Maternity Care

Birthing Guidelines

Most births are natural experiences, and the physicians at Women First want you to have as natural a birth experience as possible. We also view pregnancy and delivery as a cooperative endeavor between physician and patient to provide a healthy outcome for both mother and baby. The following guidelines for a typical birth help you bring your baby into the world safely and naturally.

Presence of husband or significant other at all times through labor and delivery
Presence of baby’s siblings if appropriately prepared
No shave prep
No enema
Saline lock rather than continuous IV fluid
Labor positioning as you desire
No episiotomy unless necessary for delivery of your baby
Option to use nitrous oxide for pain relief during labor
Intermittent fetal monitoring after 30 minutes when a normal fetal heart rate is documented
Wireless telemetry
Spontaneous delivery of the placenta
Ambulation in early stages of labor provided fetal heart rate is checked
Ice chips, popsicles and sips of clear liquids
Kangaroo Care (skin-to-skin holding of newborn baby)
Delayed cord clamping

As much as we want to help you experience a natural childbirth, some births require a little extra help. The following interventions may be used if needed for your baby’s or your wellbeing.

Pitocin IV to assist contractions and to prevent hemorrhage
Rupture of membranes
Oxygen administration
Continuous fetal monitoring by internal monitors
Cesarean section
Manual delivery of placenta should hemorrhage occur

Each birth is unique to that mother and child, and the guidelines and procedures above certainly don’t make up an exhaustive list of what can happen during labor and delivery. We encourage you to talk with your doctor about your wishes for labor and delivery, and bring us any questions you have at any time. Your Care Team wants to have a positive relationship with you, based on mutual respect and a true partnership for the benefit of you and your baby.