Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
11:50
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
27.3K
'Normal birth': Time to change our tune?
Sally Ely1, Ka Lai Shek1, Hans Peter Dietz1
1Sydney Medical School Nepean, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|August 14, 2020
Summary
The term "normal birth" is misleading, as research shows it occurs in only 33-40% of intended vaginal births. This article examines the term
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal Health
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Recent research indicates that atraumatic 'normal vaginal birth' occurs in only 33-40% of women intending vaginal delivery.
- The definition of 'normal birth' significantly impacts reported incidence rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the continued use of the term 'normal birth' in obstetric practice and policy.
- To explore the historical, political, and practical implications of the term 'normal birth'.
- To recommend a reconsideration of terminology surrounding childbirth outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and critical analysis of historical, political, and obstetric contexts.
- Examination of current birth policies and their alignment with scientific evidence.
- Discussion of the impact of terminology on maternal health outcomes and expectations.
Main Results:
- The actual incidence of 'normal birth' is significantly lower than often implied by policy and practice.
- The term 'normal birth' may be outdated and potentially misleading for women and healthcare providers.
- Current policies may not accurately reflect the reality of childbirth experiences.
Conclusions:
- A reconsideration of the term 'normal birth' is urgently needed.
- Updated terminology should better reflect the diversity of childbirth experiences and outcomes.
- Aligning terminology with evidence is crucial for informed decision-making in maternal healthcare.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Fetal Circulation
2.1K
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
2.1K
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
6.7K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.7K
01:22Language Development
705
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
705
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
260
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
260
01:12Setting Time of Cement
458
The setting time of cement refers to the process of cement paste transitioning from a plastic state to a solid state. This process is crucial in construction as it dictates the timeframe for concrete placement, compaction, and finishing. The onset of this solidification is termed the initial set, indicating when the paste becomes unworkable. The final set is when the paste has solidified completely, and further handling or manipulation can no longer affect its shape. The cement strength is...
458
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
4.4K
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...
4.4K