N

NATURAL CHILDBIRTH

In natural childbirth, birth takes place with no medi-
cal intervention. Medical interventions during child-
birth include: giving anesthesia for pain; giving other
drugs such as Pitocin to speed up labor; performing
an episiotomy, in which the perineum or the area be-
tween a woman’s vagina and anus is cut, ostensibly to
reduce tearing in that area; and attaching an elec-
trode to the baby’s scalp to monitor heart rate. In nat-
ural childbirth the idea is that the mother’s body
naturally knows what to do and unless there are prob-
lems, interventions are not necessary or desirable.
Pain control consists of the use of different breathing
patterns (such as the Lamaze method), imagery, mas-
sage, or related techniques. Mothers may be encour-
aged to walk around and try positions such as
squatting. Both of these methods may help labor to
go faster and better. In Western countries, midwives,
nurses, or physicians may facilitate such births. These
births can take place at home, at birthing centers, or
in hospitals.

See also: BIRTH; CESAREAN DELIVERY

Bibliography
Garcia, Jo, Martina Corry, Dermot MacDonald, Diana Elbourne,
and Adrian Grant. ‘‘Mothers’ Views of Continuous Electronic
Fetal Heart Monitoring and Intermittent Auscultation in a
Randomized Controlled Trial.’’ Birth 12 (1985):79–85.
Low, Lisa K., Julia S. Seng, Terri L. Murtland, and Deborah Oak-
ley. ‘‘Clincian-Specific Episiotomoy Rates: Impact on Perina-
tal Outcomes.’’ Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health 45
(2000):87–93.

Walker, Nancy C., and Beverley O’Brien. ‘‘The Relationship be-

tween Method of Pain Management during Labor and Birth

Outcomes.’’ Clinical Nursing Research 8 (1999):119–134.

Michael Lamport Commons

Patrice Marie Miller

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

Naturalistic observation is a technique used to collect

behavioral data in real-life situations as opposed to

laboratory or other controlled settings. This tech-

nique is most useful when little is known about the

matter under consideration. Underlying the interpre-

tation of data obtained through this procedure is the

assumption that the investigator did not interfere

with the natural order of the situation.

As an example of naturalistic observation, the

study of parent-child interaction may involve

videotaping the parent and child in their home either

as they go about their daily routine or as they perform

an activity given to them by the researcher. These

videotaped interactions can then be taken back to the

laboratory and analyzed using a variety of techniques

in order to extract the desired information from

them. This particular research technique has the ad-

vantage of making it easier for research participants

to be involved in the study.

See also: METHODS OF STUDYING CHILDREN

Bibliography

Bakeman, R., and J. M. Gottman. Observing Interaction: An Introduc-

tion to Sequential Analysis. Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge Uni-

versity Press, 1986.

283