32. How to Do Your Own Research for an Empowered Birth and Informed Decisions
“There’s a study for everything.”
Yeah. That’s the problem.
You’ve probably heard (or Googled) something like, “Studies show epidurals lead to...” or “Evidence proves induction is safer after X weeks...” and before you know it, you’re five tabs deep, overwhelmed, and wondering if your birth plan should just be “survive and see what happens.”
But I need you to realize this: doing your own research isn’t about becoming a PhD overnight. It’s about knowing where to look, who to trust, and how to tell solid evidence from something that sounds smart but… isn’t. And I promise, you don’t need a lab coat or an academic subscription to figure this out.
This blog will walk you through:
Where to actually look for trustworthy research (hello, Cochrane—not TikTok),
How to spot research you can trust (and what to ignore),
Why trusting those who read the fine print for a living is not a weakness—it's a flex,
And how to sniff out bias like a truffle pig of truth.
You’ll leave with tools, clarity, and confidence. And yes, I’ve got a free cheat sheet with all the goodies waiting for you at the end.
You Want Evidence, Not Opinions—and You're Tired of the Noise
You’re not just “curious” about your birth choices. You want to make informed decisions that feel solid—like something you could confidently explain to your provider, your partner, or your mom who keeps sending you scary YouTube links.
But the internet is a wild place.
One second, you’re learning about delayed cord clamping, and the next, someone’s swearing that hospital birth is a death sentence and doulas are witch doctors with Wi-Fi. (We’re not. We’re often evidence-loving nerds with heating pads.)
You want clarity. Facts. Data that doesn’t talk down to you. And you want it in a way that doesn’t make your brain melt.
That’s where the real research lives. And I’m going to show you how to find it—without the drama.
Start with Reliable Sources: Where the Good Stuff Hides
Before you start clicking every blog with “Mommy” in the URL or watching influencers with stethoscopes they bought on Etsy, here’s where to begin.
Top-tier, trusted research sources for birth-related evidence:
Cochrane Library – Think of it as the gold standard. They review all the studies and break them down into language that’s surprisingly digestible (for academia).
PubMed – A massive database of medical research. Great for finding original studies—less great if you don’t love sifting through 500-word abstracts with zero commas.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Government-funded, science-backed, no nonsense. Bonus: their summaries often include plain-English explanations.
Sara Wickham – A midwife, PhD, and total legend when it comes to interpreting birth research. Her blog and books are both clear and comforting.
Dr. Rachel Reed + Sophie Messager – Experts who live in the sweet spot between science, intuition, and lived experience.
Pro tip: Bookmark these. They’re the secret weapon in your empowered birth toolkit.
How to Know if a Study is Actually Good (Not Just Published)
Spoiler: published doesn’t mean truthful. A lot of research makes it to print—but that doesn’t mean you should base your birth choices on it.
Here’s what to watch for:
✅ Sample size – Was this study done on 12 people or 12,000? (Bigger = better.)
✅ Funding – Who paid for it? If a formula company is funding a study on breastfeeding, maybe… take a pause.
✅ Peer-reviewed – If it hasn’t been reviewed by other experts in the field, it hasn’t been vetted.
✅ Reproducibility – Can the results be repeated in other studies? If not, it’s more “fluke” than “fact.”
✅ Language used – Does it say “proves” or “suggests”? Because real science doesn’t over-promise.
And if your eyes glaze over by bullet #2? That’s okay. This is exactly why birth researchers like Sara Wickham and Sophie Messager exist. They translate the jargon into insights you can actually use—and trust.
Yes, There’s a Study for Everything. No, Not All Studies Are Created Equal
You can find a study to support any belief about birth. Induction saves lives. Induction ruins birth. C-sections are too common. C-sections are underutilized. It’s exhausting—and confusing.
Here’s what no one tells you: research is not neutral. It reflects cultural norms, funding sources, and sometimes... plain old human bias.
That doesn’t mean research is useless—it just means you need to:
Be aware of who benefits from the conclusion.
Check multiple sources before settling on a stance.
Stay open to nuance. (It’s not always “natural = good” and “hospital = bad.”)
Bias isn’t a dirty word—it’s just a reality. Recognizing it gives you power.
Trusting the Experts (Who Actually Read This Stuff for Fun)
Let me say this loud and clear: you do not have to decode every medical study yourself to be an empowered parent.
Empowered doesn’t mean overwhelmed. It means informed—with support.
People like:
Midwives who stay up-to-date on the latest data.
Birth educators who nerd out over systematic reviews.
Doulas who help you find solid information so you can open meaningful conversations with your provider.
An OB who stays up to date and is willing to change routines/policies to reflect current evidence.
That’s not giving up control. That’s building your team.
So if you read one blog post and walk away thinking, “Wow, I need a PhD in biostatistics to birth this baby,” take a breath. Ask someone who speaks that language to break it down for you. That’s not failure—it’s smart delegation.
Action Steps for Doing Your Own Birth Research Without Losing Your Mind
Here’s how to get started without the spiral:
Pick one question you want answered (e.g., “What are the risks of induction at 39 weeks?”).
Search on PubMed, Cochrane, or NIH—not Google or Instagram.
Skim the abstract, then check if it’s peer-reviewed, well-funded, and unbiased.
Look for expert summaries (Sara Wickham has loads) to help interpret the results.
Talk it through with your doula, midwife, or trusted provider.
Keep a simple research journal to track what you learn and how it shapes your birth plan.
Most of all: don’t try to research everything all at once. You’re growing a human—not writing a dissertation.
Want All of This Wrapped Up in One Place?
If you’re thinking, “Faye, this is great, but I need a list I can actually use when I’m tired, hormonal, and questioning everything at 2 a.m.,” I’ve got you.
✨ Download my Free Research Cheat Sheet for an Empowered Birth – it’s a no-fluff guide that walks you through:
Where to find evidence-based info (no doomscrolling required),
What questions to ask when reading studies,
How to spot red flags and bias in sources,
Plus: a list of trusted experts, authors, and websites worth following.
It’s designed for smart, curious moms who want clarity without the overload—and yes, it’s written in plain English.
Birth is biology. But the way you approach it? That’s power.
Doing your own research isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being prepared in a way that works for you. So trust your gut, check your sources, and don’t be afraid to ask for help decoding the tricky stuff.
You don’t need a medical degree to make informed choices. You need solid tools, trusted people, and a willingness to learn.
You’ve got this.
💬 What’s the wildest “birth fact” you’ve heard that made you dig for the truth? I’d love to hear what myths you’ve busted along the way.
