Table 2 Summary of three Zones of Clinical Practice
From: Recovery after caesarean birth: a qualitative study of women's accounts in Victoria, Australia
Zone | Explanation | Examples from women's accounts |
|---|---|---|
Central zone | Caesarean section performed for unambiguous clinical reasons* (life-saving) | Footling breech, hand presentation, severe oligohydramnios at term, not in labour; severe pre-eclampsia; antepartum haemorrhage in labour, prior caesarean; severe unstable asthma. |
Grey zone | Caesarean section performed for ambiguous clinical reasons* | Maternal 'exhaustion'; 'slow' progress in labour; mild gestational diabetes; suspicion of 'big' baby; mild hypertension. |
Peripheral zone | Caesarean section performed in the absence of clinical reasons | Maternal request (past history of negative birth experience, fear for baby's safety, fear of vaginal birth). |