Oh The Times, They Are a Changin...

Or at least, one might hope.

But, when the Wall Street Journal reports on such mundance concerns as childbirth, pregnancy and delivery, folks take notice. Kaiser Permanente did a nice summary.

As a result, hospital groups are limiting the use of the hormone oxytocin, which often is used to induce labor or increase the frequency of contractions, because it can cause uterine ruptures, fetal distress and infant death when used in excessive doses. In addition, many hospital groups are adopting policies that restrict the use of forceps and vacuums, which can help move infants through the birth canal but also can lead to injuries, such as bone fractures and nerve damage. The new policies are "already changing the experience" of delivery in many hospitals, making it more difficult to schedule deliveries "on a convenient day" for the ob-gyn or pregnant woman and preventing the administration of oxytocin to speed up a long and potentially painful labor, the Journal reports.

Very interesting.