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Mechanisms of labour

Labour = expulsion of products of conception after 24 weeks gestation.

1st stage of labour (cervical dilation)

  • Timing:ย 12-15 hours if primiparous (1cm/2 hours), 7.5 hours if multiparous (1cm/hour). It is usually divided into the latent phase (cervical dilation 0-3cm) and active phase (cervical dilation 3-10cm).
  • Signs:
    • โ€˜Showโ€™ (passage of blood stained mucus)
    • Regular painful contractions (3-4 in 10 minutes)ย 
    • Rupture of membranes
  • Mechanism:ย fetal head descends into pelvis
  • Complications:3 Ps
    • Passenger: cephalopelvic disproportion, fetal malpresentation (e.g. persistent occipito-posterior position)
    • Passage: fibroids, cervical stenosis, narrow mid-pelvis
    • Power: primary uterine inertia
  • Interventions may include:ย C-section (e.g. for cephalopelvic disproportion), oxytocin (for contractions)
  • Other points:ย induction of labour may be required for overdue babies, and it may be initiated by a membrane sweep, prostaglandin gel/pessary or artificial rupture of membranesย 

2nd stage of labour (expulsion of foetus)

  • Timing:ย 45-120 minutes if primiparous, 15-45 minutes if multiparous
  • Signs:ย first sign is desire to bear down
  • Mechanism:ย most common starting position is left occiput anterior (see below)
    • Flexed fetus descends: fetal head is very flexed on spine and descends downwards
    • Internal rotation: whole fetus internally rotates (until facing towards maternal back; head at level of ischial spines)
    • Extension of head: head extends around pubic symphysis until delivery
    • Restitution (external rotation): after head delivered, fetus rotates back to its original position (i.e. with shoulders antero-posterior) and comes out sideways
    • Delivery of shoulders: anterior shoulder comes out first, then rest in pelvic axis (i.e. anteriorly)
  • Complications:ย as 1stย stage
  • Intervene when:ย maternal/fetal distress, incomplete internal rotation causing failure to progress
  • Interventions may include:ย instrumental delivery/C-section (for fetal distress or failure to progress), oxytocin (for contractions), McRoberts manoeuvre (for shoulder dystocia)ย 

3rd stage of labour (expulsion of placenta)

  • Timing:ย Around 5-10 minutes with syntometrine (30 minutes – 1 hour without)ย โ€“ IM syntometrine is usually given when the head is born to reduce time and post-partum haemorrhage risk
  • Signs:
    • Gush of blood (50-100ml)
    • Lengthening of cord
  • Management:ย controlled cord traction
  • Complications:
    • Post-partum haemorrhage (>500ml blood loss)
      • Primary (within 24 hours) =ย 4 Ts:ย Tone (uterine atony),ย Tissue (retained placenta/clots),ย Trauma (to perineum),ย Thrombin (coagulopathy)
      • Secondary (24 hoursโ€“6 weeks) = retained placenta/clots
    • Retained placenta
    • Inversion of uterus

Common fetal orientations

  • Lie:
    • Longitudinal (baby vertical)
    • Transverseย (baby horizontal)
    • Obliqueย (baby diagonal)
  • Presentation:
    • Cephalicย (head is presenting part)
    • Breechย (bottom is presenting part)
  • Position (of occiput relative to pelvic rim):
    • Left/right occiput-anterior (LOA/ROA)
    • Left/right occiput-transverse (LOT/ROT)
    • Left/right occiput-posterior (LOP/ROP)ย 

NB: left occiput-anterior is most common position.

Occiput positions

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