A practical approach to labor support

Ellise D Adams1, Ann L Bianchi

  • 1College of Nursing, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35889, USA. ellise.adams@uah.edu

In the United States, intrapartum nurses are present at 99% of births. These nurses have a unique opportunity to positively affect a laboring woman's comfort and labor progress through the use of labor support behaviors. These nonpharmacologic nursing strategies fall into four categories: physical, emotional, instructional/informational, and advocacy. Implementation of these strategies requires special knowledge and a commitment to the enhanced physical and emotional comfort of laboring women.

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