As a nurse and midwife, Brooke Henshall has a passion for understanding physiological birth, and how the experience is shared among women and care providers.
She is currently leading the PRIMROSE Project, which explores how physiological birth is understood, valued and supported within Australia’s maternity care system.
“Physiological birth generally refers to low risk and low intervention childbirth. And while it is widely referenced in maternity care, it remains inconsistently defined and understood,” says Brooke.
“Our research highlights the diverse perspectives of midwives, obstetricians, doulas, women and support people, showing how both practice and perception shape the birth experience.”
The research also revealed variations in what practices and interventions are considered compatible with physiological birth.
“We discovered that these differences could influence not only how care is delivered, but also how women experience labour and birth,” Brooke says.
Her findings suggest a need for a clearer, shared definition of physiological birth to guide clinical practice and improve communication among all stakeholders.
“Ultimately, I hope this research helps to re-centre trust in birth as a normal physiological process within contemporary maternity care,” she adds.
