he concept of an active approach to the Management of labour was first introduced by O'Driscoll and colleagues in 1969. By the regular assessment of cervical dilatation in labour and early correction of abnormal progress by oxytocin or prostaglandins it has been suggested that the occurrence of prolonged labour in nulliparous patients can be virtually eliminated and incidence of caesarean section can be dramatically reduced.

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. Limits of normal were defined

Philpott and Castle in 1972 introduced the concept of "ALERT" and "ACTION" lines. The aim of this study was to fulfill the needs of paramedical personnel practising obstetrics in Rhodesian African primigravidae. The alert line represented the mean rate of progress of the slowest 10% of patients in the African population whom they served. 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

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Studd's labour stencils were introduced in 1972. These stencils predicted the expected pattern of progression of labour based on the extent of dilataton achieved by the time the patient is admitted (zero time). Curves showing the average course of cervical dilatation were constructed for various dilatation on admission. Five separate patterns representing normal labour progression were constructed. The curves were transcribed onto acrylic stencils On admission in labour, the cervical dilatation was assessed and a stencil was used to draw the relevant pencil line of expected progress on the patient's cervicograph which was then completed. Those crossing the nomogram line were found to have a three fold increase in instrumental delivery.

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