Positions during the first stage and the passive second stage of labor: A survey of French midwives.

OBJECTIVE

the objective of our study was to describe the practices reported by French midwives during labor (first stage and passive phase of the second stage).

DESIGN

this cross-sectional internet questionnaire surveyed French midwives who attended at least one delivery in 2013.

SETTING

this open survey was posted on a website from June 15 through December 1, 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

1496 midwives from 377 maternity units participated in the study. Nearly 93% of the midwives worked in an obstetric unit, 5.9% had a mixed practice, and 1.3% worked in private practice.

MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS

during the first stage of labor, midwives reported suggesting that women without epidural analgesia use a birthing ball (98.1%) and that they walk around (97.4%). For women with epidural analgesia, most suggested motion in horizontal positions. Epidural analgesia was proposed more often by midwives from level II (75.7%) and level III (73.5%) maternity wards than by those at level 1 units (57.7%) (p<0.0001). The midwives preferred a lateral position during the first stage for women with epidural analgesia and during the second stage for women both with and without it. Midwives in practice for 5 years or less suggested a kneeling position for women with epidural analgesia more often than more experienced midwives.

KEY CONCLUSION

the practices of French midwives vary with their place of practice and their experience.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

to promote normal labor, French midwives must reappropriate vertical positions and analgesic alternatives to epidurals.