Summary

In this this Study Session you have learned that:

1. Prepare your equipment for attending a labour and delivery in advance, so you are ready to go immediately if called.
2. Make a rapid evaluation of the labouring woman’s vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature).
3. Follow the principles of woman-friendly care by respecting her beliefs, wishes and rights, and empowering her and her chosen caregivers to support the labour and delivery.
4. Ask about and record the woman’s name, age, address, gravidity and parity, last menstrual period, when she first felt the fetus move, and how long since the first contraction.
5. Ask about danger symptoms: vaginal bleeding, headache, convulsions, breathing difficulties, fever, severe abdominal pain or premature leakage of amniotic fluid (waters breaking).
6. Use abdominal palpation using the four Leopold’s manoeuvres to determine the fetal presentation and position, and the extent of engagement of the presenting part.
7. Do your vaginal examination of the woman in labour to assess cervical dilatation, fetal presentation and descent, the condition of the fetal skull, and signs of vaginal infection, scarring or swelling.