10.1 Partuition Flashcards
What is parturition?
Scientific term used to describe the process of going from a pregnant state to a non-pregnant state at the end of gestation
What is a spontaneous abortion?
End of gestation before 24 weeks
What is a pre-term birth?
Birth before 36 weeks
What is a term birth?
Birth between 37 and 42 weeks
What is a post-term birth?
Birth after 42 weeks
What is the first stage of parturition?
Creation of the birth canal
What is the second stage of parturition?
Expulsion of fetus
What is the third stage of parturition?
Expulsion of placenta and contraction of uterus
At how many weeks can the uterus be palpated at the umbilicus?
20 weeks
At how many weeks can the uterus be palpated at the xiphisternum?
36 weeks
What is the ‘lie’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?
Relationship to long-axis of fetus.
Vertebral column of fetus should be antiparallel to the mother
What is the ‘presentation’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?
Which part of the fetus is adjacent to the pelvic inlet.
Should be the head
What is the ‘vertex’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?
Relationship of the fetus along its axis to the pelvic inlet
Head of fetus should not be flexed
How big is an average baby’s head at birth?
9.5cm
Describe the cervix during pregancy
Tight
Tough
Thick
Made of collagen
What triggers cervical ripening?
Prostaglandins
What is cervical ripening?
Reduction of collagen via collagenases
Increase in glycosaminoglycans
Increased hyaluronic acid
Reduced aggregation of collagen via doctorin
When does cervical ripening start?
Head engages with the cervix
What is a Branson-Hicks contraction?
Practice contractions in middle pregnancy
How are uterine contractions made more frequent and more forceful?
Prostaglandins
Oxytocin
How are prostaglandins released?
Oestrogen levels rise more than progesterone levels
Oestrogen –> Oxytocin –> Prostaglandins
What is brachystasis?
‘Rachet-mechanism’
Uterus contracts more than it relaxes so overtime the net movement is contraction.
What is effacement?
Flattening and thinning of the cervix
At the end of stage 1 of parturition, how much is the cervix dilated?
10cm
What is it called if the head presents first?
Crowning
What is it called if the buttocks/shoulder/knee presents first?
Breach presentation
What is it called if the feet presents first?
Footling breach
Describe the movements of the baby as it moves through the birth canal
Head flexes Head rotates and stretches vagina and peritoneum Head delivered Shoulders rotate Shoulders deliver Rest of baby delivers
Why are postpartum contractions important?
Compress blood vessels so reduce haemorrhage
How can the effect of uterine contractions be increased?
Oxytocin drug
Fundal massage
What does the neonate have to do to establish life?
Take its first breath
What are the stimuli for the first breath?
Cold
Light
Trauma
Noise
