The Labor Progress Handbook: Early Interventions to Prevent and Treat Dystocia

This is the first comprehensive compilation of problem-based, low cost, low risk measures to prevent or treat difficult labor. These measures are logically used before higher-cost, higher-risk interventions. The book is arranged so that a busy midwife can find desired information quickly using flowcharts, plentiful illustrations, and minimal text presented in a systematic approach to specific conditions. The book also provides sections of more detailed text for use when the reader has time to consider the same topics more deeply. The text is carefully tied to research sources, and integrates ideas originating in both the medical model and the midwifery model of birth.

Labor dystocia, or failure to progress in labor, has numerous and often combined etiologies, and is the number on reason for cesarean deliveries.

The Labor Progress Handbook focuses on ways to prevent dystocia, and to manage or treat it before it becomes severe. When interventions are needed, it suggests simple, non-invasive interventions to use early, when they will be more effective. Based on the principle that the woman’s participation is essential to the preventive management of dystocia, it will help increase patient satisfaction while reducing the need for more complex and costly interventions. With seven chapters organized by the stage of labor and suspected etiology, the book describes positions, movements, and techniques based on principles of anatomy, physiology, and psychology of childbirth. Designed for easy reference, it allows caregivers to identify appropriate interventions quickly.

Key features:

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• Designed as a quick reference
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• Gives evidence-based strategies where scientific evidence exists
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• Based on the clinical experience of caregivers
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• Includes rationales for all techniques
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• Provides numerous clear illustrations

The labor Progress Handbook provides midwives, nurses, doctors, doulas, and childbirth educators with strategies to maintain normal labor progress.