Curriculum of Obstetrics
TOPIC 25
NORMAL LABOR
RATIONALE
Labor is a series of regular, coordinated uterine contractions that result in progressive cervical dilatation and effacement, allowing for fetal descent and expulsion. Detailed knowledge of the process of normal labor is mandatory for medical students at this stage of their education.
GOAL
Recognize the physiology, mechanism, and management of normal labor
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
l Define normal labor and its stages
l Describe the mechanism of delivery of the fetal head and shoulder
l Describe the steps in proper management of normal labor
CONTENT
l Definition of normal labor
l Stages of normal labor
l Powers of labor
l Mechanism of normal labor
l Management of normal labor
l Episiotomy: indication, type, and advantages
