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Intrapartum care

Quality standard [QS105] Published date: 10 December 2015 Last updated: 28 February 2017

  • Quality standard
  • Tools and resources
  • Information for the public
  • History
  • Care of women and their babies during labour and birth
  • Having a baby
  • Your care team
  • Choosing where to have your baby
  • The early stage of labour
  • Care during labour
  • Pain relief
  • What happens during labour?
  • When your baby is born
  • Delivering the placenta
  • After the birth
  • Complications
  • What if I need to be transferred to an obstetric unit during labour?
  • If there is a delay in labour
  • If there is meconium during labour
  • If electronic monitoring is needed
  • If you need an episiotomy
  • If the placenta is not delivered
  • If you have heavy blood loss after the birth
  • If your baby is unwell
  • Care of your baby if your waters broke before labour started
  • Terms explained
  • Sources of advice and support
  • Other NICE guidance
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Information for the public

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Complications

Complications

Although most women have a normal labour and birth, there are sometimes complications. The most common ones are described in the following sections.

If you are at home or in a midwife-led unit, you may have to be transferred to an obstetric unit during labour or after the birth if any of these complications develop, so that extra care is on hand if needed.

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