[The partogram as an instrument to analyze care during labor and delivery].

Both the World Health Organization and the Brazilian Ministry of Health recommend using the partogram to follow labor. The objective of this study was to analyze the use of obstetrical interventions, the types of delivery, and perinatal outcomes according to zones I, II and III of the partogram. This cross-sectional study was performed with 233 low-risk pregnant women between December 2004 and March 2005 at a public maternity hospital located in the city of Itapecerica da Serra, in the state of São Paulo.

A comparison of "hands off" versus "hands on" techniques for decreasing perineal lacerations during birth.

Our goal was to determine the frequency, degree, and location of perineal lacerations and the neonatal outcomes associated with the use of two techniques of perineal protection--expectant ("hands off") and interventionist ("hands on")--during childbirth. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of two techniques for perineum protection during spontaneous delivery. Study participants included 70 nulliparous expectant mothers, who were divided equally between the "hands off" and "hands on" groups (n = 35 per group).