Being Empowered to Reduced Unnecessary Medicalisation of the Latent Phase

Abstract

Medical care saves lives, but the biomedic al model of care should not be the dominant model in maternity. By offering some insight into global definitions of the latent phase and associated outcomes of a prolonged latent phase, this article highlights how the unnecessary medic alisation of the latent phase occurs within the UK. Discussion surrounds how midwives as a group can claim empowerment and prevent unnecessary medicalisation through leadership, thinking beyond guidelines, constructing midwifery knowledge and listening to women. It acts as an introduction for midwives to suggest how they can change their practice as a professional group.