Dr Nigel Lee
Director of Research & NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
+61 7 336 53341
Researcher biography
Nigel is a Senior Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (EL1) with the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work and the Midwifery Research Unit. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University. He is a Midwife with clinical, education, research and policy experience encompassing a broad range of midwifery care provision including birth suite, continuity of care and community midwifery. Nigel is an effective clinical leader with a track record for linking research with clinical practice and effecting practice change. He completed a PhD in 2013 researching different techniques for the administration of sterile water injections for the management of back pain in labour. His research in this field is ongoing. Nigel's other areas of research interest include the duration and management of normal first and second stage labour. Nigel has expertise in conducting randomised controlled trials and mixed methods design. He is a strong collaborative researcher with projects involving fellow academics from Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA.
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Cross-sectional study of clinician’s preferences for pharmacological management for acute renal colic National Health and Medical Research Council |
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Cryotherapy for reducing the discomfort of sterile water injections: A randomised trial (CryoS trial) NHMRC Investigator Grant (Dr N Lee) |
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The use of HypnoBirthing during labour and effect on epidural use: A retrospective cohort study NHMRC Investigator Grant (Dr N Lee) |
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Reducing perINeal inFILTRation pain with sodium bicArbonaTe buffered lignocainE (INFILTRATE trial) NHMRC Investigator Grant (Dr N Lee) |
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Trends and outcomes associated with induction of labour NHMRC Investigator Grant (Dr N Lee) |
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Sterile wAter injecTions to relieve laboUR paiN (SATURN Trial) MRFF Grant (Dr N Lee) |
Books
Glover, Pauline, Lewis, Louise, McNeill, Liz, Costins, Pauline, Warland, Jane, Kew, Clare, Bradfield, Zoe, Kuliukas, Lesley, Staff, Lynne, Burns, Virginia, Mannix, Trudi, Taylor, Ann, Lee, Nigel and Brady, Susannah (2017). Midwifery. Milton, QLD Australia: John Wiley & Sons.
Drogeuller, Adeline, Latif, Ahmed, Bisits, Andrew, Sneddon, Anne, Preston-Thomas, Annie, Steiner, Caitlin, Homer, Caroline, Chapple, Cathy, Costello, Craig, Ellwood, David, Gleeson, Glenda, Paterson-Walley, Glenda, Dahlen, Hannah, Hanock, Heather, Knox, Janet, Delima, Jennifer, Lakshmi, Jhansi, David, Josh, Gardiner, Judith, Sullivan, Katie, Scott, Lesley, Marshall, Lewis, Dennis, Louise, Little, Lucy, Young, Lyndall, O'Brien, Margaret, Haliday, Megan, Nicholl, Michael, Luey, Michele ... Walsh, Warren (2014). Minymaku Kutja Tjukurpa: Women's Business Manual: Literal translation: 'Women Only Story'. 5th Edition ed. Alice Spring, NT, Australia: Centre for Remote Health.
Book Chapters
Lee, Nigel (2023). Disturbances in the rhythm of labour. Midwifery: Preparation for Practice. (pp. 949-981) Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7295-4381-1.00047-2
Lee, Nigel (2018). Disturbances in the rhythm of labour. Midwifery: preparation for practice. (pp. 861-889) edited by Sally Pairman, Sally K. Tracy, Hannah G. Dahlen and Lesley Dixon. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier Australia.
