Transfer the mother to the delivery room and prepare her for delivery when delivery seems imminent.

Timing is dependent on the parity of the patient, size of the infant, effectiveness of the patient’s pushes, arrival of the physician, familiarity of the staff with equipment, and need for additional preparation time.

Brookside Associates Note: In many institutions, hospitals and birthing centers, labor and delivery takes place in the same room, and there is no need for transfer.

Parity refers to the condition of the woman with respect to her having borne children.

a. Primigravida patients are transferred when the cervix is completely effaced and dilated and the head or presenting part is crowning.

b. Multipara patients are transferred when the cervix is completely effaced and dilated. The patient usually pushes (i.e., bears down) in the delivery room. She may be transferred prior to complete dilatation (8 to 9 cm) if she is progressing rapidly and the presenting part is descending. These patients are normally not encouraged to push when in the labor room since delivery occurs more rapidly in the multipara patient.