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Asssociate Professor Rikke Damkjær Maimburg

Welcome from the Chair

As the chairperson of the 21st International Normal Labour and Birth Research Conference (NLNB) in Denmark, September 12th-14th 2022, I am thrilled to welcome you to participate in one of the best conferences in the world where some of the world’s leading researchers share their knowledge, research, and passion about the normal labour and birth.

In addition to gaining new knowledge, you will meet researchers, clinicians, NGOs, consumers, developers, and colleagues, and you will also experience the special DNA of the NLNB conference, which is characterised by compassionate and respectful interaction with the birthing families as well as between professionals.

True leadership is to create a safe culture for challenging discussions to improve maternity care.
The talented researcher can respectfully engage in challenging discussions and listen to other perspectives.
Good clinicians are open and supportive to challenging preferences from the birthing families.

This year’s conference theme is challenging discussions in normal labour and birth

We have listed six main themes in which challenging discussions may arise:

  • Equality in maternal, neonatal, and family health
  • Management and leadership in maternity care
  • Physiological labour and birth
  • Place of labour and birth
  • Communication and decision-making
  • Other challenging discussions introduced by delegates

Do not miss this amazing event! The board and I are looking forward to welcoming you to the International Normal Labour and Birth Research Conference in Aarhus, Denmark in September 2022.

Warm regards
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Rikke Damkjær Maimburg
Chairperson for the International Normal Labour and Birth Research Conference 2022
Challenging discussions

in normal labour and birth

Equity in maternal, neonatal, and family health


Suggested subthemes
  • Inequity in mental health in pregnancy, labour and birth, and the post-partum period
  • Inequity in physical health in pregnancy, labour and birth, and the post-partum period
  • Inequity in pregnancy and birth outcomes
  • Inequity in service provision and outcomes in pregnancy, labour, birth, the postpartum period in the longer term
  • Sick leave in pregnancy and maternity leave
  • Care for women and birthing families in challenging life situations (e.g. violence, abuse, trauma)

Management and leadership in maternity care


Suggested subthemes
  • Balance between women-centered care and organisation-centered care
  • Sociological theories in maternity care
  • Continuity of care models in maternity care
  • Autonomy in midwifery practice
  • Humanisation and medicalisation of childbirth
  • Ethical issues in maternity care
  • Future midwifery practice

Physiological labour and birth


Suggested subthemes
  • How to monitor labour, birth, and the newborn
  • Expectant or proactive management of the labour and birth process
  • Induction of labour and cesarean section without medical indication
  • Interventions in labour and birth
  • Standard care practices (e.g., partograph, internal vaginal examination, CTG, cord clamping)
  • Birth experience
  • Physiological breech birth

Place of labour and birth


Suggested subthemes
  • Hospital, birth clinic or homebirth
  • Freestanding or alongside birth clinic
  • Freebirth
  • Distance to birthplace
  • Birth in remote areas
  • Birth environment

Communication and decision-making


Suggested subthemes
  • Antenatal preparation
  • Respectful communication
  • Women with special needs (e.g., interpreting assistance)
  • The decision-making process; the rhetoric of maternal choice
  • Digital communication (e.g. app, film, impact of social media)
  • Consumer and community involvement
  • Human rights and activism in childbirth

Other challenges introduced by delegates


Suggested subthemes
  • An important discussion in the field not captured by the five main themes