timing around due date
• continuous heartbeat monitoring considerations
• practical reassurance and shared decision-making
Want to know more:
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tog.70021

Subscribe, rate, and review on your podcast app. Recommend The ObsPod to anyone who might find it interesting. Find the programme notes for links. Contact us on Twitter and Instagram @theObspod or email theObspod@gmail.com. If you can, support the show via Buy Me A Coffee.

Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth.
Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small.
Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor.
If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on TheObsPod@gmail.com Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience.
My bea...