Posted on 12/30/2005 7:02:34 AM PST by Cagey
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pregnant women coached through their first delivery do not fare much better than those who just do what feels natural, according to a study released on Friday.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern found that women who were told to push 10 minutes for every contraction gave birth 13 minutes faster than those who were not given specific instructions.
But they said the difference has little impact on the overall birth, which experts say can take up to 14 hours on average.
"There were no other findings to show that coaching or not coaching was advantageous or harmful," said lead author Dr. Steven Bloom, the interim head of obstetrics and gynecology at the Dallas-based university.
"Oftentimes, it's best for the patient to do what's more comfortable for her," he added.
Bloom and his team studied 320 first-time mothers who had simple pregnancies and did not receive epidural anesthesia.
About half were given specific instructions by certified nurse-midwives during the second stage of labor, when they were fully dilated. The rest were told to "do what comes naturally."
On average, coached mothers trimmed the final stage to 46 minutes compared to 59 minutes, according to the study sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health.
Women in both groups experienced about the same number of forceps use, Caesarean deliveries and skin tears, among other complications.
The results were published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Less clear was whether extra pushing encouraged by a coach could lead to bladder trouble.
In an earlier study, the researchers tested bladder function in 128 of the mothers three months later.
While such problems usually resolve on their own over time, women who had been coached had a smaller bladder capacity and felt the urge to urinate more often, they previously found.
Senior author Dr. Kenneth Leveno, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the school, said it was still not clear if the bladder problems could lead to long-term complications and more studies are needed.
"We don't want to alarm patients about this," he said.
Friday's finding that coaching "confers neither benefit nor harm might be pre-empted if it is confirmed that coaching has deleterious long-term effects," the study concluded.
Very pertinent ping.
18 days. Meep.
}:-)4
"Oftentimes, it's best for the patient to do what's more comfortable for her," he added.
from a mom of 7: no duh. : )
LOL!
We had our first child 6 months ago. We made a trip to the hospital when my wife started having painful contractions, although they were 15-20 minutes apart. They put us into triage, and then sent us home, with instructions to come back in when the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart. My wife kept busy at home. The contractions became even more painful in the next hours, but never got less than 13 minutes apart. Then, the contractions became so excruciating that she had to go back to the ER, at which point she was told she would have a baby naturally within the hour!!! Even though the cotactions never came any closer than 13 minutes at home! So much for the "expert" advice...
Well, seems to me like a reduction of 25% in that particular stage is no "small benefit".
"Oftentimes, it's best for the patient to do what's more comfortable for her," he added.
Comfortable? In childbirth? Now THATS funny.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1549240/posts
Another article on the same subject suggests that fathers need not be present during the birthing process.
Midwives are about useless except for bringing you drinks, swabbing your brow, lending support and calling a real doctor if needed. Same goes for Lamaze.
Either are almost as effective as a Druid priest or a witch.
And how much did this useful study cost?
I always thought those photos of smiling couples sitting on the floor at a Lamaze class weren't going to be smiling for much longer.
Curiously, this is the exact thing I say each and every time I'm getting ready to have sex.
Yeah, but what about LazamaLamaze?
Yes, it would nost likely upset BIll COsby because it would mean one of his best comedy bits made no difference.
"SOME PEOPLE" ????
Just how many people do you disappoint each time you have sex?
First birth, we did Lamaze... totally worthless. Second birth, we took the same lessons that they give the EMTs. I was also told to yell since that brings oxygen to the child. Oh, and we were going to give birth at home but had a back up which we used according to the lessons, perameters which were after ten + hours of labor, go to the hospital.. so we called our doctor, the hospital and the friends to take us to hospital and watch our 3 year old for us. I presented at the hospital 100% dilated, 95% effaced but my waters hadn't broken. They literally ran me to the birthing room where my doc (did I mention it was New Years Eve) broke the waters and Charlie was born within minutes, 9# 9 1/2 oz with no meds and no episiotomy. It was six months before my internals were back to normal. He'll be 26 on Saturday and I haven't lost the babyfat yet. LOL
Exactly our experience! Those breathing lessons only helped my wife yell for the drugs!
Bill Cosby:
"I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children
is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia:
it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"We were well prepared for natural childbirth, which means
that no drugs can be given to the female during delivery.
The father, however, can have all he wants."
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