Partograph

A Partograph is a
graphical record of the
observations made of a
women in labour.
For progress of labour
and salient conditions of
the mother and fetus.
It was developed and
extensively tested by
the World Health
Organization (WHO).
History Of Partogram
 Friedman's partogram devised in 1954 was
based on observations of cervical dilatation and
foetal station against time elapsed in hours
from onset of labour. The time onset of labour
was based on the patient's subjective
perception of her contractility. Plotting cervical
dilatation against time yielded the typical
sigmoid or 'S' shaped curve and station against
time gave rise to the hyperbolic curve.
 PHILPOTT AND CASTLE
In 1972 introduced the concept of "ALERT" and
"ACTION" lines.
Alert line was drawn at a slope of 1 centimetre/hr for
nulliparous women starting at zero time i.e. time of
admission .
Action line drawn four hours to the right of the alert line
showing that if the patient has crossed the alert line
active management should be instituted within 4 hours,
enabling the transfer of the patient to a specialised
tertiary care centre.
The action line was subsequently drawn two hours to the
right of the alert line
WHO Partograph
 Overview
The Partograph can be used by health workers with
adequate training in midwifery who are able to :

- Observe and conduct normal labor and delivery.

- Perform vaginal examination in labor and assess
cervical dilatation accurately.
- Plot cervical dilatation accurately on a graph
against time .
 Objectives
 Early detection of abnormal progress of a labour
 Prevention of prolonged labour
 Recognize cephalopelvic disproportion long before
obstructed labour
Assist in early decision on transfer , augmentation , or
termination of labour
 Increase the quality and regularity of all observations
of mother and fetus
 Early recognition of maternal or fetal problems
The Partograph can be highly effective in reducing
complications from prolonged labor for the mother
(postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, uterine rupture and its
sequelae) and for the newborn (death, anoxia,
infections, etc.).
 Partograph function
The Partograph is designed for use in all
maternity settings , but has a different level of
function at different levels of health care.
In health center, the partograph’s critical
function is to give early warning if labour is
likely to be prolonged and to indicate that the
woman should be transferred to hospital (ALERT
LINE FUNCTION ).
 In hospital settings, moving to the right of alert
line serves as a warning for extra vigilance , but
the action line is the critical point at which
specific management decisions must be made.
Other observations on the progress of labour
are also recorded on the Partograph and are
essential features in management of labour.
 Components of the
Partograph
Part I : Fetal condition

( At Top )
Part II : Progress of
labour
( At Middle )
Part III : Maternal
condition
( At Bottom )
Outcome :
………………
 Part I : Fetal Condition
This part of the graph is used to monitor and assess
fetal condition
1 - Fetal heart rate
2 - Membranes and liquor
3 - Moulding the fetal skull bones
Fetal Heart Rate
Basal Fetal Heart Rate

< 160 beats/min = Tachycardia

> 120 beats/min = Bradycardia

 >100 beats/min = Severe

Bradycardia
 Membranes and
Liquor
Intact Membranes ……………………………………….I

Ruptured Membranes + Clear Liquor …………………...C

Ruptured Membranes + Meconium- Stained

Liquor .......M

Ruptured Membranes + Blood – Stained Liquor

………..B

Ruptured Membranes + Absent Liquor…………………..A

 Moulding the Fetal Skull
Bones
Molding is an important indication of how adequately
the pelvis can accommodate the fetal head.
Increasing moulding with the head high in the pelvis is
an ominous sign of cephalopelvic disproportion
Separated bones . Sutures felt easily ……………….….O
Bones just touching each other ………………………..+
Overlapping bones ( reducible 0) ……………………...++
Severely overlapping bones ( Non – reducible ) ……..++
+
 Part II – Progress of Labour
 Cervical dilatation
 Descent of the fetal head
 Uterine contractions
This section of the paragraph has as its central feature a
graph of cervical dilatation against time.
It is divided into a latent phase and an active phase .
Latent Phase :

• It starts from onset of labour until

the cervix reaches 3 cm dilatation
• Once 3 cm dilatation is reached ,
labour enters the active phase
• Lasts 8 hours or less
• Each lasting < 20 seconds
• At least 2/10 min contractions
Active
phase :
Contractions
at least 3 / 10
min.
Each lasting <
40 seconds.
The cervix
should dilate
at a rate of
1 cm / hour or
faster.
Alert Line ( Health
Facility Line )

