Caring for women in early labor: can we delay admission and meet women's needs?

Early labor poses challenges for women and their health care providers. Qualitative research shows that women may have a hard time determining when labor begins and when to seek care, are unprepared for the realities of this part of labor, find it difficult to manage early labor at home, and often desire admission before active labor. Yet a primary clinical management goal in early labor is the delay of admission until active labor.

Waterbirth: an integrative analysis of peer-reviewed literature.

Introduction: Despite a growing body of evidence for waterbirth safety, a myriad of political and cultural issues result in limited use in US hospitals compared to other developed nations. The purpose of this article is to critically analyze the evidence on maternal and neonatal outcomes of waterbirth to help inform evidence-based clinical practice in the United States.

Methods: A literature search was performed using electronic databases CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO.

Shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage simulations: student confidence in managing these complications.

Introduction: Simulation is an effective teaching strategy for educating health professionals. However, little is known about the effectiveness of simulations in midwifery education. The purpose of this project was to determine whether the use of high-fidelity simulations for the obstetric emergencies of shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage increases student confidence in managing these complications.

Midwifery management of prelabor rupture of membranes at term.

Spontaneous rupture of membranes before the onset of labor at term is commonly referred to as PROM (either premature or preterm rupture of membranes) and occurs in about 8% of term pregnancies. PROM is associated with an increased risk of infection. Many controversies exist regarding the optimal management of PROM, including the choice of induction or expectant management, use of digital vaginal exams, and routine administration of antibiotics.