Lamaze Magazine 2009

Celebration Birth Intervention Intelligence Common medical interventions you should know about, just in case. By Teri Shilling, MS, CD(DONA), IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE Ybut there are times when your healthou may be planning a natural birth, care provider must intervene for health and safety reasons. Or you may find that standard hospital practices often include medical interventions. In either situation, it’s important that you be involved in the decisions related to your care. You can do that by asking questions and openly communicating your desires to everyone in attendance. When a medical intervention is suggested or presented as routine procedure, ask about the benefits, risks, alternatives and whether you can do the procedure later – or not at all. most important, trust your intuition. everyone, including you, should stop and think before an intervention is suggested. research shows that many times interventions are done more for convenience sake than for medical reasons. Being well-informed about the common interventions that might arise will enhance your ability to make crucial decisions. educate yourself, communicate your preferences well in advance and stay involved in all decisions related to labor and birth. Your choices will be critical to the health and safety of you and your baby. ElEctronic FEtal Monitoring What: electronic Fetal monitoring (eFm) is used to evaluate uterine contractions and the baby’s response to them. There are three types of monitors. external monitors have two belts that use ultrasound and a pressure transducer. Telemetry units allow the woman more movement, so she’s not “tethered” close to the machine. If there is some reason that the above are not taking accurate measurements, internal monitors can also be used. Why: For a long time, listening to a baby’s heartbeat has been used to assess how the baby is tolerating labor. low-risk women can be monitored intermittently, while highrisk women may be monitored nonstop. Continuous monitoring has not improved outcomes for healthy women having normal labors; instead, it has proven to increase the rate of cesarean. and it has affected women’s ability to move and change positions as needed. There are times when continuous monitoring is necessary in low-risk women, photo: Ben + Marcos Welsh/agefotostock to iV or not to iV Many health-care providers restrict a laboring woman’s eating and drinking – opting instead to give her fluids intravenously, to help keep up her energy level. Research has shown that withholding food and drink can be harmful to the labor process. Talk to your caregiver about your desire to avoid the use of an IV. Labor at home as long as you can, and eat and drink to satisfy your hunger and thirst. Keep in mind that IV fluids will be needed if your labor is induced or if you have an epidural. If you do require an IV, ask to have the bag placed on a movable unit so you can continue to move around. lamaze maGazINe 2009 20 lamaze.orG http://www.lamaze.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Lamaze Magazine 2009

Lamaze Magazine 2009 Contents Essential Lamaze for Pregnancy Making Connections Body Beautiful Birth Day, Your Way Mother Knows Best Essential Lamaze for Birth Supporting Cast Labor Day Position Statement Comfort Zone Intervention Intelligence The Waiting Game Essential Lamaze for Parenting Nursing School Reality Check Sleep Tight Unforgettable

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