Interventions in Birth (Under Construction)

Cesarean Sections (Takes you to another page)
Electronic Fetal Monitoring Episiotomy Forceps/Vacuum Extraction
Induction of Labor IV's and Fasting Pushing Bottom of Page

General Information

• Interventions - Pregnancy-Childbirth Hotlinks to relevant information.
• Library - Special - Assisted Deliveries Information on a variety of interventions, from forceps to induction.

Active Management of Labor

• 1995.09.20 Mixed Results for Important NICHD-Funded Study of Actively Managed Labor and Delivery Government summary of clinical trial results.
• ACE Graphics - The Active Management of Labour A great article by Marsden Wagner, MD.
• Active management of labor Summary of another clinical study that yielded "...no significant difference in the c-section rate for women in the active management vs. usual care groups...."

Cesarean Section

• See my Cesarean Section links.

[Top of Page][Geneneral Information][Active Mangement][Episiotomy]
[Forceps/Vacuum Extraction][Induction of Labor][IV's and Fasting][Pushing]
[Bottom of Page]

Electronic Fetal Monitoring

• [Clinical Preventive Services] Intrapartum Electronic Fetal Monitoring A good clinical study of the issue.
• Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring A statistical analysis at the Cochrane Database - comes out against it.
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring A very informative list of article abstracts that debate the usefulness of EFM.
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring A good basic description of EFM, from a pro-EFM standpoint. (Down last time I tried it.)
• Electronic Fetal Monitorw A look at external fetal monitoring by birthpsychology.com.
• Fetal Monitor A very brief history of fetal monitors, with a couple of pictures.
• Fetal Monitoring A good discussion of the problems and benefits of electronic fetal monitoring.
• Internal Electronic Fetal Monitor Another article by birthpsychology.com.
• Monitoring A brief look at ausculation (done using a fetal stethoscope or hand-held dopplar ultrasound) and continuous fetal monitoring.
• Monitoring Resources - Childbirth.org A great place to start in seeking to understand EFM.
• Ob-Gyn 2000 Drop Electronic Fetal Monitoring; Get Back To One-on-One Nursing
• Pregnancy Forum Monitoring A concise look at EFM showing it's disadvantages, amongst other things.
• Uncertain value of electronic fetal monitoring Another clinical study abstract, with conclusions which are of interest.
• USE OF PARTOGRAPH -- INEXPENSIVE, SIMPLE CHART -- REDUCES COMPLICATIONS OF LABOUR AND CHILDBIRTH, ACCORDING TO WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION A better alternative to EFM?

[Top of Page][Cesarean Section (Takes you to another page)]
[Geneneral Information][Active Mangement][Forceps/Vacuum Extraction]
[Induction of Labor][IV's and Fasting][Pushing]
[Bottom of Page]

Episiotomy

• General Information/Thoughts on Episiotomy (Includes both Pro- and Con- Sites)
  • BabyCenter Episiotomy Parents' comments on the subject.
  • Drawing of the Three Major Types of Episiotomies Nice and clear diagrams.
  • Episiotomy Basic medical overview.  (Down last time I tried it.)
  • Episiotomy Ditto. Includes good care tips.
  • Episiotomy A good basic look at the topic, but definately "medical-ish."
  • Episiotomy birthpsychology.com's look at the topic.
  • Episiotomy Definately very pro-episiotomy, but has a good, basic diagram.
  • Episiotomy Challenging Obstetric Interventions A book orderable through amazon.com.
  • Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities episiotomy The relevant chapter from this great book. If you visit only one of the episiotomy links, this is the one to visit!!
  • Pregnancy Forum Episiotomy Titled "Is Episiotomy Necessary?", this is a great quick overview, with picture.
• Avoiding an Episiotomy
  • No general links at the moment - please bear with me!
  • Perineal Massage
    • ParentTime - Perineal Massage Good discussion of this technique's benefits, but omits a description of how to go about it.
    • Perineal Massage Good description, with a good outline on how to go about it.
    • Research on Prenatal Perineal Massage Contains an article abstract which concludes that there is definite benefit to perineal massage.
    • Perineal Protection - Avoiding Tears A good collection of info, works for avoiding episiotomy, as well.  From the midwife's perspective, but lots of great info!
    • Using Massage to Avoid Episiotomy A good look at perineal massage, by Beth Johnson.
• Medical Studies/Articles/Books on the Effectiveness of Episiotomies
  • Episiotomy: Ritual Genital Mutilation in Western Obstetrics Abstracts of research that supports the idea that episiotomy is not useful, for the most part, and often LEADS to damage.
  • MIDIRS books & videos - Episiotomy and the second stage of labour. Basic info and ordering options on this great book. It is definately oriented towards "professionals," but is still a great read.
  • Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities episiotomy The relevant chapter from this great book. If you visit only one of the episiotomy links, this is the one to visit!!
  • Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities episiotomy abstracts 1-18 The first half of the episiotomy abstracts collected in this wonderful book. The second half is here.

