The Labor Progress Handbook: Early Interventions to Prevent and Treat Dystocia

by Penny Simkin

The third edition of The Labor Progress Handbook builds on the success of first two editions and remains an unparalleled resource on simple, non-invasive interventions to prevent or treat difficult labor.  Features new to this edition include two new chapters on third and fourth stage labor management and low-technology interventions, a complete analysis of directed versus spontaneous pushing, and additional information on massage techniques.

Genres: Parenting, Health, Nonfiction

548 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As another reviewer stated, every labor attendant should read this. Moms-to-be would benefit from it too – although it’s technical, it’s still comprehensible and organized well, especially if you’re reading other books in tandem. My doula said it’s the one book she always has with her.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone who works in birth!

[Myridian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. The information is research based (with references at the end of every chapter!) and the organization really does make it a handbook. In addition to early chapters that deal with general dytocia causes and recommendations, later chapters are divided up by the stage of labor, and with two additional chapters at the end that are references re labor positions with purposes and proscriptions, and comfort measures.

I feel my confidence in dealing with fetal malposition and tolerating labor pain has improved exponentially and I would recommend this book to all birth attendants, women who want to be informed re labor, and labor coaches. Now if I can just be sure my husband understands all the information in here too we'll be set.

My one qualification is that the second edition is now five years old and I think Simkin should give us a third edition with more updates re recent research. I would buy it!

[Kelly Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for healthcare providers, nurses, and doulas supporting women through labor. Goes into great depth on potential challenges at each stage of labor, reasons, preventions where possible, diagnostics, and ways to address them to improve birth outcomes. Very evidence-based guide and organized in such a way as to be a good reference guide to keep in the doula bag. More technical than the birth partner but was a great read to piggyback on its resources for a deeper understanding.

[Anicka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great alternative to birth-preparation books aimed at parents. This one doesn't try to sell you any kind of specific philosophy, but simply concentrates on approaches that promote low-intervention birth and are supported by evidence or at least experience. All the advice is neatly summarized in chapters 9 and 10, so that you can review it whenever you need to.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book focuses on reasons for slow progress and solutions to try - including positions, comfort techniques, and resolving any emotional reasons. It's a great reference for anyone working in birthing. I liked that it included what scientific studies have said about the subject.

[Kelli Pizarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must go in doula bag!

This book is full to the brim with useful tips, instructions, and facts to help a laboring women deliver with the least possible need for cesarean section or other intervention

[Annemarie Plenert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful and well laid out as a resource both for birth assistant training and during births. Thorough, well-researched, and the diagrams are useful. Highly recommend.

[Melissa Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great resource. Well organized. Such a shame that they chose to use gendered language, as if making a note about it at the beginning is acceptable penance.

[Chantel]

I'm not a medical professional but still found this book to be immensely valuable in reading as a parent to be. Could be particularly helpful for those who have had a belly birth before, or would like to be proactive in potentially preventing one.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this the pictures helped explain situations good

[Noa Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for every birth worker, super informational!

[Gage Agag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix if clinical/non-clinical interventions and support techniques.

[Mercer Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for folks that will be supporting people in birth and labor.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful with plenty of hands on advice for a ton of different reasons for a stalled/slow labor. The graphics were very helpful too!

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful resource for doulas! I will be keeping this in my birth bag!

[The Reading Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the equivalent of the Bible for midwives in terms of labour management.

[Largercircle]

Wow. This book is so useful, especially for someone like me whose mind works best in a linear, graphic way. Starting with definitions and moving from before labor through pre-labor, early labor, active labor, to second stage, the authors explore why and how labor can be dysfunctional and what to do to restore it to functionality. There are also sections with specific descriptions of maternal positions and movements, and comfort measures.

I do know, however, that in labor or when with a woman in labor, one doesn't necessarily use the information laid out here in such a linear A-B-C way. Intuition plays a big role, and communication, in deciding what to actually do in the moment when something is making a labor difficult and long. Oftentimes, though, I think birth attendants can feel just as "stuck" as the mom does when things are not going smoothly, and having the information in this book (or maybe even the book itself!) at hand to get some new ideas working could be a huge help at those times.

[Rachel Winsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The information provided in the book is research based and the citations can be found at the end of every chapter, so you can read it from the source. It's laid out just like a handbook. In addition to early chapters that deal with general dytocia causes and recommendations, later chapters are divided up by the stage of labor, and with two additional chapters at the end that are references for labor positions with purposes and proscriptions, and comfort measures. I love that the updated version includes some info from Gail Tully on fetal positioning and what we can do about it.

[Mercury1122 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way more information than you could possibly need unless you're a OBGYN or neonatal nurse, but since I'm the type of person that is soothed by over-learning about the thing that's freaking me out, I liked this book a lot. Being pregnant is indeed both a super amazing and terrifying experience and even though my brain completely quit working during labor so that everything I learned about giving birth didn't matter anyway, I still really enjoyed this book.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so wonderfully, clearly and succinctly written.
penny simkin is a birthing goddess. one of my heroes.
she is so grounded and direct in her suggestions, all backed by scientific evidence - hard to dispute even by the worst of the OB brigade.

[Melinda Bollinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and love the easy look ups for labor postions, transition periods, different ways to help with labor pain. I take this book with me during my doula visits to the hospital and when I am teaching classes on labor and delivery because of how easy it is to read and look things up in

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for any birth attendant, OB, L&D nurse, midwife, doula... considering that, as the book states, labor dystocia is the most common reason for cesarean... so having a handbook like this that is easy to reference with tons of solutions for a stalled labor is invaluable.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book to have as a Doula, Midwife,Nurse, doctor, or birth info junkie. Just really technical and very useful.

[Marielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to help a laboring women wanting an unmedicated birth. Focuses just on coping with labor.

[Shelley White-corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource to resolve labor dystocia (stalls), whether it be physical or emotional.

[Jeri Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite!!!

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

great information! anyone planning on being a labor support person should read it !

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep this in my doula bag -- a great primer for ideas on how to help labor along naturally.

[Danielle Rodda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I take when I go with doula clients. Could have a better "quick reference".