I was very heartened to read in the latest issue of Practising Midwife, that a £2.6M study is underway. A study in what(?) I hear you ask. "To investigate whether adopting an upright position during the late stage of labour with an epidural gives a greater chance of having a straightforward birth."
All dependent on the analgesia and that an effective mobile epidural has been administered, they are looking to see if it reduces the risk of an instrumental delivery (forceps, ventouse etc).
Mmm...I've been teaching adopting 'supported' upright positions during an epidural for many years now, and failing that, encouraging women to lie on their left-side if anything else is not possible. Anything, but be on your back.
My teaching has been further supported by the wonderful visual aids I use, which were created by Lina Clerke.
I'm looking forward to seeing the results of this one!
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