Journal Articles
Hillier, Kathy L., Eley, Victoria, Humphrey, Tracy, Ballard, Emma and Lee, Nigel (2026). Use of the Rebozo in second stage labour to reduce the incidence of assisted vaginal births for nulliparous women: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Women and Birth, 39 (1) 102134, 102134. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102134
Shipton, Emma V., Lee, Nigel, Foxcroft, Katie, de Jersey, Susan and Callaway, Leonie (2026). Evaluating midwife-led continuity of care and breastfeeding outcomes: A quasi-experimental study. Women and Birth, 39 (1) 102167, 102167. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102167
Lee, Nigel, Mårtensson, Lena B., Gao, Yu, Callaway, Leonie, Barnett, Belinda, Hellyer, Sania, Kearney, Lauren and Kildea, Sue (2026). Sterile water injections for managing abdominal labour contraction pain: A randomised double blind placebo-controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 173 105244, 105244. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105244
Lee, Nigel, Ballard, Emma and Humphrey, Tracy (2025). Trends in induction of labour and associated co-morbidities and demographics in Queensland, Australia from 2001 to 2020: a population-based study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25 (1) 354, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07379-5
Lee, Nigel, Barnett, Belinda, Kildea, Sue, Callaway, Leonie, Kearney, Lauren, Hellyer, Sania and Mårtensson, Lena B. (2025). A qualitative study of clinicians’ perspectives on participating in an intrapartum randomised placebo-controlled trial for labour pain relief. Trials, 26 (1) 547, 547. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09257-z
Lee, Nigel, McCarthy, Alexandra, Ballard, Emma, Eley, Robert, Isoardi, Katherine and Hughes, James (2025). Practice variations in pharmacological management of acute renal colic pain: a cross-sectional survey study. Australasian Emergency Care. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2025.10.004
Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Lehner, Christoph, Eley, Victoria, Marsh, Nicole, August, Deanne, de Jersey, Susan and Lee, Nigel (2025). Authentic Consumer–Clinician Co‐Design of a Labour and Childbirth Intervention to Optimise Maternal Hydration in Labour: Reaching Consensus to Enhance Rigour. Health Expectations, 28 (5) e70438, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/hex.70438
Shipton, Emma V., Foxcroft, Katie, de Jersey, Susan J., Callaway, Leonie and Lee, Nigel (2025). “Butterflies in the air, you're now a breastfeeding mother”: A qualitative study of women's experiences receiving postnatal midwifery breastfeeding support. Women and Birth, 38 (1) 101859, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101859
McIntyre, Brianne G., Massey, Debbie, Lee, Nigel and Kearney, Lauren (2025). Intrapartum hydration assessment and management: A cross-sectional survey of Australian and New Zealand maternity units. Women and Birth, 38 (1) 101865, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101865
Shipton, Emma V., Lee, Nigel, Foxcroft, Katie, de Jersey, Susan J. and Callaway, Leonie (2025). ‘We’ve ticked the boxes’: A qualitative study of women’s experiences receiving antenatal breastfeeding education. Breastfeeding Review, 33 (1), 16-28.
Lai, Yee Kay, Wong, Michelle, Kearney, Lauren and Lee, Nigel (2024). The effect of antenatal hypnosis training on pharmacological analgesia use during labour and birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery, 137 104113, 104113. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104113
Meyer, Holly, Lee, Nigel, George, Kendall and Kearney, Lauren (2024). Factors influencing midwives’ intentions to facilitate normal physiological birth: A qualitative study. Women and Birth, 37 (4) 101617, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101617
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2024). Response to the Letter to Editor for “A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives”. Women and Birth, 37 (3) 101599, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101599
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives. Women and Birth, 37 (1), 159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.08.003
Lee, Nigel, Hawley, Glenda, Morris, Jessica and Kearney, Lauren (2023). Perineal repair performed by midwives in Australia: A cross-sectional survey study of education and practice. Women and Birth, 37 (1), 153-158. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.08.001
Lee, Nigel and Jauncey-Cooke, Jacqueline (2023). A collaborative approach to engaging undergraduate students in learning and developing evidence-based practice. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 24 (1), 63-68. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v24i1.575
Lee, Nigel, Kearney, Lauren, Shipton, Emma, Hawley, Glenda, Winters-Chang, Peta, Kilgour, Catherine, Brady, Susannah, Peacock, Ann, Anderson, Loretta and Humphrey, Tracy (2023). Consent during labour and birth as observed by midwifery students: a mixed methods study. Women and Birth, 36 (6), e574-e581. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.02.005
Lee, Nigel, Flynn, Julie, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). Comparing compliance with commencement and use of two partograph designs for women in active labour: a randomised controlled trial. Women and Birth, 36 (1), e17-e24. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.04.004
Anderson, Loretta A., Kildea, Sue, Kynoch, Kathryn, Gao, Yu and Lee, Nigel (2023). Midwives experiences of interventions to improve breast expression following preterm birth: a qualitative study. Midwifery, 116 103530, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103530
Shipton, Emma V., Callaway, Leonie, Foxcroft, Katie, Lee, Nigel and de Jersey, Susan J. (2022). Midwife-led continuity of antenatal care and breastfeeding duration beyond postpartum hospital discharge: A systematic review. Journal of Human Lactation, 39 (3), 089033442211266-440. doi: 10.1177/08903344221126644
Barnett, Belinda, Jenkinson, Bec and Lee, Nigel (2022). The impact of a perineal care bundle on women’s birth experiences in Queensland, Australia: a qualitative thematic analysis. Women and Birth, 36 (3), 271-280. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.09.002
Anderson, Loretta A., Kildea, Sue, Lee, Nigel, Kynoch, Kathryn and Gao, Yu (2022). A comparison of the timing of hand expressing of human milk with breast massage to standard care for mothers of preterm infants: an exploratory pilot using a randomized controlled design. Journal of Human Lactation, 39 (2) 08903344221088789, 8903344221088789-235. doi: 10.1177/08903344221088789
