title: #4: no routine interventions.
abstract: In this position paper-one of six care practice papers published by Lamaze International and reprinted here with permission-the benefit of no routine interventions during birth is discussed and presented as an evidence-based practice that helps promote, protect, and support normal birth. The paper is written for childbearing women and their families. It presents evidence related to restrictions on eating and drinking, use of intravenous fluids, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, artificial rupture of the membranes, augmentation of labor, and epidural analgesia. The accompanying commentary-written by an award-winning medical writer-supports and expands on the benefits of no routine interventions during birth. Lamaze International recommends that laboring women avoid restrictions on eating and drinking. The organization also recommends avoidance of IVs, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals, and efforts to speed up labor, unless a clear indication for their use is evident.
authors.affiliation: An award-winning medical writer, internationally known speaker, and retired Lamaze educator, H enci G oer specializes in analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing the obstetric research. Author of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities, and numerous articles and pamphlets, Goer is a resident expert on iVillage's ParentsPlace.com .
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lothian
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amis
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crenshaw
authors.forename: Henci
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goer