This week on Think: Health, we are exploring hospitals, and the effect they have on labouring women.

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the cold, shiny, hard surfaces subconciously prevent natural labour, and could go some way to explaining high intervention rates.

We then put theory into practice, and tour a new birth unit in Sydney’s north shore to find out the effect alternative designed units have on birth.

Speakers:

Maralyn Foureur – Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (Full interview)

Athena Hammond – PhD student, Faculty of Health, UTS (Full interview)

Michael Nicholl – Clinical Director for the Divison of Women’s, Children’s & Family Health at Royal North Shore Hospital

Davis Harte – PhD student, Faculty of Health, UTS (Full interview)