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.

This quiz covers the importance of inclusive language and gendered language in the context of women's health, including the rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex people.