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Table 2 Matrix of stages of labour in waiting area and birth room

From: Quality of care during childbirth in Tanzania: identification of areas that need improvement

Stage

Latent

Early first

Late first

Early second

Late second

Third

Location

Waiting area

Birth room

 

Birth expected

Birth not imminent

Birth imminent

NA

Labour

Not in labour

Beginning in labour

In labour

After birth

Cervix

Tip of finger, closed,<4 cm

3-7cm

7or 8cm

8or9cm

Fully dilated head high/far

Fully dilated head close

NA

Time allowed

Days

Up to 1 day

Up to 6 hours

Up to 4 hours

1-2 hours

1 hour

5-15min

Nursing proximity

Far

Hearing distance

Close by

Monitoring frequency

None

4hourly, upon shift change, doctors round, upon request

Frequent

None

Monitoring activity

None

Cervical dilatation, foetal heart rate

Cervical dilatation

None

Care seeking

Woman needs to approach the nurse by walking to the nursing station

Nurse will approach the woman, woman can ask for help when nurses are in hearing distance or on the labour ward

Visitors/birth companion

Allowed on set times inside but women are able to go outside as they please

Not Allowed, only when instructed by nursing staff to bring supplies and materials

Mobility

Women are able to walk around freely, urinate at the toilet, can position herself in any way but has to lie flat on her back during examination

Women are confined to the labour bed, urinate in a basin next to the labour bed which is brought by the woman herself, has to position herself lying flat on her back for pushing or other nursing activities

Food and drink

Is allowed to eat and drink as she pleases

Is only allowed tea when this is instructed by the staff