What is a Birth Intervention?

In labor and delivery, you will hear about interventions often. 

An intervention in birth is anything that does not occur naturally in the labor and birthing process. 

This includes: cervical checks, epidurals, pitocin, IVs, episiotomy, fetal monitoring, forceps, and cesarean. 

Interventions create the need for more interventions, sometimes referred to as the cascade of interventions.

Each intervention has both risks and benefits, and it’s your job to discuss them with your doctor or midwife so that you can make educated decisions together about your specific situation.