What does it mean to chart?

Hello Everyone,

I had a dear friend ask me what charting a birth meant.  I thought that I would post my answer here, so that you all could know.

Charting a labor/birth/postpartum consists of writing down the progress (i.e.) the dilation, when baby’s born, the placenta etc. 

Charting is used to mark down the vital signs (i.e.) mother’s pulse, blood pressure, temperature,  & baby’s heart rate.

It is also used to mark down anything else that may be needed later (i.e.) medications given – why & where,  how the mother is doing physically, things that the midwife has encouraged or instructed the mother to do, etc.

I hope this helps, please don’t hesitate to ask for more clarity if you still have more questions!