The Partograph.

Obstetrics & Gynecology

The partograph is a crucial tool for monitoring the progress of labor, recording all observations made on a woman in labor. Its central graph plots cervical dilation and fetal head descent, allowing for the identification of abnormally slow labors that may require intervention. The document outlines which women should have a partograph, including those with singleton cephalic presentations, and specifies when it should not be used, such as for women in the second stage of labor. It details the key observations charted, including cervical dilatation, fetal head descent, and uterine contractions (frequency and duration), as well as fetal heart rate and maternal condition.