Birth Adjustments: Definition, History, and Further Reading
Birth Adjustments, also known as labor induction or augmentation, is a medical procedure used to initiate or accelerate the process of childbirth. This is done when a woman’s labor is either not progressing or does not begin on its own. It is a common practice that has been around for centuries, and is most often done to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and the baby.
The history of birth adjustments dates back to ancient Egypt, where physicians used a variety of natural herbs and oils to induce labor. However, it was the Greeks who took the practice further and developed a more scientific approach. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the advent of modern pharmaceuticals led to the use of drugs like oxytocin to induce labor.
Today, birth adjustments are used for a variety of reasons, from bringing a pregnancy to term when it would otherwise be too risky to do so, to speeding up the delivery process when it is taking too long. In some cases, the procedure can be done without medication by using tools such as amniotomy or artificial rupture of membranes to induce labor.
Birth adjustments are generally considered safe when done under the supervision of a trained medical professional, and the risks to both the mother and baby can be minimized when done correctly. However, as with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with birth adjustments, such as infection, prolonged labor, uterine rupture, or cord prolapse.
For further reading on birth adjustments, please see the following scientific journal articles in APA7 style:
Jankovic, D., Pravica, V., Radic, M., & Stanojevic, M. (2013). Induction of labor: A review. Acta Clinica Croatica, 52(2), 213–220.
Rouse, D. J., Owen, J., & Hauth, J. C. (2006). Induction of labor. The New England Journal of Medicine, 354(7), 703–712.
Macones, G. A., Cahill, A. G., Odibo, A. O., Stamilio, D. M., & Crane, J. M. (2008). Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women: A systematic review. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 198(2), 134–140.
Caughey, A. B., Sundaram, V., Kaimal, A. J., & Gienger, A. L. (2016). Systematic review of induction methods for cervical ripening and induction of labor. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 214(1), 1–13.