Active Management of Labour
The Dublin Experience

Presents an approach to the management of labour. Based on the proposition that effective uterine action is the key to normal delivery, this book covers the aspects of delivery for nulliparous women with vertex presentation and single foetus. It is a guide meant for obstericians, midwives, anaesthetists, and the auxiliary staff of maternity units.

This manual encompasses a comprehensive approach to the management of labour. Based on the simple proposition that effective uterine action is the key to normal delivery, "Active Management of Labour" covers all aspects of delivery for nulliparous women with vertex presentation and single foetus. This is an accessible and practical guide for obstericians and midwives, as well as anaesthetists and the auxiliary staff of maternity units.

Section 1: Text 1. Nulliparous v parous women 2. Induction v acceleration 3. Malpresentations, malformation, twins 4. Duration of labour 5. Diagnosis of labour 6. Progress: first stage 7. Progress: second stage 8. Acceleration of slow labour 9. Oxytocin in labour 10. Normal and abnormal labour (dystocia) 11. Inefficient uterine action 12. Cephalopelvic disproportion 13. Occipitoposterior position 14. Trauma 15. Pain 16. Antenatal preparation 17. Analgesic drugs 18. Epidural anaesthesia 19. Personal attention 20. Role of the doctor 21. Role of the nurse/midwife 22. Role of the mother 23. Care of the fetus 24. Induction 25. Organization 26. Cervix in labour 27. Caesarean section rates 28. Cerebral palsy
Section II: Visual Records 1. Nulliparous labour 2. Duration of labour 3. Diagnosis of labour 4. Progress in labour 5. Care of the fetus 6. Oxytocin 7. Analgesia 8. Method of delivery and additional items 9. Normal labour (1) 10. Normal labour (2) 11. Normal labour (3) 12. Abnormal labour: slow progress (1) 13. Abnormal labour: slow progress (2) 14. Abnormal labour: slow progress (3) 15. Abnormal labour: secondary arrest (1) 16. Abnormal labour: secondary arrest (2) 17. Method of treatment: artificial rupture of membranes 18. Method of treatment: oxytocin infusion (1) 19. Method of treatment: oxytocin infusion (2) 20. Failure to respond to treatment: error in diagnosis 21. Failure to respond to treatment: membranes intact 22. Failure to respond to treatment: hesitant use of oxytocin 23. Failure to respond to treatment: cephalopelvic disproportion 24. Induction: success 25. Induction: failure (1) 26. Induction: failure (2) 27. Fetal distress: placental insufficiency/accident of labour 28. Parous labour
Section III: Clinical Data 1. Comparative figures for 35 years 2. Analysis of hospital population 3. Clinical circumstances of perinatal deaths 4. Rupture of uterus 5. Traumatic intracranial haemorrhage in firstborn infants 6. Cerebral dysfunction in mature infants 7. Diagnosis of labour 8. Duration of labour in nulliparous women 9. Spontaneously labouring nulliparous women with a single cephalic pregnancy at term 10. Obstetrical norms in nulliparous women