Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: - IAWG

Normal labour and childbirthC-59- Encourage her companion to massage her back or hold herhand and sponge her face between contractions;- Encourage breathing techniques;- Encourage warm bath or shower;- If necessary, give pethidine 1 mg/kg body weight (but notmore than 100 mg) IM or IV slowly or give morphine 0.1 mg/kgbody weight IM.FIGURE C-2Positions that a woman may adopt during labourDIAGNOSISDiagnosis of labour includes:• diagnosis and confirmation of labour;• diagnosis of stage and phase of labour;• assessment of engagement and descent of the fetus;• identification of presentation and position of the fetus.An incorrect diagnosis of labour can lead to unnecessary anxietyand interventions.DIAGNOSIS AND CONFIRMATION OF LABOUR• Suspect or anticipate labour if the woman has:- intermittent abdominal pain after 22 weeks gestation;- pain often associated with blood-stained mucus discharge(show);