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Dr Kirsten Small PhD

@birthsmalltalk.bsky.social
179 followers 124 following 333 posts

Retired Australian obs/gyn. Research, writer, educator, feminist. Fetal Monitoring expert. Keeper of chickens and secrets. Find all my things - education.birthsmalltalk.com/bst-li…

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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
There's an entirely different way of thinking about maternity services. Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care: Putting Risk In Its Place provides an opportunity to look differently at the work you do. Ask your uni or hospital library to put it on the shelves. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Never miss a blog post, a workshop, or an important evidence update from me again. Subscribe to the Birth Small Talk newsletter and I'll be in touch once a month. Fetal Monitoring information you can rely on - for your birth or for your practice. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
There's an entirely different way of thinking about maternity services. Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care: Putting Risk In Its Place provides an opportunity to look differently at the work you do. Ask your uni or hospital library to put it on the shelves. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
BirthSmallTalk is your reliable guide to the evidence about fetal monitoring (and more). Subscribe to stay on top of the latest research. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
There's an entirely different way of thinking about maternity services. Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care: Putting Risk In Its Place provides an opportunity to look differently at the work you do. Ask your uni or hospital library to put it on the shelves. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Never miss a blog post, a workshop, or an important evidence update from me again. Subscribe to the Birth Small Talk newsletter and I'll be in touch once a month. Fetal Monitoring information you can rely on - for your birth or for your practice. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
There's an entirely different way of thinking about maternity services. Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care: Putting Risk In Its Place provides an opportunity to look differently at the work you do. Ask your uni or hospital library to put it on the shelves. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Academic junk mail came as a surprise when it first started happening to me. Now I'm used to seeing a dozen or so of these most days. I particularly love the ones from dead authors like George Orwell!
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Life is full in very lovely ways - but I can't fit it all in anymore. Changes are coming, including for the Birth Small Talk Blog. Comment BLOG and I'll send you the link so you know what is going on, what is changing and what isn't.
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
BirthSmallTalk is your reliable guide to the evidence about fetal monitoring (and more). Subscribe to stay on top of the latest research. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Tell me what you most want to see sorted out! I'm currently working on 👗Perfectly practical pockets in all women's clothing 🛡️Fetal monitoring options that actually work 🏡Self-cleaning houses #WorldDomination #JustForFun #NoPromises
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
There's an entirely different way of thinking about maternity services. Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care: Putting Risk In Its Place provides an opportunity to look differently at the work you do. Ask your uni or hospital library to put it on the shelves. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
There's increased awareness of confusion between maternal and fetal heart rates during CTG monitoring. New research suggests adding maternal heart rate data may negatively impact CTG interpretation. Read more on the blog, including my suggestions to address this issue. wp.me/pbCorF-19q
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
There's a strong belief that recording every single fetal heart beat rather than a patchy recording with loss of signal leads to better outcomes for babies. New research examines whether this is true - and their findings surprised even me! birthsmalltalk.com/2026/05/13/i...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
My wish for women who want to or are on their way to becoming mothers: May your journey to and through motherhood be surrounded by joy, confidence, security, and love. My commitment is to keep working at building a world where this is true for all. #MothersDay2026 #Mothers
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Never miss a blog post, a workshop, or an important evidence update from me again. Subscribe to the Birth Small Talk newsletter and I'll be in touch once a month. Fetal Monitoring information you can rely on - for your birth or for your practice. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Here it is in print at last! Along with fellow obstetricians Susan Bewley and Annie Lyerly, I contributed a chapter called CTG monitoring: Obstetricians and the Risk Problem. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it as it looks really interesting! link.springer.com/book/9783032...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Midwifery is a cost-effective public health intervention - all around the world. Every woman should have access to a midwife locally, and every midwife should be supported by a brilliant team of midwives who have their back. #IDM2026 #ICM #Midwife #1MillionMore
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I collect goddess figurines. I enjoy what they suggest about cultural views on women and power. Meet Kali, the fierce mother goddess—protective and powerful, unlike the meek and mild depictions in Christianity. I moved her to my office last week for some serious "don't mess with my tribe" energy!
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Today is my favourite sort of day. Time to sit on the deck with the family, have a cuppa, bounce the GrandBaby on my knee, pat Lucy the Wonder Dog, and enjoy autumn sun.
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
