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The positive presence of the midwife, and her belief in the abilities of the laboring woman, can affect birth outcomes. Carol Gautschi considers the influence of the midwife’s believes and attitudes on labor.
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To prepare for an autonomous waterbirth, a woman should know the specific quality of contractions in each stage of birth. Read more…. How to Support the Autonomy of Motherbaby in Second Stage of Waterbirth
Lora Denton—loradentonphotography.com
In this thoughtful article, author Kate Prendergast discusses the use of management techniques for a prolonged second stage.
Read more…. Labor Pattern and Management during a Prolonged Second Stage
Michel Odent covers the importance of the fetal ejection reflex as it relates to the second stage of labor.
Read more…. Understanding Stages of Labour after the Paradigm Shift
A childbirth educator considers “the place of change” in labor that transcends stages and what she sees as the overemphasis on pushing. Read more…. Getting Pushy
Though many infants are given vitamin K after birth, the author questions the efficacy of this practice through a review of current literature on the subject.
The author reviews recent research and shares her own experiences with second stage as she explores “the acceptable parameters of a normal, healthy second stage.”
Read more…. An Exploration of Unusually Long Second Stage: Redefining Normal
Lora Denton—loradentonphotography.com
Author Jean Sutton takes you back to basics, reviewing the few simple conditions needed for the safest birth, and challenges the notion that deliberate pushing is necessary for a smooth second stage.
Physician Elizabeth Allemann’s training in the medical-model of care taught her to fear second stage. What happened when the research lead her to the midwifery model? Find out in an illuminating story that is sure to remind you how doctors and midwives can work together for the best health of mother and baby.
Are prenatal vitamins necessary, or are there other, healthier ways for women to get the vitamins and minerals they need during pregnancy? DJ Nelson considers the question.
Lora Denton—loradentonphotography.com
A midwife recounts one clients empowering decision to birth at home after a previous cesarean birth.
As she recounts the difficult birth experience that helped lead her to birth work, Zittle reconsiders the delineation of labor into stages and calls for a return to a more holistic assessment of the labor process.
Read more…. Allowing Birth to be Birth: Re-mystifying Second Stage
