Scrap ‘normal births’

TERMS such as ‘normal’ and ‘ natural’ birth should be dropped, a midwife-led report has concluded.

The study, from the Royal College of Midwives, found women feel judged by language that suggests their labours have failed or their birth experience has been abnormal. They want descriptions that are ‘non-judgmental, non-hierarchical’ and which are not ‘value-laden’.

The study recommended terms that should be used by health professionals and researchers, including ‘spontaneous vaginal birth’ for a birth without intervention and ‘induced or augmented labour’ for when labour is induced.