Supporting a Physiologic Approach to Pregnancy and Birth: A Practical Guide -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Section 1 Understanding a physiologic approach -- Chapter 1 The case for a physiologic approach to birth: An overview -- Spending and doing too much -- Looking for something different -- A look inside -- References -- Chapter 2 The physiology of pregnancy, labor, and birth -- Introduction -- Physiologic adaptive changes in pregnancy -- Physiology of labor -- Psychobiological responses to labor -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 3 A supportive approach to prenatal care -- Introduction -- Typical approach to prenatal care -- Preconception and interconceptional care: Begin a supportive approach early -- Supportive physiologic prenatal care: What is it? -- Components of supportive prenatal care -- Comprehensive care/psychosocial care -- Optimizing the prenatal care setting -- Group prenatal care as an alternative to individual care -- Common discomforts of pregnancy -- Preparation during pregnancy for a physiologic approach to labor and birth -- Inclusivity of partners, families, and support persons -- Strategies to help women achieve their preferred birth experience -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4 Supporting a physiologic approach to labor and birth -- Introduction: What is "normal" childbirth? -- What is a physiologic approach to childbirth? -- Promoting the natural physiologic rhythm of labor -- Progressing in first stage labor -- Entering and progressing through second stage labor -- Care of the woman giving birth -- Specific practices that can disrupt normal physiological labor and birth -- Summary -- References -- Section 2 Interventions and approaches -- Chapter 5 Promoting comfort: A conceptual approach -- Introduction -- Historical context of comfort -- Kolcaba's theory of comfort.

Pain and comfort during childbirth -- What women bring to birth -- The midwifery model of care -- References -- Chapter 6 Continuous labor support -- Introduction -- Continuous labor support: An evidence-based practice that supports normal physiologic birth -- Review: The labor process and the fear-tension-pain cycle -- How well is she coping? Pain versus suffering -- Elements of labor support -- What is presence? -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 7 Techniques to promote relaxation in labor -- Introduction -- Why relaxation? -- Childbirth education -- Promoting relaxation -- Music -- Progressive relaxation -- Breathing techniques -- Imagery -- Heat and cold -- Physical positioning -- Hydrotherapy -- Miscellaneous relaxation aides -- Emotional relaxation -- Mindfulness in relaxation -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 8 Touch therapies in pregnancy and childbirth -- Introduction -- The role of touch in contemporary health care -- The role of touch in midwifery, nursing, and medicine -- Touch as metaphor for caring: jean watson's science of caring -- Use of touch therapies in promoting relaxation and reducing stress and pain -- Overview of touch therapies -- Reconceptualizing touch -- Ethical considerations -- Use of touch to provide support during labor/birth -- Application of touch therapies to pregnancy and postpartum -- Models of care -- Summary and recommendations -- Chapter 9 Water immersion for labor and birth -- Introduction -- History -- Research -- Theoretical risks to mother during water immersion and/or water birth -- Risks to baby -- Incorporating water birth into practice -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 10 Aromatherapy in pregnancy and childbirth -- Introduction -- Brief history and definitions -- Context of aromatherapy -- Essential oils: Production and constituents -- Methods of application.

Toxicity, sensitization, and irritation -- Aromatherapy in maternity care -- Evidence for essential oils in pregnancy and postpartum -- Incorporating aromatherapy in practice -- Credentialing issues -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 11 Acupressure and acupuncture in pregnancy and childbirth -- Introduction -- Definition of acupuncture and acupressure -- Brief history -- Mechanism of action: Eastern theories -- Mechanism of action: Western perspective/theories -- Safety -- Incorporating acupuncture and acupressure into pregnancy -- Specific care when treating pregnant women -- Selected uses during pregnancy -- Cost -- Training, licensure, and certification: Acupuncture -- Training, licensure, and certification: acupressure -- References -- Section 3 Organizational approaches to supporting physiologic pregnancy and birth -- Chapter 12 Rethinking care on the hospital labor unit -- Introduction -- Approaches to care -- The change process -- Picturing a transformed labor unit -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 13 Out-of-hospital birth -- Introduction -- Background -- Factors motivating clients to seek out-of-hospital birth-authority, centrality, and privacy -- Enhancing empowerment of the birthing woman and family -- Key considerations for safe out-of-hospital birth -- System barriers to out-of-hospital birth -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 14 Educating health professionals for collaborative practice in support of normal birth -- Introduction -- Background -- National calls for interprofessional education -- Health professions educational competencies -- Barriers to interprofessional education -- Call for interprofessional education in maternity care -- Interprofessional education within collaborative practice models -- Interprofessional education models -- Interprofessional education for maternity care professionals -- Summary.

References -- Chapter 15 Women's health and maternity care policies: Current status and recommendations for change -- Introduction -- Policies for women's health and maternity care providers -- Hospital policies -- Federal and state policies affecting women's health and maternity care -- Policies supporting breastfeeding -- Summary -- References -- Resources for physiologic pregnancy and childbirth -- Index.