Jan: I agree with your points, and I certainly wasn't justifying the doctors' position, just stating that that is the purported rationale. I agree that these practices need to be questioned. However, there will be considerable resistance, because of the fear of lawsuits (I guess this will only be balanced if there is an equal fear of lawsuits stemming from the consequences of unnecessary interventions). Just because there will be resistance, of course, is no reason to sit back and allow detrimental practices to continue. We've all seen changes come about when non-research-based practices are questioned (some of us remember days of sterile delivery rooms, prep and shave and enema for every laboring woman). Let's all continue working for positive changes. Alicia Dermer, M.D., IBCLC (YES!!). [log in to unmask]