Labour does not always move in a straight line, and one of the most stressful moments for women can be hearing that progress has slowed or stopped.
In this clip from How To Be A Woman, Dr Natalie Hutchins speaks with consultant obstetrician Jess McMicking about what doctors are really assessing when they monitor labour progress, when waiting is still appropriate, and when intervention becomes necessary.
They discuss how clinicians think about slow labour, second stage pushing, directed pushing versus following your body, and the difficult decisions that can arise when instrumental delivery or caesarean section are being considered.
“It’s not about obstetricians not understanding physiological birth. It’s actually about trying to get the best outcome and trying to diagnose potentially an obstructive labour as early as possible.”
This conversation offers a calm, practical look at a part of labour that often feels frightening or poorly explained. The aim is not to create fear, but to help women understand the reasoning behind these decisions so they can feel more informed and more involved if labour does not go exactly to plan.
Key Takeaways:
• Labour progress is assessed using more than just cervical dilatation
• Slow progress does not always mean immediate intervention
• Doctors are looking at the whole clinical picture, including the baby, the mother, and signs of obstruction
• In second stage, timing matters, but context matters too
• Directed pushing can be helpful, especially if an epidural is in place
• Instrumental delivery and caesarean section each have their own risks depending on where the baby is
• The goal is not simply to intervene, but to achieve the safest and most appropriate outcome
When labour slows down, it can be easy to feel that something is being taken out of your hands. But one of the most helpful things women can understand is that these decisions are rarely based on a stopwatch alone. They are based on the whole picture in front of the team at that moment. Conversations like this can help make that process feel less mysterious, and hopefully leave women feeling more confident, informed and supported.
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