Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum Issues

This collection features AFP content deemed current by the AFP online medical editor on labor, delivery, and postpartum issues and related topics, including breastfeeding, cesarean delivery, episiotomy, labor pain management, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm labor and birth, shoulder dystocia, umbilical cord blood storage, and vaginal delivery. New research may affect the interpretation and application of this material. Clinical judgment is advised. Note that AFP content published within the past 12 months is accessible to AAFP members and paid subscribers only.

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Last Update: 01/31/2013

Normal Delivery Abnormal Delivery Preterm Labor/Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes Procedures/Monitoring Emergencies Management of Labor Pain Postpartum Care and Complications

Breastfeeding Editorials and Letters Improving Practice Patient Education, Self-Care Other Resources from AAFP Other AFP Content

Normal Delivery

• ACOG Updates Recommendations on Vaginal Birth After Previous Cesarean Delivery [Practice Guidelines] (01/15/2011)
• Upright vs. Recumbent Maternal Position During First Stage of Labor [Cochrane for Clinicians] (02/01/2010)
• Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (08/01/2008)
• Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage: Managing the Third Stage of Labor (03/15/2006)
• Should Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor Be Routine? [Cochrane for Clinicians] (05/15/2003)
• Predicting the Likelihood of Successful Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery [Point-of-Care Guides] (10/15/2007)
• AAFP Releases Guidelines on Trial of Labor After Cesarean Delivery [Practice Guidelines] (11/15/2005)
• Caregiver Support for Women During Childbirth: Does the Presence of a Labor-Support Person Affect Maternal-Child Outcomes? [Cochrane for Clinicians] (10/01/2002)
• Examination of the Placenta (03/01/1998)

Abnormal Delivery

• Instruments for Assisted Vaginal Delivery [Cochrane for Clinicians] (07/01/2011)
• Vacuum-Assisted Vaginal Delivery (10/15/2008)
• Dystocia in Nulliparous Women (06/01/2007)
• ACOG Recommends that Physicians Restrict Use of Episiotomy [Practice Guidelines] (12/01/2006)
• ACOG Issues Recommendations on Assessment of Risk Factors for Preterm Birth [Practice Guidelines] (02/01/2002)

Preterm Labor/Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes

• Preterm Labor (02/15/2010)
• Are Oral Betamimetics Effective Maintenance Therapies After Threatened Preterm Labor [Cochrane for Clinicians] (03/01/2007)
• Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: Diagnosis and Management (02/15/2006)

Procedures/Monitoring

• Umbilical Cord Blood: A Guide for Primary Care Physicians (09/15/2011)
• Spending Time with Patients in Labor [Curbside Consultation] (11/01/2010)
• Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring (12/15/2009)
• Repair of Obstetric Perineal Lacerations (10/15/2003)
• Methods for Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor (05/15/2003)
• Transcervical Amnioinfusion (02/01/1998)

Emergencies

• Prevention and Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage (03/15/2007)
• Shoulder Dystocia (04/01/2004)
• Uterine Rupture: What Family Physicians Need to Know (09/01/2002)
• Common Peripartum Emergencies (11/01/1998)
• ACOG Recommendations on Shoulder Dystocia [Clinical Briefs] (02/15/2003)

Management of Labor Pain

• Epidural Analgesia for Labor Pain [Cochrane for Clinicians] (08/01/2012)
• Labor Analgesia (03/01/2012)
• The Nature and Management of Labor Pain: Part II. Pharmacologic Pain Relief (09/15/2003)
• The Nature and Management of Labor Pain: Part I. Nonpharmacologic Pain Relief (09/15/2003)

Postpartum Care and Complications

• CDC Updates Recommendations for Contraceptive Use in the Postpartum Period [Practice Guidelines] (12/15/2011)
• An Approach to the Postpartum Office Visit (12/15/2005)
• Screening for Depression Across the Lifespan: A Review of Measures for Use in Primary Care Settings (09/15/2002)

Breastfeeding

• Impact of Breastfeeding Support [Cochrane for Clinicians] (02/01/2013)
• Primary Care Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding: Recommendation Statement [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] (05/15/2010)
• Primary Care Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding [Putting Prevention into Practice] (05/15/2010)
• Strategies for Breastfeeding Success (07/15/2008)
• Why Can't I Get My Patients to Exclusively Breastfeed Their Babies? [Curbside Consultation] (07/15/2008)
• AAP Releases Updated Breastfeeding Recommendations [Practice Guidelines] (05/01/2005)
• Initial Management of Breastfeeding (09/15/2001)
• Promoting and Supporting Breast-Feeding (04/01/2000)

Editorials and Letters

• Rationale for a 39-Week Elective Delivery Policy [Editorials] (12/15/2011)
• Umbilical Cord Blood: Importance of Supporting Public Banks [Editorials] (09/15/2011)
• Increasing Patient Access to VBAC: New NIH and ACOG Recommendations [Editorials] (01/15/2011)
• Postpartum Appendicitis Presenting as RUQ Pain [Letters to the Editor] (02/01/2008)

Improving Practice

From Family Practice Management

AAFP's Journal of Practice Improvement

• How to build more maternity care into your practice [Ask FPM] (04/01/2005)
• Sharing Maternity Care (03/01/2003)

Patient Education, Self-Care

• Options for Managing Pain During Labor (03/01/2012)
• Umbilical Cord Blood (09/15/2011)

From FamilyDoctor.org

AAFP's Patient Education Resource

• Pregnancy: What to Expect When You're Past Your Due Date
• Labor Induction
• Breech Babies: What Can I Do if My Baby is Breech?

Other Resources from AAFP

• Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)

Other AFP Content

Tips from Other Journals

• Weighing Benefits and Harms of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery (11/15/2010)