Supporting a Physiologic Approach to Pregnancy and Birth (eBook)

Melissa D. Avery, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN is Professor, Chair of the Child and Family Health Cooperative Unit, and directs the midwifery program at the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing. She is the past president of the American College of Nursing Midwives. Dr. Avery has authored numerous articles and is nationally known for her research in midwifery and women's health.

Contributors ix

Foreword by Holly Powell Kennedy xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Section 1 Understanding a physiologic approach 1

1 The case for a physiologic approach to birth: an overview
3

Melissa D. Avery

2 The physiology of pregnancy, labor, and birth 13

Cindy M. Anderson

3 A supportive approach to prenatal care 29

Carrie E. Neerland

4 Supporting a physiologic approach to labor and birth 49

Lisa Kane Low and Rebeca Barroso

Section 2 Interventions and approaches 77

5 Promoting comfort: a conceptual approach 79

Kerri D. Schuiling

6 Continuous labor support 91

Carrie E. Neerland

7 Techniques to promote relaxation in labor 105

Kathryn Leggitt

8 Touch therapies in pregnancy and childbirth 119

Deborah Ringdahl

9 Water immersion for labor and birth 157

Michelle R. Collins and Dawn M. Dahlgren-Roemmich

10 Aromatherapy in pregnancy and childbirth 173

Linda L. Halcón

11 Acupressure and acupuncture in pregnancy and childbirth
197

Katie Moriarty and Kennedy Sharp

Section 3 organizational approaches to supporting physiologic
pregnancy and birth 227

12 Rethinking care on the hospital labor unit 229

Emily Higdon, Rachel Woodard, Kristin Rood and Heidi Jean
Bernard

13 Out-of-hospital birth 251

Marsha E. Jackson and Alice Bailes

14 Educating health professionals for collaborative practice in
support of normal birth 275

Melissa D. Avery, John C. Jennings and Michelle L.
O'Brien

15 Women's health and maternity care policies: Current
status and recommendations for change 301

Heather M. Bradford

Resources for physiologic pregnancy and childbirth 331

Index 335

"If you need a guidebook or step-by-step guide for
transforming any practice to a more more physiologic approach, this
is the first book you need to read. Supporting a Physiologic
Approach to Pregnancy and Birth: A Practical Guide provides an
overview of current evidence and a range of practical suggestions
to promote physiologic birth within the United States healthcare
system." (Childbirth Today From
Birthsource.com, 12 June 2014)