[Top of Page][Cesarean Section (Takes you to another page)]
[Geneneral Information][Active Mangement][Electronic Fetal Monitoring]
[IV's and Fasting][Pushing][Bottom of Page]

Extraction (Via Forceps or Vacuum Extraction)

• Forceps A chance to look at the various types of forceps and learn more about them and when they are used. (Lots of pictures.)
• Vacuum Extraction for Mothers and Others An informative look at the topic.
• Vacuum-Forceps Birth Stories - Pregnancy-Childbirth A great collection of birth stories involving these two methods of extraction.
• Why are Forcep Deliveries and Vacuum Extractions Necessary and What Can I Do to Avoid Them A bit medically, but providing more information.

Induction

• General Information
  • Inducing Labor A good general overview of induction, however pretty pro-intervention.
  • Induction Birth Stories - Pregnancy-Childbirth A good collection managed by Robin Weiss.
  • Induction of labour A very brief discussion of it.
  • Non-Pharmaceutical Induction Lots of stuff from the Fensende Midwife Archives. Written from the midwives' perspective, but lots of good information here for "consumers."
  • Pregnancy--What to Expect When It's Past Your Due Date - AAFP Patient Information Handout Specifically, what to expect from your familly practitioner.
  • Why Induce Labor after the Due Date (Pregnancy - Labor and Delivery induction, oxytocin, Pitocin, prostaglandin) Some tips and general information from a CNM.
• Amniotomy
  • Amniotomy A fascinating article on the topic at birthpsychology.com.
  • Amniotomy FAQ - Childbirth.org Helpful reading
• Pitocin
  • The Pit Drip From birthpsychology.com.
  • Pitocin FAQ This might make a difference in your birth planning.
• Stripping or Sweeping of Membranes
  • Membrane stripping to promote labor Study abstract which comes out more or less in favor of the technique.
  • Non-Pharmaceutical Induction - Stripping Membranes From the Fensende Midwife Archives. Written from the midwives' perspective, but well worth a look at as a "consumer."
  • Stripping the Membranes - Childbirth.org A short article on the topic at this site.
• Other Methods of Induction
  • Laminaria in Labor Induction A brief look at a very old method of inducing labor.
  • Non-Pharmaceutical Induction From the Fensende Midwife Archives. Written from the midwives' perspective, but lots of good information on various methods.

[Top of Page][Cesarean Section (Takes you to another page)]
[Geneneral Information][Active Mangement][Electronic Fetal Monitoring]
[Episiotomy][Forceps/Vacuum Extraction][Bottom of Page]

Intravenous Fluids and Fasting

• Eating in Labor From the Fensende Midwife Archives. Written from the perspective of the midwives', but still helpful reading for the consumer.
• Fasting Birthpsychology.com's look at the topic.
• Intravenous Feeding (IV) Another interesting article at birthpsychology's site.
• Should We Eat or Drink In Labor? An excellent article by Robin Weiss.

"Push!!!"

• Pregnancy Forum Birth Positions The title of the link is misleading in this case - on this page is a discussion of the active management of pushing.
• Push!-Don't Push! An interesting look at the phenomenon at birthpsychology.com.

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07/20/01