Pearls for Normal Birth
Here are some things to keep in mind if you or your partner are planning on having a natural 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
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