Partograph (Partogram)
Partograph is also known as partogram. Partograph is a composite graphical record of key data during labour entered against time on a single sheet of paper. Partograph is the most important tool for health workers at any level to assess the progress of labour and take appropriate actions. Partogram is a graphic recording of the progress of labour and condition of mother and foetus. Partograph was introduced by friedman in 1954. In 1972 introduced concept of alert and action line by Philpott and Castle. Relevant measurements might include statics such as fetal heart rate, duration of labour, uterine contractions, descent of the fetal head, amniotic fluid colour, cervical dilation and vital sign. Partograph starts recording on the photograph when the labour is in active first stage (4 cm or above). WHO partograph has two diagonal line: alert line and action line. The alert line goes from 4 to 10 cm dilation of cervix and corresponds to an average dilation rate of 1 cm per hour. If the labour curve crosses to the right of this alert line this means that the digestion is less than 1 cm per hour.
Salient features (parameters) of Partograph (Partogram)
- Fetal heart rate (FHR)
- Amniotic fluid colour
- Uterine contractions
- Maternal pulse
- Cervical dilation
- Blood Pressure
- Temperature
Key messages of Partograph are given below 👇
- Labour should be plotted on the photograph during the active stage when cervical dilatation is 4 cm or more.
- Fetal heart rate (FHR), status of membrane and amniotic fluid, uterine contraction and pulse are recorded every half an hours.
- Cervical dilatation, Blood Pressure and temperature or recorded every 4 hours.
Advantages of Partograph (Partogram)
Advantage of partograph are facilitates hand over procedure of staffs, a single sheet of paper can provide details of necessary information at a glance, no need to record labour events repeatedly, gives clear picture of normality and abnormality in labour, it can predict deviation from duration of labour. So appropriate steps could be taken in time.
Principals of the Partograph (Partogram)
The principle of the partogram are (1)-the active page of the labour comminces at 3 cm for primigravida and 4 cm for multigravida. (2)-The latent phase should not lost longer than 8 hours. (3)-During the active phase the rate of cervical dilation should not be slower than 1 cm/ hours.
Thanks!!
By GS India Nursing!!