ABSTRACT

In the UK, it is usual for midwives to supervise normal labour and perform normal deliveries, and for doctors to become involved in management if labour becomes abnormal. This pattern is followed to a large degree in NHS hospitals, although medical students and junior doctors may undertake some normal deliveries as part of their training. Each unit will decide for itself what constitutes abnormal labour, the acceptable role of the midwife and the threshold at which medical help must be sought. Many units have extended midwifery roles for some of their staff and these midwives may undertake tasks which, elsewhere, would be performed by doctors. Such tasks will include the setting up of intravenous infusions, the interpretation of cardiotocograph (CTG) traces, decision making on minor CTG abnormalities, deciding to enhance labour with oxytocin infusion and undertaking the repair of perineal damage caused by either a tear or episiotomy.