The amniotomy question: examining the pros and cons of rupturing membranes.
The culture of birth establishes practices and embraces rituals. Currently there is a movement toward midwifery and away from hospital births as women and professions question the values of some practices and interventions common in hospital births. Amniotomy is a well-established practice that is accepted as an intervention to help women in their birth process, with the hope that it will shorten labor. There is little research regarding the psychological implication of amniotomy on the infant. This paper explores the pros and cons of amniotomy, its role as a ritual for birth attendants and the possible psychological effects on the infant.
Oberg
Verna
V
Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.
D000650:Amnion / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome