Mechanisms of unassisted vaginal labour and birth

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• describe the anatomy of the fetal skull and female pelvis that is relevant to labour
• understand changes in the uterus during pregnancy
• understand the factors involved in the onset of labour
• understand the initiation of human labour – molecular mechanisms
• outline the mechanism of normal labour and delivery
• understand how to monitor progress in labour.

Note that the assessment of fetal wellbeing in labour, pain relief in labour and perineal trauma are discussed in other RCOG eLearning tutorials.

Felicity Watson MRCOG (2020, 2023)

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:

CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
History taking, clinical examination and diagnosis
Facilitates women's decision making

CiP 2: Working in health organisations
Understands ethical principles

CiP 5: Human factors
Demonstrates insight into decision making

CiP 10: Emergency obstetrics
Manages labour

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Intrapartum Care. NG235. NICE; 2023.

The Royal college of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists. Care of Women with Obesity in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 72. London: RCOG; 2019.