Normal labour

1. Big picture

Normal labour is the physiological process by which a viable fetus, placenta, and membranes are delivered through the birth canal by coordinated uterine contractions.

For the final exam, the examiner wants you to explain:

Normal labour = Passenger + Passage + Powers + Position/Psyche

The key clinical question is always:

Is this still normal physiological labour, or is there a maternal/fetal risk that requires intervention?

Normal labour is not just “contractions and delivery.” It is a stepwise process:

Onset of regular contractions
        ↓
Cervical effacement and dilatation
        ↓
Descent and rotation of the fetal head
        ↓
Birth of the baby
        ↓
Separation and delivery of placenta
        ↓
Uterine contraction to prevent postpartum haemorrhage

The examiner expects you to know the stages of labour, normal fetal head mechanism, maternal and fetal monitoring, partograph logic, pain relief, third-stage management, and red flags.

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