Lee, Nigel and Mårtensson, Lena B. (2022). Sterile water injections for management of renal colic pain: a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Urology, 56 (3), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/21681805.2022.2066719
Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Mårtensson, Lena B., Callaway, Leonie, Barnett, Belinda and Kildea, Sue (2022). Sterile water injections for relief of labour pain (the SATURN trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 23 (1) 155, 321. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06093-3
Lee, Nigel, Leiser, Bernadette, Halter-Wehrli, Yvonne, Mårtensson, Lena B., Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2022). A comparison of two versus four sterile water injections for the relief of back pain in labour: a multicentre randomised equivalence trial. Women and Birth, 35 (6), e556-e562. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.02.002
Mårtensson, Lena B., Gunnarsson, Britt-Marie, Karlsson, Sandra, Lee, Nigel and Bergh, Ingrid (2022). Effect of topical local anaesthesia on injection pain associated with administration of sterile water injections - a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiology, 22 (1) 35, 35. doi: 10.1186/s12871-022-01573-0
Lee, Nigel, Munro, Victoria, Oliver, Kirra and Flynn, Julie (2021). Maternal positioning with flexed thighs to correct foetal occipito-posterior position in labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery, 99 103008, 103008. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103008
Allen, Jyai, Small, Kirsten and Lee, Nigel (2021). How a perineal care bundle impacts midwifery practice in Australian maternity hospitals: A critical, reflexive thematic analysis. Women and Birth, 35 (1), e1-e9. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.01.012
Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Collins, Sally L., Mårtensson, Lena B., Randall, Wendy, Rowe, Toni-Marie and Kildea, Sue (2020). Caesarean delivery rates and analgesia effectiveness following injections of sterile water for back pain in labour: a multicentre, randomised placebo controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine, 25 100447, 100447. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100447
Lee, Nigel and Peacock, Ann (2020). Using simulation to teach undergraduate nursing and midwifery students research design. Nurse Education in Practice, 45 102804, 102804. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102804
Anderson, Loretta, Kynoch, Kathryn, Kildea, Sue and Lee, Nigel (2019). Effectiveness of breast massage in the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, 17 (8), 1-1694. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2017-003932
Williams, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Allen, Jyai, Morrow, Jane and Kildea, Sue (2019). Does introducing a dedicated early labour area improve birth outcomes? A pre-post intervention study. Women and Birth, 33 (3), 259-264. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.001
Lee, Nigel, Jomeen, Julie, Mårtensson, Lena B., Emery, Vanessa and Kildea, Sue (2019). Knowledge and use of sterile water injections amongst midwives in the United Kingdom: a cross-sectional study. Midwifery, 68, 9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.001
Brady, Susannah, Lee, Nigel, Gibbons, Kristen and Bogossian, Fiona (2019). Woman-centred care: an integrative review of the empirical literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 94, 107-119. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.01.001
Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Lotz, Lauren and Kildea, Sue (2018). Maternal and neonatal outcomes from a comparison of spontaneous and directed pushing in second stage. Women and Birth, 32 (4), e433-e440. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.10.005
Lee, Nigel, Firmin, Meaghan, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2018). Perineal injury associated with hands on/hands poised and directed/undirected pushing: a retrospective cross-sectional study of non-operative vaginal births, 2011-2016. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 83, 11-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.04.002
Mårtensson, Lena B., Hutton, Eileen K., Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue, Gao, Yu and Bergh, Ingrid (2017). Sterile water injections for childbirth pain: An evidenced based guide to practice. Women and Birth, 31 (5), 380-385. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.12.001
Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue and Stapleton, Helen (2017). ‘Tough love’: the experiences of midwives giving women sterile water injections for the relief of back pain in labour. Midwifery, 53, 80-86. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2017.07.016
Lee, Nigel J., Neal, Jeremy, Lowe, Nancy K. and Kildea, Sue V. (2017). Comparing Different Partograph Designs for Use in Standard Labor Care: A Pilot Randomized Trial. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22 (3), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s10995-017-2366-0
Teis, Rachel, Allen, Jyai, Lee, Nigel and Kildea, Sue (2017). So you want to conduct a randomised trial? Learnings from a 'failed' feasibility study of a Crisis Resource Management prompt during simulated paediatric resuscitation. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 20 (1), 37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.aenj.2016.12.001
White, Louise, Lee, Nigel and Beckmann, Michael (2016). First stage of labour management practices: a survey of Australian obstetric providers. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 57 (3), 266-271. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12510
Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue and Stapleton, Helen (2016). "No pain, no gain": the experience of women using sterile water injections. Women and Birth, 30 (2), 153-158. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.09.010
Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue and Stapleton, Helen (2015). 'Facing the wrong way': Exploring the Occipito Posterior position/back pain discourse from women's and midwives perspectives. Midwifery, 31 (10), 1008-1014. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.06.003
Lee, Nigel (2013). Reducing the Caesarean section rate. Australian Nursing Journal, 21 (2), 42-43.
