Kathy,

Having been a L& D nurse for 16 years prior to my LC career I will tell you
that in my experience the only time we had mom's stop pushing once the head
was on the perineum was when there was particulate or thicker meconeum
present. Suctioning was then done mechanically prior to delivery of the head .
This is following the guidelines of Neonatal Resuscitation  of the AHA , which
as L&D nurses and MDs (OB/Peds) and actually all of our MCH nurses are
required to be certified in. This was a protocol we all adhered to due to the
potential consequences of Meconeum aspiration. Over that 16 year period I have
seen much less suctioning done as a routine. In the early 80s we used to
suction the gastric contents of every newborn "just in case" with a delee
suction trap. That is just not done routinely anymore thank god. Granted,
there is probably still way too much intervention and I for one , after all
this discussion of oral aversion , know what one of my L&D inservices will
include this year.

As for epidurals, women WANT them!!!  We have a wealthy population and they
want  to have their comfort. Even when the education as to the effects are
discussed there seems to be no change in what they expect from their birth
experience. I could go on  but I won't.
Happy New Year
Jane Ciaramella