The alert line drawn from 3 cm dilatation

represents the rate of dilatation of 1 cm /
hour.
Moving to the right or the alert line means
referral to hospital for extra vigilance.
Action Line ( Hospital
Line )
The action line is drawn 4 hour to the right of
the alert line and parallel to it.
This is the critical line at which specific
management decisions must be made at the
hospital.
 Cervical Dilatation
It is the most important information and the surest
way to assess progress of labour , even though other
findings discovered on vaginal examination are also
important .
When progress of labour is normal and satisfactory ,
plotting of cervical dilatation remains on the alert line
or to left of it.
 If a woman arrives in the active phase of labour ,
recording of cervical dilatation starts on the alert line.
 When the active phase of labor begins , all
recordings are transferred and start by plotting
cervical dilatation on the alert line.
Descent of the Fetal
Head
• It should be assessed by
abdominal examination
immediately before doing a
vaginal examination, using
the rule of fifth to assess
engagement
• The rule of fifth means the
palpable fifth of the fetal
head are felt by abdominal
examination to be above the
level of symphysis pubis
• When 2/5 or less of fetal head
is felt above the level of
symphysis pubis , this means
that the head is engage , and
by vaginal examination , the
lowest part of vertex has
passed or is at the level of
ischial spines
Assessing descent of the fetal head by vaginal
examination;
0 station is at the level of the Ischial Spine (Sp). 
 Uterine Contractions
Observations of the contractions are made every hour in the latent phase
and every half-hour in the active phase.
 Frequency how often are they felt ?
 Assessed by number of contractions in a 10 minutes period
 Duration how long do they last ?
Measured in seconds from the time the contraction is first felt
abdominally , to the time the contraction phases off.
Each square represents one contraction.
Palpate number of contraction in
ten minutes and duration of each
contraction in seconds
Less than 20 seconds: 

Between 20 and 40 seconds:

More than 40 seconds:

 Part III: Maternal
Condition
 Name / DOB /Gestation
 Medical / Obstetrical issues
Assess maternal condition regularly by monitoring :
Drugs , IV fluids , and oxytocin , if labour is augmented
 Pulse , blood pressure, Temperature
 Urine volume , analysis for protein and acetone
Management of Labour using the
Partograph
- Latent phase is less than 8 hours
- Progress in active phase remains on or left of
the
Doalert line
not augment with
oxytocin if latent and
active phases go
normally
Do not intervene unless
complications develop
Artificial rupture of
membranes
( ARM )
No ARM in latent phase
ARM at any time in
active phase
 Between Alert and Action lines
In health center , the women must be transferred
to a hospital with facilities for cesarean section ,
unless the cervix is almost fully dilated
Observe labor progress for short period before
transfer
Continue routine observations
ARM may be performed if membranes are still
intact
 At or Beyond Action
Line
Conduct full medical assessment
Consider intravenous infusion /
bladder catheterization / analgesia
Options
- Deliver by cesarean section if there
is fetal distress or obstructed labour
- Augment with oxytocin by
intravenous infusion if there are no
contraindications
ABNORMAL
PROGRESS OF
LABOUR
One of the main
functions of the
partograph is to detect
early deviation from
normal progress of
labour.
 Moving to the right of
alert line
This means warning
Transfer the woman from health center to
hospital
 reaching the action line
This means possible danger
Decision needed on future management
(usually by obstetrician or resident )
 Prolonged latent phase
If a woman is admitted in
labor in the latent phase
( less than 3 cm
dilatation ) and remains in
the latent phase for next 8
hours
Progress is abnormal and
she must be transferred to
a hospital for a decision
about further action
This is why there is a
heavy line drawn on the
partograph at the end of 8
hours of the latent phase
Prolonged Active phase
In the active phase of labor , plotting
of cervical dilatation will normally
remain on or to the left of the alert
line
But some cases will move to the right
of the alert line and this warns that
labor may be prolonged
This will happen if the rate of cervical
dilatation in the active phase of labor
is
not 1 cm / hour or faster
 A woman whose cervical dilatation
moves to the right of the alert line
must be transferred and managed in
a hospital with adequate facilities for
obstetric intervention unless delivery
is near
 at the action line , the woman must
be carefully reassessed for why labor
is not progressing and a decision
made on further management
arrest of
cervical
dilatation
Abnormal progress of
labor may occur in cases
with normal progress of
cervical dilatation then
followed by secondary
arrest of dilatation
 Secondary arrest of head
descant
Abnormal progress of labor may occur with normal
progress of descent of the fetal head then followed by
secondary arrest of descent of fetal head
Precipitate Labour
- Maximum slope of dilatation of 5 cm/hr or
more
USING THE PARTOGRAPH
POINTS TO REMEMBER
It is important to realize that the partograph is a
tool for managing labor progress only

