The Challenge of Using Soft Computing for Decision Support during Labour

This paper presents the development of a Decision Support System for managing the labour based on the Soft Computing technique of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. During labour, obstetricians manage and take decisions on the fetus delivery and the procedure of the labour, monitoring continuously a visual recording of the fetus heart signal and uterine contractions and they also take under consideration other physiological medical measurements and factors. Obstetricians utilize their experience and they decide either to proceed to a natural labour or to a Caesarean section. The developing system for managing labour delivery will combine evaluation of cardiotocographic signal with other physiological data in order to create an advanced Decision Support System.