Active management of labor.

The active management of labor may be one approach to achieving lower rates of intervention. Numerous institutions have reported lower CS rates since initiating this labor management scheme, and concurrent decreases in the length of labor and infectious morbidity have been demonstrated. Sufficient data now exist to conclude that such programs can be instituted without deleterious effects on neonatal outcomes. Nevertheless, success in decreasing CS rates has not been uniform and may be confined to certain settings. Other approaches to labor management may be as good or better at achieving low rates of intervention with minimum morbidity. Any approach that emphasizes advocacy for vaginal birth is likely to produce some success and should receive support.