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Review
. 2021 Aug;48(3):647-663.
doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2021.05.012.

The Term Newborn: Alternative Birth Practices, Refusal, and Therapeutic Hesitancy

Affiliations
Review

The Term Newborn: Alternative Birth Practices, Refusal, and Therapeutic Hesitancy

Michelle Leff et al. Clin Perinatol. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

The care of late preterm and term newborns delivered in hospital settings in the United States is largely standardized with many routine interventions and screenings that are evidence-based and serve to protect newborn's and the public's health. Refusals of various aspects of routine newborn care are uncommon but can be challenging for clinicians who care for newborns to navigate for many reasons. In this article, we describe the spectrum of refusal. We review suggested approaches that clinicians can take starting with increasing their own awareness of what specific components of newborn care are refused and why.

Keywords: Alternative birth practices; Refusal; Routine recommendations; Therapeutic hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors have no commercial or financial conflicts of interest or any funding sources related to the content of this article to disclose.