The Birth Partner--Revised by Penny Simkin

Author:Penny Simkin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harvard Common Press
Published: 2015-02-16T11:58:52.703533+00:00

PART THREE

THE MEDICAL SIDE OF CHILDBIRTH

The caregiver’s primary role in childbirth is to safeguard the health of mother and child. Throughout pregnancy, the caregiver relies on a wide assortment of tests, technologies, and procedures to detect and treat problems before they become serious. Similar tests, technologies, and procedures (often referred to as “interventions”) are available during childbirth.

Caregivers differ among themselves regarding what should constitute routine basic care during childbirth. Some caregivers feel birth is so unpredictable that it is safest to use many medical procedures in every labor, whether they are needed or not. Others believe that childbirth is essentially a normal physiological process, and use medical or surgical interventions only when problems are suspected or detected. Pregnant women differ among themselves over the same issues. Some are fearful and feel more secure with a highly medical approach, while others perceive birth as normal and are wary of excessive interventions. They place more trust in their bodies and their inner resources than in technology.

Research has shown that, for a healthy woman, labor proceeds normally and without hazard most of the time, and that careful observation is all that is necessary to detect problems in time to take medical action. Actually, one way to avoid problems is to be cautious about using optional procedures and medications; these can sometimes cause problems. For example, any procedure that restricts the mother’s freedom to move might slow labor or increase her pain, thus making further interventions more likely and actually increasing her risk of developing other problems. For these reasons, technology, medications, and procedures are appropriate and necessary only when problems already exist or are very likely to occur.

Tests and interventions always involve tradeoffs. The mother needs to know what she gives up and what she gains before deciding whether to accept a nonemergency intervention. When considering interventions, discuss the following questions with each other and with the caregiver.

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