Associate Professor



Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact

McMaster University
1280 Main St. West,
HSC3V - 43B
Hamilton, Ontario ​L8S 4K1
Canada



Media and Knowledge Translation


Television/Radio/Podcasts
  1. Understanding severe maternal morbidity with Dr. Giulia Muraca. The Hole Shebang Podcast. Oct 7, 2024. 
  2. Hidden trauma of birth injuries in Canada. CBC’s The Current. Oct. 20th, 2023. 
  3. Forceps severely injure 1 in 4 Canadians mothers when used in childbirth: study.  CTV news by Megan DeLaire. Oct. 19, 2023. 
  4. Maternal injuries happening at 'absurdly high' rate in Canada during labour. Why?  Global news by Katie Dangerfield. Oct 20,2023.
  5. High rates of trauma in births using forceps, vacuums:  McMaster Study.  CHCH news by Joanna  Petropoulos. Oct 19, 2023. 
  6. Severe Childbirth injuries from forceps, vacuum 'unacceptably high' in Canada, research shows.   CBC news by Amina Zafar. Oct 20, 2023. 
  7. Forceps and Birth Injuries with Dr. Giulia Muraca, MPH, PhD. S8 | E79. We Go There Podcast. Jul 31, 2023.
  8. Maternal and neonatal trauma with operative vaginal delivery. Canadian Medical Association Journal Podcast. Jan 31, 2022. 
  9. Episiotomy helpful in forceps births says Canadian study. CBC radio, White Coat, Black Art. Oct 21, 2019.
  10. Episiotomies are on the decline, but for some women it can prevent further tearing: study. Global News by Arti Patel. Oct 21, 2019. 
  11. Injuries to moms, babies during forceps deliveries on the rise: study. CTV National News.  Jun 18, 2018.  
  12. Increasing rates of obstetric trauma in Canada. JCBC Ottawa’s All in Day.  un 18, 2018. 
  13. Safety of forceps and vacuum delivery. The Afternoon News, AM800 CKLW News.  Jun 7, 2017. 
  14. Study suggests forceps, vacuum deliveries more traumatic than C-sections. June 5, 2017. Wochit News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjiqhLV2IDA
  15. Perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality after attempted operative vaginal delivery at midpelvic station. Canadian Medical Association Journal Podcast.  June 5, 2017. 
 Newspapers/Magazines/Blogs (Print and Online)
  1. Experts discuss neurodevelopmental outcomes after assisted delivery. Interview with Contemporary Pediatrics. Feb 3, 2026.
  2. New Evidence on Delivery Methods and Long-Term Childhood Neurodevelopment. Medtigo article by Raziya Begum. Feb 3, 2026. 
  3. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes differ according to mode of delivery, finds JAMA study . Written by Medha Baranwal; Medically reviewed by Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli. Feb 2, 2026.
  4. Cesarean and assisted vaginal births show similar long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Medical Xpress. Feb 2, 2026.  
  5. 2 Minute Medicine Rewind February 2, 2026. Jayden Berdugo and Simon Pan. Feb 2, 2026.
  6. How Kids' Neuro Outcomes Compare After Forceps, Vacuum, or Second-Stage C-Section. Medpage Today article by Jennifer Henderson. Jan 30, 2026.
  7. How Odds of infant mortality is higher among US-born than non-US-born individuals. Health Medicine News. Jan 12, 2026.
  8. Odds of infant mortality higher among US-born than non-US-born individuals. Medical Xpress by Elana Gotkine. Jan 8, 2026.
  9. Babies of American-born mothers face higher risk of death in first year, study finds. McMaster News by Adam Ward. Jan 6, 2026.
  10. Severe childbirth injuries from forceps, vacuum 'unacceptably high' in Canada, research shows. Article by Amina Zafar. Oct 20, 2023.
  11. Maternal trauma: What to know about risks of forceps and vacuum deliveries in Canada. Yahoo News. Article by Karla Renic. Oct 20th, 2023.
  12. Persistently high rates of severe maternal trauma during forceps, vacuum births warrant national response, analysis shows - Faculty of Health Sciences (mcmaster.ca) McMaster Faculty of Health Science.  Article by Adam Ward. Oct 19, 2023. 
  13. Trauma Rates with OVD Unexpectedly High, Study Finds. Medscape News article by Michael Vlessides. Jan 14, 2022. 
  14. Study: trauma rates high in Canada among forceps and vacuum deliveries. The Toronto Star article by Melissa Couto Zuber for the Canadian Press. Jan 10, 2022. 
  15. Use of forceps, vacuum during childbirth has higher rates of physical trauma, study finds. CTVNews.ca article by Alexandra Mae Jones. Jan 10, 2022. 
