The partograph is a graphical record used to monitor labor and detect potential complications. It includes sections to record patient details, fetal condition, labor progress, and maternal condition over time. Key components are cervical dilation and fetal descent plotted against time-lines to identify abnormal labor progression. Crossing the alert line indicates the need for action to expedite delivery. By combining all necessary observations on one sheet, the partograph increases quality of monitoring and serves as an early warning system to guide decisions about labor management.

1. Partograph
Advait Vasavada

2. What for?
• To detect abnormal labour
• To indicate when augmentation of labour is appropriate
• To recognize CPD long before obstruction occurs

3. Graphical record of key data during labor

4. Components
 Patient identification and
general details
 Fetal record
 Progress of labour
Maternal condition

5. General details
• Name
• Gravida
• Para
• Age
• Hospital no.
• Date of admission
• Time of admission
• Time of Ruptured membranes

6. Fetal record
• Fetal heart rate (n.120-160)
• Presence and absence of fetal membranes(I, R)
• The nature of liquor(C, M, A, BS)
• Presence of moulding of fetal skull.(0,+,++,+++)

7. Progress of the
labour
Cervical effacement and
dilatation
Descent of fetal
head(represented as fifths
palpable per abdomen)
Uterine contractions –
duration, frequency and
strength

8. Alert line
• Its drawn from 3 to 10 cm.
(Some start it from 4cm)
• Represents rate of dilation of
cervix at 1cm/hr.
Actionline
• It is drawn 4 hours to the right
and parallel to the Alert line.

9. Descent assessed by abdominal
palpation
Recorded as a circle (O) at every
vaginal examination. At 0/5, the
sinciput (S) is at the level of the
symphysis pubis.

10. Maternal condition
• Oxytocin regime
• Drugs & IV Fluids
• Pulse/ BP / Temp
• Urine – volume,
acetone, protein

11. Advantages
• Increases the quality of all observations on the mother and fetus in
labour
• All the necessary info combined in a single sheet
• Repeated recordings avoided
• Serves as an “Early warning system”
• Assists in early decision on transfer, augmentation, termination of
labour

13. Advait