There are many procedures that a laboring woman’s physician or hospital may offer or even insist upon, varying from seemingly benign monitoring procedures to analgesia and anesthesia to birthing position. Here we will take a look at some of the more routine procedures and their risks, benefits and reasons for being performed. My purpose here is not to say that any of these procedures do not have their place in certain birthing situations, only to point out what possible risks and side-affects their routine use can lead to.