  16. Study: trauma rates high in Canada among forceps and vacuum deliveries. Sask Today article by Melissa Couto Zuber for the Canadian Press. Jan 10, 2022. 
  17. McMaster researcher finds high rates of trauma for mothers and babies with forceps and vacuum deliveries. McMaster News. Jan 10, 2022.
  18. Research reveals high rates of trauma for mothers and babies from forceps and vacuum deliveries in Canada. Mirage News. Jan 10, 2022.
  19. Episiotomy may help reduce severe tears in deliveries involving forceps, vacuums, study shows. The Globe & Mail article by KC Hoard. Oct 21, 2019. 
  20. Episiotomies reduce severe tearing risks in assisted births, study finds. The Toronto Star article by Cassandra Szklarski. Oct 21, 2019. 
  21. Study finds episiotomies reduce severe tearing risks in assisted births. CTV News article by Cassandra Szklarski. Oct 21, 2019. 
  22. Study puts episiotomies in new light; Move away from procedure may be hurting some women, UBC researcher says. The Province article by Pamela Fayerman. Oct 21,2019. Pg A8.
  23. Study finds episiotomies reduce severe tearing risks in assisted births. Hamilton Spectator article by Cassandra Szklarski. Oct 21, 2019. Pg G7.
  24.  Study finds episiotomies reduce severe tearing risks in assisted births. Winnipeg Free Press article by Cassandra Szklarski. Oct 21, 2019. 
  25. Episiotomy helpful in forceps births says Canadian study. Dr. Brian’s Blog on CBC’s White coat, Black art. Oct 21, 2019. 
  26. Researchers analyze trends in episiotomy use among vaginal deliveries. News.Med.Net article by Kate Anderton. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20191021/Researchers-analyze-trends-in-episiotomy-use-among-vaginal-deliveries.aspx   
  27. Why are episiotomies on the decline when it can reduce vaginal tearing? International Business Times article by Diane Galistan. 
  28. Study finds episiotomies reduce severe tearing risks in assisted births. Times Colonist article by Cassandra Szklarski. Oct 21, 2019. Pg C1.
  29. Obstetric trauma due to forceps has increased in Canada: report. The Globe & Mail article by Carly Weeks. Jun 18, 2018. 
  30. Trauma to moms, babies increasing with forceps deliveries, study shows. National Post article by Sharon Kirkey. Jun 18, 2018. 
  31. A new study says injuries from forceps deliveries are on the rise. Jun 18, 2018. Today’s Parent article by Jill Buchner. 
  32. Forceps and vacuum delivery to reduce cesareans could lead to more birth trauma. Q&A with Dr. Marie Benz for MedicalResearch.com. Jun 18, 2018. 
  33. Obstetric trauma rates for forceps deliveries have increased in Canada. Medical Xpress. June 18, 2018. 
  34. How parenting affects younger moms' mental health versus older moms' mental health. Romper article by Gillian Walters. Aug 8, 2017. 
  35. Midpelvic operative vaginal delivery riskier than cesarean. Medscape News article by Troy Brown. Jun 9, 2017. 
  36. Forceps, vacuum deliveries more traumatic than C-section. Independent Online. Jun 9, 2017. 
  37. A vacuum or forceps delivery could be riskier than a C-section for mom and baby. Today's Parent article by Alex Mlynek. Jun 6, 2017. 
  38. Perinatal and maternal adverse events after attempted operative vaginal delivery at midpelvic station. Q&A with Dr. Marie Benz for MedicalResearch.com. Jun 5, 2017. 
  39. Cesarean deliveries better than midpelvic forceps, vacuum deliveries: Study. Jun 5, 2017. Business Standard. 
  40. Midpelvic forceps, vacuum deliveries: Higher rates of trauma for mothers and babies. Jun 5, 2017. Science Daily. 
  41. Study finds forceps, vacuum deliveries more traumatic than C-sections. United Press International article by Amy Wallace. Jun 5, 2017. 
  42. Older mothers may be more prone to depression than younger women. The Guardian article by Ian Sample. Feb 22, 2012.  
  43. Older mothers at 'greater risk of depression' due to worrying about themselves and the health of their babies. The Daily Mail article by Fiona MacRae. Feb 22, 2012. 
  44. Older mothers 'five times more likely to suffer from depression'. The Daily Telegraph article by Nick Collins. Feb 22, 2012. 
  45. Mothers who delay families ‘at greater risk of depression’. The Times article by Katie Collins. Feb 22, 2012. 
  46. Older mothers at far greater risk of depression, reveals study. The Huffington Post article by Georgia James. Feb 22, 2012. 

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