Biomaterial Database

Active management of labor. 2005

Jason A Pates, and Andrew J Satin

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Jason.Pates@utsouthwestern.edu

A source of great controversy, the active management of labor as classically defined, is routinely misunderstood and misapplied in many clinical settings. Aggressive induction protocols, early amniotomy, operative delivery, epidural analgesia, and even early admission to labor and delivery units are actions frequently thought to be synonymous with "active management of labor". To regain an understanding of the active management of labor, one needs to examine the goal of this management scheme and become more familiar with its components.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D036861	Delivery, Obstetric	Delivery of the FETUS and PLACENTA under the care of an obstetrician or a health worker. Obstetric deliveries may involve physical, psychological, medical, or surgical interventions.	Obstetric Delivery,Deliveries, Obstetric,Obstetric Deliveries