Pregnancy and labour are normal physiological events. However, although it is rare, any mother can become unwell and early detection remains a challenge to the professionals caring for her because normal changes of physiology in pregnancy make both complications and illness more difficult to detect.

Making and recording physiological observations are an integral part of care.

So, for obstetric patients, their observations are recorded on a MEOWS chart.

MEOWS stands for Modified Early Obstetric Warning Score.