Abstract

FRANCO, Ninoska; AYLLON, Sonia  and  VALLEJO, Marcelo. BENEFITS OF VERTICAL BIRTHING POSITIONS. Rev. méd. (Cochabamba) [online]. 2010, vol.21, n.1, pp. 19-25. ISSN 2074-4609.

BACKGROUND: Bolivia's national health policy emphasizes that childbirth care practices should be adapted to the practices, desires and culture of the patient. Traditionally, many women to assume prefer vertical positions during the second stage of labor, but current research has not reached conclusive results on the subject. GENERAL OBJETIVE: Identify the physiological benefits and/or risks of vertical and horizontal birthing positions in the Hospital MAV of Punata from September 2009 to January 2010. METHOLOGY: An analytic, retrospective, longitudinal investigation of multiparous women who arrived at the Hospital with full-term, uncomplicated pregnancies. RESULTS: Twenty-five of the included patients assumed vertical positions and 73 horizontal. The frequency of first degree perineal tears was 20% in the vertical positions and 26% in horizontal. Second degree tears presented in 4% of patients in vertical postions and 1.4% in horizontal. Episiotomies were performed on 26% of patients attended in the horizontal position and 4% in vertical positions. Three cases of hemorrhagic-infectious complications were identified. CONCLUSIONES: The childbirth care offered in the Casa Materna during the present study demonstrates the benefits of various vertical birthing positions. Furthermore, it respects the culture and customs of the patient, offering her the opportunity to feel comfortable in the position she and her family members desire.

Keywords : Intercultural birthing; vertical birthing position; perineal tears; episiotomia.