Pearls for Physiologic Birth

Below are the evidence-based strategies that GW Midwifery Follows to promote natural, physiologic birth:

• Oral hydration and nutrition in labor optimize outcomes
• Avoid routine intravenous fluids
• Intermittent auscultation is safe for low-risk labors
• Ambulation and freedom of movement facilitate labor progress
• Hydrotherapy is a safe and effective comfort measure during labor
• Continuous labor support is the standard of care
• Avoid routine rupture of the membranes
• Expect individualized labor progress
• Support initial passive descent and self-directed open-glottis pushing
• Avoid routine episiotomy and aggressive perineal massage
• Delayed cord clamping improves neonatal outcomes
• Facilitate immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding
• Trial of labor after cesarean is the standard of care
• Planned vaginal breech birth may be a safe option in an inter-professional setting
• Inter-professional education, collaboration, and team-based care promote optimal outcomes
• Practice according to current evidence and trust the body’s innate capacity to birth