title: Active management of labor.
abstract: A source of great controversy, the active management of labor as classically defined, is routinely misunderstood and misapplied in many clinical settings. Aggressive induction protocols, early amniotomy, operative delivery, epidural analgesia, and even early admission to labor and delivery units are actions frequently thought to be synonymous with "active management of labor". To regain an understanding of the active management of labor, one needs to examine the goal of this management scheme and become more familiar with its components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Jason.Pates@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pates
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Satin
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy