GuidelinesOther guideline
Diagnosis of Labour
The guidelines recommend management of common obstetric conditions at primary and referral level, based on local experience and evidence-based practice. They are not intended as strict protocols nor as standard operating procedures, but rather as a guide to safe effective management of common obstetric problems. The guidelines should be most useful to interns, medical officers and registrars.
Labour is diagnosed if there are painful regular uterine contractions accompanied by at least one of the following:
- Cervical effacement and dilatation
- Rupture of the membranes
- Show
The latent phase is defined as labour with the cervix dilated 3 cm or less, not fully effaced. The active phase is defined as labour with the cervix dilated ≥4 cm and fully effaced. This distinction may at times be difficult.