DAF Form 3915: Labor and Delivery Flowsheet – Download PDF

DAF Form 3915: Labor and Delivery Flowsheet – Download PDF – Expecting parents in the U.S. military community, particularly those receiving care at Air Force or Department of Defense (DoD) medical facilities, rely on accurate, real-time documentation during one of life’s most critical moments. DAF Form 3915, officially titled the Labor and Delivery Flowsheet, is the standardized tool used by military healthcare providers to record vital clinical data throughout labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period.

This 4-page form ensures comprehensive monitoring of maternal and fetal status, supports clinical decision-making, and maintains a clear legal and medical record. It incorporates the DD Form 2005 Privacy Act Statement as its blanket privacy notice for health care records.

What Is DAF Form 3915?

DAF Form 3915 is a Department of the Air Force (DAF) medical flowsheet prescribed by DAFI 44-102. It replaces previous editions (previous versions are obsolete) and is dated 20220331. Healthcare teams in military treatment facilities (MTFs) use it to document the stages of childbirth in a structured, time-stamped format.

The form is designed for chart-by-exception documentation, meaning providers record deviations from normal findings while initialing normal parameters efficiently. It supports both vaginal and cesarean deliveries and includes dedicated sections for labor monitoring, delivery details, and postpartum assessments.

Key features include:

  • Time-based tabular entries for continuous monitoring.
  • Standardized keys/codes for fetal heart rate (FHR) categories (using NICHD terminology), uterine contractions, variability, accelerations/decelerations, and postpartum findings.
  • Fields for medications, interventions, anesthesia, complications, blood loss, and newborn data (including APGAR scores).
  • Patient identification blocks on each page with Name, Date of Birth (DOB), and DoD ID.

Who Uses DAF Form 3915?

Military obstetricians, labor and delivery nurses, midwives, and neonatal teams in Air Force and joint DoD facilities primarily use this form. It applies to active-duty service members, spouses, dependents, and other eligible beneficiaries receiving care in the Military Health System (MHS).

Civilian patients delivering at military hospitals may also encounter it as part of standardized MHS protocols. The form ensures consistency across facilities, supporting high-quality, evidence-based care and seamless handoffs between shifts or providers.

Structure and Sections of the Labor and Delivery Flowsheet

The flowsheet is organized chronologically across its pages:

  1. Labor Monitoring (Primary Flowsheet):
    Providers record vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, SpO2), pain level, fetal heart rate (baseline, variability, accelerations, decelerations, NICHD category, monitoring method—e.g., Doppler or fetal scalp electrode), uterine contractions (frequency, duration, intensity/Montevideo units, technique), vaginal exams, and interventions. Intake/output, urine output source, and remarks are also tracked. A detailed key explains abbreviations for FHR patterns and contraction characteristics.
  2. Delivery Documentation:
    This section captures the progression through the stages of labor, including:

    • Onset of active labor, Group B Strep (GBS) prophylaxis, induction/augmentation indications.
    • Medications administered, anesthesia/analgesia.
    • Fetal presentation, position, pushing duration, lacerations/episiotomy.
    • Mode of delivery (vaginal, cesarean with indications and details).
    • Placenta delivery, estimated blood loss.
    • Infant information: time of birth, sex, gestational age, weight, APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes, resuscitation needs.
  3. Postpartum Assessment:
    Ongoing monitoring includes vital signs, physical exam (breasts, fundus, perineum/lochia, incision if applicable), intake/output, and neuro checks. A specific key defines normal vs. abnormal findings (e.g., fundus firm/boggy, lochia scant/moderate/heavy). Providers document any complications and additional notes.

The form emphasizes real-time, chronological entries with provider initials or signatures for accountability.

The Role of DD Form 2005: Privacy Act Statement

DAF Form 3915 notes that the DD Form 2005 (Privacy Act Statement – Health Care Records) serves as the required blanket Privacy Act notice. This DoD form (updated JUN 2016) informs patients about the authority for collecting personal and health information (including SSN/DoD ID), its principal purposes (providing and documenting medical care, determining benefits/eligibility, claims adjudication, fitness for duty, and MHS program evaluation), and routine uses.

It is not a consent form for releasing information. For military personnel, providing information is generally mandatory for record-keeping and benefits purposes; for other beneficiaries, it is voluntary, though care may be impacted if not provided. The signed DD Form 2005 typically becomes part of the permanent health record alongside DAF Form 3915.

This integration ensures compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 while supporting the secure handling of sensitive maternal and newborn health data within the Military Health System.

Why Proper Documentation Matters in Military Labor and Delivery?

Accurate flowsheet documentation supports:

  • Patient safety through continuous fetal and maternal monitoring.
  • Quality improvement and peer review within MTFs.
  • Legal protection for providers and the DoD.
  • Continuity of care, especially important for families who may PCS (Permanent Change of Station) frequently.
  • Data for research and system-wide improvements in military obstetrics.

In high-volume or teaching facilities, the standardized format reduces errors and improves communication during shift changes or emergencies.

How to Access DAF Form 3915?

The official fillable PDF is available through Air Force e-Publishing:

→ Download DAF Form 3915 here: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/form/daf3915/daf3915.pdf

Always use the current version from official DoD or Air Force sources. Do not rely on unofficial copies for actual patient care.

Note: This form is intended for use by authorized military healthcare personnel. Patients and families do not complete the clinical sections—providers document during care.

  • Military Health System (MHS) pregnancy and newborn care information.
  • TRICARE coverage for labor and delivery services.
  • Air Force or installation-specific maternity support programs.
  • DoD resources on postpartum care and recovery for service members and spouses.

For questions about your specific care, contact your obstetric provider or the labor and delivery unit at your military treatment facility.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare providers for guidance on labor, delivery, and medical documentation.