Evidence-based labor management: before labor (Part 1)

Abstract

In preparation for labor and delivery, there is high-quality evidence for providers to recommend perineal massage with oil for 5e10 minutes daily starting at 34 weeks until labor; 1 daily sets of repeated voluntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles, performed at least several days of the week starting at approximately 30e32 weeks gestation; no x-ray pelvimetry; sweeping of membranes weekly starting at 37e38 weeks gestation; for women with a risk factor for abnormal outcome plans should be made to deliver in a hospital setting; for low-risk women, alongside birth center birth is associated with maternal benefits and higher satisfaction, compared with hospital birth; midwife-led care for low-risk women; continuous support by a professional such as doula, midwife, or nurse during labor; and training of birth attendants in low-and middle-income countries.

Evidence-based labor management: first stage of labor (part 3)

“…Aspects related to the first stage of labor are covered in this third article of the series. 1 Evidence-based guidelines for "before labor" preparations 6 and for "induction of labor" 7 have already been published. This review, as the others in this series, was limited in general to lowrisk women, carrying a singleton gestation usually in vertex presentation at term (37 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks of gestation).…”