So, we’ll start from the beginning.

98% of births occur in the hospital setting.

Hospitals & OB/GYNs often practice using a medical model of care.
The medical model of care focuses on the treatment of illness & disease (pathophysiology-abnormal function).
Labor & birth are physiological (normal) in nature.
Often the medical model of care is applied to the normal process of birth, meaning that we treat birth like we would a disease by intervening.

There are decades of research about best options in supporting birthgivers during labor. There is extensive research about the labor process because it is understood that pregnancy & birth lay the foundation of a baby’s life. It also becomes engrained into the foundation of the birthgiver’s life.

There are different organizations, providers, researchers, birthworkers & people out there that advocate for allowing birth to unfold naturally (as long as there is no risk to birthgiver and baby).

One of those organizations that many are familiar with is ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology).

ACOG is a professional non-profit organization that OB/GYNs can become members of.

ACOG uses current research and committee opinions (inclusive of OB/GYNs, Midwives, healthcare professionals, caregivers & patients) to provide clinical guidelines that assist OB/GYNs in their practice; they also assess issues in OB/GYN care.

When care providers make decisions, they may use guidelines & recommendations set forth by ACOG, medical literature, and/or their own personal work experience.

*Everyone has a different experience. There are hospitals that are more progressive than others when supporting labor & birth the way it should be.