This pamphlet is the second of three in the Your Choice series. It contains information on the choices women have around the interventions that have become routinely used during normal birth. Some of these procedures have been part of maternity care for decades despite a lack of evidence that they offer any benefits to either the mother of the baby. This pamphlet provides information about the benefits and risks of the following tests and procedures:
- Place of birth and the impact of the birthing environment
- Induction of labour
- IV fluids
- Foetal monitoring
- Vaginal examinations
- Monitoring maternal wellbeing
- Pain relief
- Augmenting labour
- Labouring and/or birthing in water
- Positions for labour and birth
- Forceps/VentouseCaesarean section
- Oxytocin and skin-to-skin contact
- Waiting for the placenta
- Cord blood banking
It is important that the midwife or doctor explains the risks and benefits of each intervention and what is involved before you agree to any of them. None of these interventions are compulsory and you can choose whether or not to have any of them.
Single copies of Labour and Birth: Your Choice are available free of charge. There is a charge for postage/handling costs for all orders of multiple copies.
