Medical Interventions & Informed Consent
An intervention is an action taken by a doctor or midwife in the birthing process to help with the birth of your baby. Every labour and birth is different. In some cases, your doctor or midwife might recommend intervention to help you give birth to your baby. Whether the intervention is needed or not, it may be recommended to you. Often times your provider will be used to specific procedures that are considered interventions, but you have the right to request and deny said interventions. It is important to educate yourself before you face the doctor pressuring you into doing something, so you can make educated choices.
Assisted Birth
Birth with the help of medical instruments such as forceps or a vacuum.
Episiotomy
An incision made from the vagina toward the anus varying in depth. It is to widen the opening for your baby's head.
Electronic Fetal Monitoring
Labour is stressful for your baby, too. That’s why monitors are used to evaluate how your baby is responding to contractions. External monitors use telemetry to evaluate the baby’s heart rate, and some allow you more freedom of movement. Internal monitors are generally used to get a more accurate reading if necessary.
C-Section
A caesarean section, also known as a C-section or caesarean birth, is an operation in which your baby is born through a cut in your abdomen and uterus. Caesarean births may be planned (elective) due to your and your baby's circumstances or due to complications during your pregnancy. A caesarean section may also be performed during labour, known as an emergency caesarean.
Your doctor or midwife may recommend an emergency caesarean if:
- Your labour is not progressing (as fast ass they would like)
- There are signs that your baby is distressed
- A complication has occurred that may be life-threatening for you or your baby
You are allowed to say no to a c-section for any number of reasons, but you may be pressured and scared into agreeing depending on your doctor's reasoning.
Induction of Labour
Augmentation of labour is an intervention to help your labour progress by stimulating the uterus to increase the frequency or intensity of your contractions. Your doctor or midwife may recommend breaking your waters (artificial rupture of membranes) or giving you a medicine through your vein to increase the strength and/or frequency of your contractions.
• prostaglandin
• a balloon catheter
• artificially breaking the waters
• oxytocin
• membrane sweep