Risk vs Pleasure Series

Ep 165 Description:

"If you are focused on the risk, or you're worried or you're anxious about what's going to go wrong, that is taking up too much of your brain. We need to deal with it and put it into perspective so that we can clear the path to joy and pleasure." —Dr. Sara Wickham

Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of wonder, but too often the first word that comes up is "risk". Suddenly, every choice feels like a warning sign, and joy gets pushed into the background. No one talks about how heavy that constant fear can feel—or how much it steals from the confidence and pleasure that should be part of the journey.

After decades as a midwife, researcher, and lecturer, Dr. Sara Wickham saw how the medical model's focus on risk overshadowed women's voices and experiences. Now, through her books and the Birth Information Project, she's breaking down the numbers and challenging the myths, showing women that evidence doesn't have to be scary—it can be liberating.

In this conversation, Debra and Sara unpack how risk talk shapes pregnancy, why many "warnings" don't match the actual evidence, and how women can reclaim joy, confidence, and even pleasure in birth—including insights from her new book Plus Size Pregnancy. Expect tools, clarity, and a refreshing reminder that pregnancy isn't just about minimizing danger—it's about living the experience fully.

Connect with Sara:Dr. Sara Wickham, PhD, MA, PGCert, BA(Hons) is a bestselling author, speaker, and researcher who works independently. Sara is the Director of the Birth Information Project. Sara's career has been varied and includes three decades of experience as a midwife, lecturer, and researcher.

She is the author/editor of eighteen books, has edited three midwifery journals, and lectured in more than thirty countries. Sara provides consultancy services for midwifery and health-related organisations around the world. She is based in south-west England.

Website: https://www.sarawickham.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarawickham

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saramidwife

Connect with Debra!Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth

X: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1

Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471

Episode Highlights:

03:13 The Cultural Obsession with Risk

06:31 The Impact of Risk on Women's Experiences

09:14 Understanding Evidence Around Risk

16:38 Induction of Labor and Its Implications

27:18 Plus Size Pregnancy and Evidence Discrepancies

36:15 The Importance of Reframing Risk

Resources:

💗 Fin Pleasure VIBE, a wearable finger vibrator that can be used in pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum for pleasure, oxytocin enhancement, pain reduction, and healing: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/fin-pleasurevibe/

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