This guideline covers the care of women and their babies during labour and immediately after birth. It focuses on women who give birth between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy (‘term’). The guideline helps women to make informed choices about where to have their baby and about their care in labour. It al...
This guideline presents evidence and recommendations for cervical ripening and induction of labour. It aims to provide information to birth attendants and pregnant individuals on optimal perinatal care while avoiding unnecessary obstetrical intervention. Consistent interprofessional use of the guideline,...
The primary audience for these recommendations includes health professionals who are responsible for developing national and local health-care guidelines and protocols and health workers involved in the provision of care to women and their newborns during pregnancy, labour and childbirth; this includes m...
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is commonly defined as a blood loss of 500 mL or more
within 24 hours after birth and affects about 5% of all women giving birth around the world.
Globally, nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths are associated with PPH and, in most
low-income countries, it is the main cau...
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is commonly defined as a blood loss of 500 mL or more
within 24 hours after birth and affects about 5% of all women giving birth around the world.
Globally, nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths are associated with PPH and, in most
low-income countries, it is the main cau...
Induction of labour is defined as the process of artificially stimulating the uterus to start
labour. It is usually performed by administering oxytocin or prostaglandins to the pregnant
woman or by manually rupturing the amniotic membranes. Induction of labour is not riskfree, and many women find it unco...
Over recent decades, more and more pregnant
women around the world have undergone
induction of labour (artificially initiated labour)
to deliver their babies. In developed countries,
up to 25% of all deliveries at term now involve
induction of labour. In developing countries, the
rates are generally lowe...
One of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2000 is to
reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015. If this is to be achieved,
maternal deaths related to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) must be significantly
reduced. In support of this, health workers in developing countries...
