MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR

WITH PARTOGRAM
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session you are expected to be able to:
1. Define the partogram
2. Explain the importance of using partogram in labour.
3. Describe the principles that are used to design the
partogram
4. Describe the principles of using the partogram at the
basic and comprehensive health facilities.
5. Describe the protocol for labour management with
the WHO partogram
What is a partogram
(partograph) ?
 Definition
The partogram
Is a graph used in labour to
monitor the parameters of
progress of labour, maternal and
fetal wellbeing, and treatment
administration
 PRACTICAL VALUE OF USING THE
PARTOGRAM
 Offers an objective basis for overtime
monitoring the progress of labour,
maternal and fetal wellbeing.
 Enables early detection of abnormalities
of labour
 Prevention of obstructed labour and
ruptured uterus.
PRACTICAL VALUE OF PARTOGRAM cont

 Complications of obstructed labour and

ruptured uterus contribute up to 30% of
maternal deaths in some areas.
 Proper use of partogram has proved so
useful in reduction of both maternal and
perinatal mortalities and morbidities
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE USE OF
PARTOGRAM
Based on the evidence-based reports on its
effectiveness in monitoring of labour.

WHO
Recommends its use in all labour wards and
for all women (WHO 1994)
Tanzania
Its use is obligatory at all levels of obstetric
care
PRINCIPLES USED TO DESIGN THE PARTOGRAM

The partogram depends on the principles that;

1. The latent phase should not last longer than 8
hours
2. The latent phase ends and active phase starts
when the cervix is 3cm (4cm is sometimes
used)
3. During active phase – the cervix should dilate
at not less than 1 cm per hour
 PRINCIPLES cont

4. A lag time of 4 hours is usually

acceptable the slowing of labour and the
need to intervene; this is the distance
between alert line and the action line.
PRINCIPLES OF USING THE PARTOGRAM

1. Basic health facilities

 Used to monitor labour which is expected to be
normal.
 Those with risk factors should already have been
referred.
 Referral is decided when the progress line of the
cervical dilatation deviates to the right of an alert
line.
2. Health facilities with comprehensive EmOC.
 Used to monitor both high and low risk labour
PROTOCOL FOR LABOUR
MANAGEMENT WITH THE
WHO PARTOGRAM
 EXCLUSIONS
Don’t complete the partogram in case of:
 Prematurity (<34/40)
 Cervical dilatation 9 -10 cm on admission
 Elective CS
 Emergency CS on admission
STARTING THE PARTOGRAM

1. Latent phase
 Contractions at least 2 in 10, lasting ≥ 20 sec
2. Active phase
 Contractions at least 1 in 10, lasting ≥ 20 sec
3. SRM but no contractions
 When oxytocin is started or when labour commences
4. Inductions
 At ARM ± oxytocin
 When induction is medical start when labour commences
(see 1 and 2) or membranes rapture.
DESIRED UTERINE CONTRACTIONS

 The desired rates of uterine contractions

in labour = 4 - 5 in 10 minute, each
lasting 40-50 seconds.
 It may be maintained at that rate
throughout 2nd and 3rd stage of labour
TIMING OBSERVATIONS IN LATENT PHASE AND
ACTIVE PHASE UP TO ACTION LINE

Ideal Minimum acceptable

Parameter in both Latent Active
phases phase phase
(hrs)

Vaginal examination 4 8 4
Descent of head 4 8 4
Contractions ½ 4 2
Fetal heart beats ½ 4 1
Temperature, PR, BP, urine 4 4 4
TIMING OBSERVATIONS IN LATENT
PHASE AND ACTIVE PHASE

 Vaginal examination may be carried

out more frequently in advanced first
stage 7+cm or if problems develop
 MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR BETWEEN
ALERT AND ACTION LINES

 Known as Alert or Referral zone

1. Health facilities with Basic EmOC

 Transfer the woman to hospital unless the cervix is
almost fully dilated
 ARM may be performed if membranes are still intact
and first stage of labour is advanced and delivery is
expected soon.
 MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR BETWEEN
ALERT AND ACTION LINES

