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Review
. 1999 Mar 20;318(7186):793-6.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.318.7186.793.

ABC of labour care: physiology and management of normal labour

P Steer, C Flint
Review

ABC of labour care: physiology and management of normal labour

P Steer et al. BMJ. .
No abstract available

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Figures

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Figure
Longitudinal view of fetal head in the pelvis showing how little room there is
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Figure
Horizontal view of engagement in left occipito-anterior position
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Figure
Rotation of fetal head as it descends through the pelvis. The maximum diameter of the head matches that of the pelvis at each level (maximum diameters are indicated by an arrow)
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Figure
Factors implicated in the onset of labour
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Dilatation of the cervix: (a) cervix not taken up or dilated in late pregnancy; (b) cervix 1 cm dilated; (c) cervix 2-3 cm dilated with a bag of membranes bulging; (d) cervix 5 cm dilated with the membranes ruptured and amniotic fluid escaping
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Figure
Latent and active phases of labour in a primiparous woman
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Partogram: the broken lines show expected progress of cervical dilatation in multiparous (left) and primiparous (right) women
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Essential changes between intrauterine circulation and extrauterine circulation (the bypasses that close at or soon after birth are marked with parallel lines)
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Meta-analysis of effects of prophylactic oxytocic drugs in blood loss during third stage of labour
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Figure
Pressure recording of a uterine contraction in the later first stage of labour (note differentials of pressure rise with objective palpation of contractions and pain felt by the mother)
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Figure
Delivery in a standing position
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Delivery in hands and knees position
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Positions in labour used by women delivering in hospital or at home
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