PRACTICE ISSUE The vaginal examination during labour: Is it of benefit or harm? KEY WORDS: of women achieving birth with minimal Authors: intervention (Tracy, 2006; Waldenstrom, Vaginal examination, intervention, physiological 2007).Whilst there is general agreement • Lesley Dixon RM, BA (Hons) MA Midwifery labour, labour progress, assessment tool, that ARM, augmentation of labour and PhD Candidate midwives, partogram. instrumental births are clinical interventions, Victoria University, Wellington there are many other acts or care practices Midwifery Advisor: The New Zealand that could also be considered an intervention College of Midwives. INTRODUCTION (Kitzinger, 2005). The New Penguin English Email:
[email protected] For most women childbirth is a time of Dictionary defines intervention as the act of transitions and major life changes. Giving intervening, and to intervene is to come in or birth is a dramatic life event which has a • Maralyn Foureur BA, GradDipClinEpi PhD between things so as to hinder or modify them Professor of Midwifery profound influence on a woman and can create (Allen, 2000). If we consider a physiological Centre for Midwifery both positive and negative emotions (Beech birth to be one in which the woman is able Child and Family Health, & Phipps, 2004; Edwards, 2005). Birth is a to labour and give birth in her own space and University of Technology Sydney physiological process that can be shaped and time, with no interference to her physiological Australia influenced by societal expectations, culture rhythms, then any care practice that hinders and emotions and is seldom just ‘a biological or modifies this could be considered to be act’ (Davis-Floyd & Sargent, 1997).