2. Health Facility with Comprehensive EmOC

 Perform ARM at vaginal examination
 Continue routine monitoring
 Repeat vaginal examination 4 hrs or earlier if
delivery is expected sooner
 Do not intervene or augment – unless
complications develop
 MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR AT OR BEYOND THE
ACTION LINE

1. Full medical and obstetric assessment

2. Consider IV infusions/ catheterization/ analgesics (pethidine)
3. Options
 Perform CS - if fetal distress or obstructed labour or
operative vaginal delivery if in 2nd stage without severe
fetal distress and/or obstructed.
 Oxytoxin – if no contraindications
 Supportive therapy only – if satisfactory progress is
established and dilatation could be anticipated at 1cm/hr
or faster.
FURTHER REVIEW - in cases continuing in labour

 Vaginal exam after 2 hours, then in 2 more

hours, then in 2 more hours
 Failure to make satisfactory progress,
measured as cervical dilatation of < 1cm/hr
between these examinations, means delivery
is indicated
 Fetal heart while on oxytocin must be
checked at least every ½ hour
 INTERVENTION OF LABOUR

Considerable factors for intervention of labour

1. Cervical dilatation and descent
2. Presentation,
3. Fetal condition e.g. fetal distress
4. Maternal condition
5. Strength and frequency of uterine contractions
6. Moulding/caput formation score
INTERVENTION OF LABOUR cont
 Consider all these factors, do not be guided only by
the dilatation of the cervix in relation to the action
line and by the descent of the fetal head, critical
though these are.

 Intervention needs to be earlier in a multip than in a

prim.
 Some partograms have two action lines one at 3
hours for multips and one at 4 hours for prims
 ABNORMAL PARTOGRAPM

Include the following

1. Prolonged latent phase
2. Protracted dilatation of cervix
3. Arrested dilatation of cervix
4. Protracted descent of the presenting part
5. Arrested descent of the presenting part
6. Prolonged second stage of labour
CAUSES OF ABNORMAL PARTOGRAPM

Divided into 3 Ps
1. Passenger related
o Refers to the fetus: Big baby, hydrocephaly,
2. Power related
o Refers to the expulsive efforts of the uterus and mother:
Poor uterine contractions etc
3. Passage related
o Refers to the bony and soft tissue of the pelvis, vagina
and perineum: Contracted pelvis - CPD
SPECIAL CASES ON THE PARTOGRAM

 Breech NOTE:
 Twins  Plot the labour on the
 IUFD partograph but specific
WHO partogram may not
 Pre-eclampsia
apply
 Previous scar  Such cases are managed
 Diabetes individually
 Cardiac diseases
MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR IN SPECIAL CASES

1. BREECH
 Exclude reasons for immediate CS
 previous CS, contracted pelvis
 Manage latent phase normally
 CS may be indicated if the 8 hour latent phase “action line”
is reached
 In the active phase, dilatation slower than 1cm/hr is a
worrying sign
 Consider oxytocin if dilatation moves to the right of the alert
line
 Reaching the action line is normally the indication for CS
MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR IN SPECIAL CASES cont

2. Multiple pregnancy
 Guidelines for breech apply i.e. prolonged
latent phase or reaching the action line is
indication for CS
3. Pre-eclampsia
 Induction , augmentation and ARM may be
indicted early i.e. in the latent phase before 8
hours or before the action line
MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR IN SPECIAL CASES cont

4. IUFD
 Usually the WHO protocol can be
followed
 Only perform ARM in the active phase
 When intervention is indicated as per
WHO protocol– consider destructive
delivery rather than CS
MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR IN SPECIAL CASES cont

5. Previous scar
 2 previous CS or classical CS →
immediate CS
 Otherwise use WHO protocol but do not
use oxytocin
 Reaching the action line usually an
indication for CS
 SUMMARY

Proper use of partogram is associated

with prevention of abnormalities of
labour as associated complications
and consequently reduction of both
maternal and perinatal mortalities and
morbidities