Care Practices that Promote Normal Birth #1: Labor Begins on Its Own

In this position paperdone of six care practice papers published by Lamaze International and reprinted here with permissiondthe benefit of allowing labor to begin on its own is discussed and presented as an evidence-based practice that helps promote, protect, and support normal birth. The paper is written for childbearing women and their families. The accompanying commen-tarydwritten by a leading home-birth midwife and prominent national and international speaker on mater-nity careddescribes further evidence of the disadvan-tages of inducing labor. The indications for and risks of induction are also explored. Lamaze International rec-ommends that, unless there is a medical indication for induction, labor should be allowed to begin on its own. Journal of Perinatal Education, 13(2), 6e10; normal birth, labor interventions, care practices, child-birth education. Laboring and giving birth without unnecessary medical intervention increases the likelihood that you will have positive lifelong memories of your birth experience and decreases the possibility of complications for both you and your baby