The partograph does not help to identify other

risk factors that may have been present before
labor started
Only start a partograph when you have checked
that there are no complications of pregnancy that
require immediate action

A partograph chart must only be started when a

woman is in labour, be sure that she is contracting
enough to start a partograph

If progress of labor is satisfactory , the plotting of

cervical dilatation will remain or to the left of the
alert line
When labor progress well , the dilatation should not
move to the right of the alert line

The latent phase . 0 – 3 cm dilatation , is

accompanied by gradual shortening of cervix .
normally , the latent phase should not last more
than 8 hours

The active phase , 3 – 10 cm dilatation , should

progress at rate of at least 1 cm/hour

When admission takes place in the active phase ,

the admission dilatation, is immediately plotted on
the alert line
When labor goes from latent to active phase ,
plotting of the dilatation is immediately
transferred from the latent phase area to the
alert line.
Dilatation of the cervix is plotted ( recorded with an
X , descent of the fetal head is plotted with an O , and
uterine contractions are plotted with differential
shading

Descent of the head should always be assessed by

abdominal examination ( by the rule of fifths felt
above the pelvic brim ) immediately before doing a
vaginal examination

Assessing descent of the head assists in detecting

progress of labor

Increased molding with a high head is a sign of

cephalopelvic disproportion
Vaginal examination should be performed
infrequently as this is compatible with safe practice
( once every 4 hours is recommended )

When the woman arrives in the latent phase , time

of admission is 0 time

A woman whose cervical dilatation moves to the

right of the alert line must be transferred and
managed in an institution with adequate facilities for
obstetric intervention , unless delivery is near
When a woman ,s partograph reaches the action line ,
she must be carefully reassessed to determine why
there is lack of progress , and a decision must be made
on further management ( usually by an obstetrician or
resident )

When a woman in labor passes the latent phase in less

than 8 hours i.E., Transfers from latent to active phase ,
the most important feature is to transfer plotting of
cervical dilatation to the alert line using the letters TR,

Leaving the area between the transferred recording

blank. The broken transfer line is not part of the process
of labor

Do not forget to transfer all other findings vertically

IMPORTANT COSIDERATIONS
OXYTOCIN
Oxytocics must be preserved in a cool ,
dark place
A local regime may be used
Oxytocin should be titrates against
uterine contractions and increased every
half- hour until contractions are 3 or 4
in10 minutes , each lasting 40 – 50
seconds
It may bra maintained at the rate
throughout the second stage of labor
Stop oxytocin infusion if there is
evidence of uterine hyperactivity and /
or fetal distress
Oxytocin must be used with caution in
multifarious women and rarely , if at all ,
in women of Para 4 or more
Augment with oxytocin only after
artificial rupture of membranes and
provided that the liquor is clear
 MEMBRANES
if membranes have been ruptured for
12 hours or more , antibiotics should
be given

As a first defense against serious infections, give a

combination of antibiotics:
- ampicillin 2 g IV every 6 hours;
- PLUS gentamicin 5 mg/kg body weight IV every 24 hours;
- PLUS metronidazole 500 mg IV every 8 hours.
Note:
If the infection is not severe, amoxicillin 500 mg by mouth
every 8 hours can be used instead of ampicillin.
Metronidazole can be given by mouth instead of IV.
 FETAL DISTRESS
If a woman is laboring in a health center .
transfer her to a hospital with facilities for
operative delivery
In a hospital , immediately :
- Conduct a vaginal examination to exclude cord
prolapse and observe amniotic fluid
- Provide adequate hydraion
- Administer oxygen , if available stop oxytocin
-Turn the woman or her left side
THANKYOU