Report Broken Link

Midwife to midwife: Support of the perineum and control of the head

Abstract:

In the introduction to Michel Odent's book "Entering the World", Dora Henschel, an English midwife, writes about a visit to Pithiviers. She says, "During the birth the nurse-midwife neither supported the perineum nor controlled the emergence of the baby's head". As a student midwife I was taught to do both - support the perineum and control the baby's head. It is only after years of experience and observation that I realised that most of the time this is not necessary. We do it out of habit and it makes us feel that it is this control of the head or support of the perineum (usually with the co-operation of the mother) which has prevented or minimised tearing.

 view online article View Document

normal vaginal birth, supporting the baby's head during birth, supporting the perineum