§ 90‑178.2. Definitions.

As used in this Article:

(1) "Interconceptional care" includes but is notlimited to:

a. Family planning;

b. Screening for cancer of the breast and reproductive tract;and

c. Screening for and management of minor infections of thereproductive organs;

(2) "Intrapartum care" includes but is not limited to:

a. Attending women in uncomplicated labor;

b. Assisting with spontaneous delivery of infants in vertexpresentation from 37 to 42 weeks gestation;

c. Performing amniotomy;

d. Administering local anesthesia;

e. Performing episiotomy and repair; and

f. Repairing lacerations associated with childbirth.

(3) "Midwifery" means the act of providing prenatal,intrapartum, postpartum, newborn and interconceptional care. The term does notinclude the practice of medicine by a physician licensed to practice medicinewhen engaged in the practice of medicine as defined by law, the performance ofmedical acts by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner when performed inaccordance with the rules of the North Carolina Medical Board, the practice ofnursing by a registered nurse engaged in the practice of nursing as defined bylaw, or the rendering of childbirth assistance in an emergency situation.

(4) "Newborn care" includes but is not limited to:

a. Routine assistance to the newborn to establish respirationand maintain thermal stability;

b. Routine physical assessment including APGAR scoring;

c. Vitamin K administration; and

d. Eye prophylaxis for opthalmia neonatorum.

(5) "Postpartum care" includes but is not limited to:

a. Management of the normal third stage of labor;

b. Administration of pitocin and methergine after delivery ofthe infant when indicated; and

c. Six weeks postpartum evaluation exam and initiation offamily planning.

(6) "Prenatal care" includes but is not limited to:

a. Historical and physical assessment;

b. Obtaining and assessing the results of routine laboratorytests; and

c. Supervising the use of prenatal vitamins, folic acid, iron,and nonprescription medicines. (1983, c. 897, s. 1; 1995, c. 94, s. 30.)