Birth is one time in your life when you want to feel in control, and medical experts have taken this on board in a set of brand new guidelines.
US experts have this week called for less medical intervention during childbirth.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) issued the guidelines, as part of a fresh take on the necessity of birth interventions that may not be of benefit to mums with low-risk pregnancies.
Under the guidelines, medical practitioners are urged to provide birth experiences that have ‘minimal interventions and high rates of patient satisfaction’.
A study author wrote: “Many common obstetric practices are of limited or uncertain benefit for low-risk women in spontaneous labour.”
“Therefore, obstetrician-gynaecologists and other…care providers should be familiar with, and consider using low-interventional approaches, when appropriate, for the…management of low-risk women in spontaneous labour.”
Broken down, here’s what the ACOG wants to set in motion:
- Women will wait until they are 5-6cm dilated before entering hospital. This is because, according to research, those admitted during the early stages are more likely to end up receiving medical intervention.
- Practitioners will reconsider using continuous foetal heart rate monitoring, as this tends to halt the mother’s natural movement through labour.
- Mums will be allowed to move freely around the delivery room, as they so wish.
- Mums will also be permitted to use the breathing and pushing techniques they find most effective.
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