Labour and Women's Health

Labour and Inclusivity

• The SOGC recognizes the importance of inclusivity and respects the rights of all people, including transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals.
• Gender-neutral language is used when appropriate, but gendered language is used in this document to support women's health.

Key Messages in Labour Care

• Labour is a physiological process affected by multiple factors, and interventions should only occur when they support a safer outcome.
• Interventions should include informed discussions and shared decision-making between the pregnant person and caregiver.
• Labour assessment may include OTAS, verification of dates, stage of labour, and ongoing identification of risk factors.

Labour Process

• Labour is a physiological process with an expected outcome of vaginal birth.
• A "wellness approach" to labour and birth focuses on physiological childbearing and reduces routine interventions for low-risk individuals.
• 60% of pregnancies enter labour without obstetrical or pre-existing health concerns, and minimal interventions are expected to achieve a vaginal birth outcome.

Caesarean Section Rates

• The increasing worldwide caesarean section (CS) rate is concerning due to associated maternal morbidity and mortality, health care costs, and potential future pregnancy concerns.
• The overall Canadian CS rate for 2017/2018 was 28.9% of births, with a primary CS rate of 19.4%.

Interventions in Labour

• Interventions are considered when the benefits outweigh the risks and support a safer outcome.
• Informed discussions and shared decision-making processes should occur between the pregnant person and caregiver, ideally during the antenatal period.

Importance of Labour and Birth Experience

• Labour and birth are a time of major transition for families, generating emotions ranging from exhilaration to apprehension and uncertainty.
• The type of support and care received during labour and birth has a significant impact on families, creating positive or negative memories that can last long after the birth.