C: 100 M: 0 Y: 40 K: 0 C: 0 M: 48 Y: 0 K: 0

C: 0 M: 12 Y: 16 K: 7 C: 0 M: 0 Y: 0 K: 100

C: 96 M: 59 Y: 0 K: 0 C: 0 M: 100 Y: 100 K: 0

CMYK

Find a childbirth educator in your areawww.expectantmothersguide.co.zawww.pregnancyeducation.co.za

Making safe, informed decisions about your body and your baby is imperative for expecting moms.

Evidence-based maternity careEvidence-based maternity care means prac-tices that have been shown by the highest quality, most current medical evidence to be most benefi cial to mothers and babies (reducing incidences of injuries, complications, and death), with care tailored to the individual.

Steps to a healthy safe birth1. Let labour begin on its own. Natural start of

labour generally means your body and baby are ready for birth.

2. Walk, move and change positions through-out labour. Use upright positions to open your pelvis to the maximum and stay upright using gravity to pull the baby down.

3. Have a doula or labour support person with you.

4. Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary. These often interrupt the pro-cess of birth – induction, artifi cial rupture of membranes, IV fl uids, continuous foetal heart monitoring, restricted food and drink for mom during labour, epidural, caesarean.

5. Keep mom and baby skin to skin – it’s best for mom, baby and breastfeeding.

Safe healthy birthWhat every pregnant woman needs to know

Labour induction

5% 20%

Natural Labour53%

No Epidural

39%

Epidural 61%

19% 31%

Induced Labour47%

No Epidural

22%

Epidural 78%

Caesarean rate

Cascade of Interventions

Induction of labour

Pitocin drip

Increased pain

Fear and anxiety

Epidural

Reduced mobility

Electronic foetal monitoring

Foetal distress

Forceps/vacuum/episiotomy

Caesarean

Baby breathing diffi culties

Slow to suck

Jaundice

Separation of mom and baby

No skin to skin

Problems with breastfeeding

The evidence for doulas31% decrease in Pitocin

9% decrease in use of medications for pain relief28% decrease in risk of caesarean section

14% decrease in risk of newborn admission to special care nurseryEvidenceBasedBirth.com