Maternité

Examination on arrival confirming labour, its stage and fetal wellbeing, with a birth plan agreed.

A normal birth attended by a midwife, with skin-to-skin contact immediately afterwards.

A suction cup on the baby's head assists delivery when the second stage is prolonged.

A planned operative birth through an abdominal incision, usually under spinal anaesthesia.

An urgent operative birth when vaginal delivery becomes unsafe for mother or baby.

Labour is started with medication or rupture of membranes when continuing is risky.

An oxytocin infusion strengthens contractions when labour progresses too slowly.

Uterotonic, controlled cord traction and uterine massage to prevent bleeding after birth.

A controlled cut of the perineum enlarging the birth outlet when delivery must be hastened.

Birth of twins managed by an experienced team with the operating theatre immediately available.

Vaginal birth of a baby presenting bottom first, conducted by an experienced provider.

Injected antibiotics for infection of the womb or bloodstream around childbirth.

Injectable oxytocin to prevent or stop heavy bleeding after delivery.

Magnesium sulphate stops or prevents fits in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

The placenta is removed by hand from the uterus when it fails to deliver.

The uterus is emptied when tissue remains after birth or miscarriage.

Ventilation of a baby who does not breathe at birth, following Helping Babies Breathe.

Donor blood given for severe haemorrhage or anaemia, after grouping and cross-matching.

A chart recording dilatation, contractions and fetal heart to detect slow or obstructed labour.

The baby's heartbeat is listened to regularly in labour.

A machine records fetal heart rate and contractions continuously during high-risk labour.

Drying, warmth, skin-to-skin contact, cord clamping and breastfeeding within the first hour.

Routine care in the first days: feeding, warmth, cord care and checking for danger signs.

The cord stump is kept clean and dry, and checked daily for signs of infection.

A head-to-toe check for malformation, jaundice, breathing and feeding problems before discharge.

Weight, length and head circumference recorded, with Apgar scored at one, five and ten minutes.

A single injection at birth preventing bleeding disease of the newborn.

Tetracycline eye ointment applied at birth to prevent serious newborn eye infection.

The first vaccines, given before discharge, against tuberculosis and poliomyelitis.

A birth dose for babies of hepatitis B positive mothers, to prevent transmission.

Continuous skin-to-skin carrying of a small baby to keep it warm and feeding well.

Warmth, feeding support and monitoring, with referral to a neonatal unit if unstable.

Early checks for hip dysplasia, heart murmur and hearing.

Bilirubin is assessed and treated to prevent harm from severe jaundice.

The baby is nursed under blue light to lower bilirubin in significant jaundice.

Injectable antibiotics and supportive care for a newborn with suspected infection.

Frequent checks of bleeding, uterine tone, blood pressure and pain in the first six hours.

Observation of mother and newborn after birth, usually for twenty-four hours after a vaginal delivery.

The first check of mother and baby before discharge: bleeding, feeding and danger signs.

Review of healing, infection, jaundice, feeding and the newborn's weight gain.

A final check of maternal recovery, contraception, infant growth and immunisation.

Stitching of a perineal tear or episiotomy under local anaesthesia after birth.

Uterotonics, massage, balloon or surgery to stop heavy bleeding after delivery.

A balloon inflated inside the uterus compresses it to control severe bleeding.

Dressing, inspection and removal of stitches, with advice on signs of infection.

Counselling on attachment, milk supply, cracked nipples and expressing breast milk.

Contraception discussed and started before discharge, including implants and devices.

A device inserted within forty-eight hours of birth for immediate long-acting contraception.

Antiretroviral syrup for the exposed baby, with early infant HIV testing.

A brief questionnaire identifying mothers who need mental health support after birth.

Blood pressure control, magnesium sulphate and timed delivery to protect mother and baby.

Emergency control of convulsions with magnesium sulphate, followed by urgent delivery.

Labour that fails to progress is detected on the partograph and delivered operatively.

Intravenous antibiotics and source control for infection of the womb after birth.

Iron treatment or transfusion for low haemoglobin that threatens mother and baby.

Stabilisation of bleeding from placenta praevia or abruption, with urgent delivery.

Medicines delay birth and mature the baby's lungs before a preterm delivery.

Antibiotics and monitoring, or delivery, when the waters break before labour begins.

Emergency stabilisation and accompanied ambulance transfer to a referral hospital.