Care in Normal Birth (WHO, 1996, 60 p.): 6. CLASSIFICATION OF PRACTICES IN NORMAL BIRTH: 6.2 Practices which are Clearly Harmful or Ineffective and Should be Eliminated

Care in Normal Birth (WHO, 1996, 60 p.)

6. CLASSIFICATION OF PRACTICES IN NORMAL BIRTH

		(introduction...)
		6.1 Practices which are Demonstrably Useful and Should be Encouraged
		6.2 Practices which are Clearly Harmful or Ineffective and Should be Eliminated
		6.3 Practices for which Insufficient Evidence Exists to Support a Clear Recommendation and which Should be Used with Caution while Further Research Clarifies the Issue
		6.4 Practices which are Frequently Used Inappropriately

6.2 Practices which are Clearly Harmful or Ineffective and Should be Eliminated

1. Routine use of enema (2.2).
2. Routine use of pubic shaving (2.2).
3. Routine intravenous infusion in labour (2.3).
4. Routine prophylactic insertion of intravenous cannula (2.3).
5. Routine use of the supine position during labour (3.2, 4.6).
6. Rectal examination (3.3).
7. Use of X-ray pelvimetry (3.4).
8. Administration of oxytocics at any time before delivery in such a way that their effect cannot be controlled (3.5).
9. Routine use of lithotomy position with or without stirrups during labour (4.6).
10. Sustained, directed bearing down efforts (Valsalva manoeuvre) during the second stage of labour (4.4).
11. Massaging and stretching the perineum during the second stage of labour (4.7).
12. Use of oral tablets of ergometrine in the third stage of labour to prevent or control haemorrhage (5.2, 5.4).
13. Routine use of parenteral ergometrine in the third stage of labour (5.2).
14. Routine lavage of the uterus after delivery (5.7).
15. Routine revision (manual exploration) of the uterus after delivery (5.7).

CATEGORY C: