Since many view ACOG as a trusted source, let’s look at what ACOG has to say about birth.

ACOG Insight: “Many common obstetric practices are of limited or uncertain benefit for low-risk women in spontaneous labor.”

Reality: The utilization of medical interventions during childbirth has witnessed a significant rise since the transition to hospital-based delivery.

Let’s be real, these practices have become more routine than common.

Medical Interventions include:

Continuous internal or external electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)
Cervical exams
Induction of labor
Intravenous fluids (IVF)
Restrictions on eating, drinking, movement, changing positions
Vacuum extraction, use of forceps (during vaginal delivery)
Amniotomy (breaking water)
Pharmacologic (medication based) pain relief
Foley catheter
Unnecessary interruptions
C-section
Directed pushing without urge to push