Lee, Nigel, Webster, Joan, Beckmann, Michael, Gibbons, Kristen, Smith, Tric, Stapleton, helen and Kildea, Sue (2013). Comparison of a single vs. a four intradermal sterile water injection for relief of lower back pain for women in labour: a randomised controlled trial. Midwifery, 29 (6), 585-591. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2012.05.001
Lee, Nigel, Mårtensson, Lena B., Homer, Caroline, Webster, Joan, Gibbons, Kristen, Stapleton, Helen, Dos Santos, Natalie, Beckmann, Michael, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2013). Impact on Caesarean section rates following injections of sterile water (ICARIS): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13 (May 2013) 105, 105.1-105.10. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-105
Lee, Nigel, Martensson, Lena B. and Kildea, Sue (2012). Cross sectional study of Australian midwives knowledge and use of sterile water injections for pain relief in labour. Women and Birth, 25 (4), e75-e80. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2011.11.002
Lee, Nigel, Coxeter, Peter, Beckmann, Michael, Webster, Joan, Wright, Vanessa, Smith, Tric and Kildea, Sue (2011). A randomised non-inferiority controlled trial of a single versus a four intradermal sterile water injection technique for relief of continuous lower back pain during labour. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 11 (21) 21, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-11-21
Conference Papers
Shipton, Emma, de Jersey, Susan, Foxcroft, Katie, Lee, Nigel and Callaway, Leonie (2023). "You're just a number": Women's experiences of antenatal breastfeeding education and model of care. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12 – 14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.052
Meyer, Holly, Kearney, Lauren, Lee, Nigel and George, Kendall (2023). How the intentions of maternity care providers influence normal physiological birth. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.051
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Rebecca, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). First do no harm: a single site pre-post implementation study of a perineal protection bundle. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12-14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.007
Lee, Nigel, Kearney, Lauren, Brady, Susannah, Hawley, Glenda, Kilgour, Catherine, Peacock, Ann, Winters-Chang, Peta, Anderson, Loretta, Shipton, Emma and Humphrey, Tracy (2023). Consent during labour and birth as observed by midwifery students: A mixed methods study. 33rd International Confederation of Midwives ICM Triennial Congress, Bali, Indonesia, 11-14 June 2023.
Lee, Nigel, Kearney, Lauren, Brady, Susannah, Hawley, Glenda, Kilgour, Catherine, Peacock, Ann, Winters-Chang, Peta, Anderson, Loretta, Shipton, Emma and Humphrey, Tracy (2023). Consent during labour. Trans Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Canberra, ACT Australia, 30-31 March 2023.
Lee, Nigel, Flynn, Julie, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2022). Is the partogram still relevant? Findings of a randomised trial comparing two partogram designs for monitoring active labour progress in low risk women. Australian College of Midwives National Conference - Together at the Top, Cairns, QLD Australia, 13 – 15 September 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.07.047
Jauncey-Cooke, Jacqueline and Lee, Nigel (2021). Preparing students to contribute to quality improvement in the practice setting. Council of Deans of Nursing & Midwifery Symposium, Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia, 23-24 November 2021.
Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Lotz, Lauren and Kildea, Sue (2019). The power of silence: maternal and neonatal outcomes from a comparison of spontaneous and directed pushing in second stage labour. ACM 2019 National Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 17–19 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.07.178
Brady, Susannah, Lee, Nigel, Gibbons, Kristen and Bogossian, Fiona (2019). The contribution of midwifery education to the provision of woman-centred care: Outcomes and implications of an integrative review. ACM 2019 National Conference – Power, Passion and Politics, Canberra, Australia, 17–19 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.07.198
Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Lotz, Laurne and Sue Kildea (2019). The power of silence: maternal and neonatal outcomes from a comparison of spontaneous and directed pushing in second stage labour. Australian College of Midwives (ACM 2019), Canberra, ACT, Australia, 17-19 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.07.178
Lee, Nigel, Firmin, Meaghan, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2017). Second stage techniques and risk of perineal injury: A retrospective cohort study. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.08.026
Lee, Nigel, Stapleton, Helen and Kildea, Sue (2013). 'I would do it again in a heartbeat': The experiences of women and midwives using sterile water injections. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2013.08.253
Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue, Coxeter, Peter, Wright, Vanessa, Beckmann, Michael, Webster, Joan and Smith, Patricia (2011). A randomised controlled non-inferiority trial comparing a single and four Sterile Water Injection Technique for the relief of back pain during labour. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2011.07.025