What crafty goodness is on your plans for this month? #BendigoWoollenMills #knitting #Socks
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Central fetal monitoring: Do you love it or loath it? I have some serious concerns... This week on the blog - my reasons for being worried about the safety and ethics of central fetal monitoring. wp.me/pbCorF-17a
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Reposted by Dr Kirsten Small PhD
Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
AI scribes. Greta blog by @benngooch.bsky.social substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
I Was an Enthusiastic Early Adopter of AI Scribes. Here’s Why I Stopped
A GP reflects on what eighteen months of ambient scribing taught them about the consultation they thought they already understood.
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
My latest paper - a literature review led by midwife and PhD candidate Anna Melamed. She found that risk assessment interventions in the UK lack solid evidence and may even harm women by diverting them from midwifery care. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.mi... #Midwifery #Research #Healthcare
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Anna Melamed led this comprehensive review of antenatal risk assessment and classification interventions in the UK. The promise of better outcomes from risk management is seductive - but the evidence doesn't stack up. I'm chuffed to have been a member of the writing team. doi.org/10.1016/j.mi...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
BirthSmallTalk is your reliable guide to the evidence about fetal monitoring (and more). Subscribe to stay on top of the latest research. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Easter Bunny is a myth but the idea keeps hopping along... So too does the myth that CTG monitoring saves lives and prevents brain injury. But there's less chocolate involved. #ChocolateNOTCTGs #BunniesForEvidenceBasedMaternityCare #RabbitsAgainstNonsense
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
How are you spending your time this Easter? I'm hatching plans to overthrow the patriarchy, planting seeds for new research projects, and celebrating new ideas being born into the world. And eating chocolate...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Monitoring Your Baby In Labour is your evidence-based guide to choosing the best fetal monitoring options for your birth. Comment BOOK and I'll send you information about where to get your copy from
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Let's talk about the history of how CTG use rose to prominence in maternity care. It has something to do with ultrasounds, moon exploration, washing machines, President Kennedy's son, and husbands in birth rooms... birthsmalltalk.com/2026/03/11/s...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
For a limited time only - you can buy the eBook version of Monitoring Your Baby in Labour for only $0.99! Grab your copy from Amazon / Kindle while you can as the price goes up tomorrow!
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Never miss a blog post, a workshop, or an important evidence update from me again. Subscribe to the Birth Small Talk newsletter and I'll be in touch once a month. Fetal Monitoring information you can rely on - for your birth or for your practice. education.birthsmalltalk.com/newsletter
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Monitoring Your Baby In Labour is currently on sale! Grab the eBook from Kindle for $0.99 #Book #Pregnancy #Birth #FetalMonitoring #Doula #Midwife
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
The introductory launch price won't last long! Get your hands on the eBook at this price today #MonitoringYourBabyInLabour #Book #Sale #Kindle #Amazon #eBook
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Reposted by Dr Kirsten Small PhD
Global Abortion Rights News @globalabortionnews.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Justice for Izabela! A Polish court has sentenced three doctors to prison over the 2021 death of Izabela from sepsis during a 22-week miscarriage, after doctors refused to help. "This was a case involving extraordinary negligence, a pure disregard for the most basic and fundamental medical duties."
france24.com
Polish doctors jailed for denying woman abortion
A Polish court on Tuesday sentenced three doctors to prison sentences over the 2021 death of a pregnant woman, which sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of the country's restrictive abort...
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
I had carefully mapped out my book launch to start on Friday . But it turns out that some people are good sleuths and terrible secret keepers. The book is already officially a best seller on Kindle! #Book #Author #Kindle #BestSeller #MonitoringYourBabyInLabour
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Follow for trustworthy and accessible information to support YOUR decision making. #Birth #Pregnancy #Maternity #Midwife #FetalMonitoring
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
I'm so excited to be able to finally share my book with you! Mark March 6 off in your calendar and get ready.... Monitoring Your Baby In Labour: An Evidence-Based Guide to Help You Plan Your Birth #Book #ComingSoon #MonitoringYourBabyInLabour
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
I'm proud to announce a new paper from one of my PhD candidates Bonnamy, J., Dart, J., Palermo, C., Molloy, R., Small, K., & Connell, C. (2026). ‘They don’t know my body’: health consumer recognition and escalation of acute deterioration – a systematic review. BMJ Quality & Safety. bit.ly/4aYQt6W
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Come join the club for Difficult Women. Lifetime membership is free. Guaranteed to annoy the right people. #DifficultWoman #GraceTame
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Dr Kirsten Small PhD @birthsmalltalk.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Three strikes and you are out! How a guideline meant to make maternity care safer undermined good communication. Maybe it's time to use better approaches to understand why poor outcomes happen? birthsmalltalk.com/2026/02/25/t...
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Reposted by Dr Kirsten Small PhD
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
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