Care in Normal Birth (WHO, 1996, 60 p.): 6. CLASSIFICATION OF PRACTICES IN NORMAL BIRTH: 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

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

6.3 Practices for which Insufficient Evidence Exists to Support a Clear Recommendation and which Should be Used with Caution while Further Research Clarifies the Issue

1. Non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during labour, such as herbs, immersion in water and nerve stimulation (2.6).
2. Routine early amniotomy in the first stage of labour (3.5).
3. Fundal pressure during labour (4.4).
4. Manoeuvres related to protecting the perineum and the management of the fetal head at the moment of birth (4.7).
5. Active manipulation of the fetus at the moment of birth (4.7).
6. Routine oxytocin, controlled cord traction, or combination of the two during the third stage of labour (5.2, 5.3, 5.4).
7. Early clamping of the umbilical cord (5.5).
8. Nipple stimulation to increase uterine contractions during the third stage of labour (5.6).

CATEGORY D: