North Carolina § 90-178 - 2. Definitions.

§ 90-178. 2. Definitions.

As used in this Article: "Interconceptional care" includes but is not limited to: Family planning; Screening for cancer of the breast and reproductive tract; and Screening for and management of minor infections of the reproductive organs; "Intrapartum care" includes but is not limited to: Attending women in uncomplicated labor; Assisting with spontaneous delivery of infants in vertex presentation from 37 to 42 weeks gestation; Performing amniotomy; Administering local anesthesia; Performing episiotomy and repair; and Repairing lacerations associated with childbirth. "Midwifery" means the act of providing prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn and interconceptional care. The term does not include the practice of medicine by a physician licensed to practice medicine when engaged in the practice of medicine as defined by law, the performance of medical acts by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner when performed in accordance with the rules of the North Carolina Medical Board, the practice of nursing by a registered nurse engaged in the practice of nursing as defined by law, or the rendering of childbirth assistance in an emergency situation. "Newborn care" includes but is not limited to: Routine assistance to the newborn to establish respiration and maintain thermal stability; Routine physical assessment including APGAR scoring; Vitamin K administration; and Eye prophylaxis for opthalmia neonatorum. "Postpartum care" includes but is not limited to: Management of the normal third stage of labor; Administration of pitocin and methergine after delivery of the infant when indicated; and Six weeks postpartum evaluation exam and initiation of family planning. "Prenatal care" includes but is not limited to: Historical and physical assessment; Obtaining and assessing the results of routine laboratory tests; and Supervising the use of prenatal vitamins, folic acid, iron, and nonprescription medicines. History (1983, c. 897, s. 1; 1995, c. 94, s. 30.)