In spite of technology and medical science’s ability to manage complex health problems, the current maternity care environment has increased risks for healthy women and their babies. It comes as a surprise to most women that standard maternity care does not reflect best scientific evidence.
In this column, evidence-based maternity care practices are discussed with an emphasis on the practices that increase safety for mother and baby, and what pregnant women need to know in order to have safe, healthy births is described.
Keywords:evidence-based maternity care, childbirth education, safe birth, healthy birth, healthy birth practices, induction, cesarean, movement in labor, labor support,
routine interventions, epidural, episiotomy, intravenous in labor, nutrition during labor, maternal-infant interaction, breastfeeding, birth positions, normal birth, electronic fetal monitoring, informed decision making, choice in childbirth…
