The use of fundal pressure during the second stage of labor.

The intensity of the legal climate and the focus on standards of practice in the obstetric setting have forced nurses to carefully scrutinize clinical techniques. The use of fundal pressure during the second stage of labor is a cause of great concern for many obstetric nurses. A nationwide pilot study was conducted to determine whether fundal pressure application is an accepted part of nursing practice in contemporary obstetrics. Sixty-two of the respondents (84%) used fundal pressure during the second stage of labor in their institutions.