10.1 Partuition

Question 1

What is parturition?

Answer 1

Scientific term used to describe the process of going from a pregnant state to a non-pregnant state at the end of gestation

Question 2

What is a spontaneous abortion?

Answer 2

End of gestation before 24 weeks

Question 3

What is a pre-term birth?

Answer 3

Birth before 36 weeks

Question 4

What is a term birth?

Answer 4

Birth between 37 and 42 weeks

Question 5

What is a post-term birth?

Answer 5

Birth after 42 weeks

Question 6

What is the first stage of parturition?

Answer 6

Creation of the birth canal

Question 7

What is the second stage of parturition?

Answer 7

Expulsion of fetus

Question 8

What is the third stage of parturition?

Answer 8

Expulsion of placenta and contraction of uterus

Question 9

At how many weeks can the uterus be palpated at the umbilicus?

Answer 9

20 weeks

Question 10

At how many weeks can the uterus be palpated at the xiphisternum?

Answer 10

36 weeks

Question 11

What is the ‘lie’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?

Answer 11

Relationship to long-axis of fetus.

Vertebral column of fetus should be antiparallel to the mother

Question 12

What is the ‘presentation’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?

Answer 12

Which part of the fetus is adjacent to the pelvic inlet.

Should be the head

Question 13

What is the ‘vertex’ with regard to the fetus in parturition?

Answer 13

Relationship of the fetus along its axis to the pelvic inlet

Head of fetus should not be flexed

Question 14

How big is an average baby’s head at birth?

Answer 14

9.5cm

Question 15

Describe the cervix during pregancy

Answer 15

Tight
Tough
Thick
Made of collagen

Question 16

What triggers cervical ripening?

Answer 16

Prostaglandins

Question 17

What is cervical ripening?

Answer 17

Reduction of collagen via collagenases
Increase in glycosaminoglycans
Increased hyaluronic acid
Reduced aggregation of collagen via doctorin

Question 18

When does cervical ripening start?

Answer 18

Head engages with the cervix

Question 19

What is a Branson-Hicks contraction?

Answer 19

Practice contractions in middle pregnancy

Question 20

How are uterine contractions made more frequent and more forceful?

Answer 20

Prostaglandins

Oxytocin

Question 21

How are prostaglandins released?

Answer 21

Oestrogen levels rise more than progesterone levels

Oestrogen –> Oxytocin –> Prostaglandins

Question 22

What is brachystasis?

Answer 22

‘Rachet-mechanism’

Uterus contracts more than it relaxes so overtime the net movement is contraction.

Question 23

What is effacement?

Answer 23

Flattening and thinning of the cervix

Question 24

At the end of stage 1 of parturition, how much is the cervix dilated?

Answer 24

10cm

Question 25

What is it called if the head presents first?

Answer 25

Crowning

Question 26

What is it called if the buttocks/shoulder/knee presents first?

Answer 26

Breach presentation

Question 27

What is it called if the feet presents first?

Answer 27

Footling breach

Question 28

Describe the movements of the baby as it moves through the birth canal

Answer 28

Head flexes
Head rotates and stretches vagina and peritoneum 
Head delivered 
Shoulders rotate
Shoulders deliver
Rest of baby delivers

Question 29

Why are postpartum contractions important?

Answer 29

Compress blood vessels so reduce haemorrhage

Question 30

How can the effect of uterine contractions be increased?

Answer 30

Oxytocin drug

Fundal massage

Question 31

What does the neonate have to do to establish life?

Answer 31

Take its first breath

Question 32

What are the stimuli for the first breath?

Answer 32

Cold
Light
Trauma
Noise