22 - Child Birth Flashcards
What do I need to know?
- Describe the examination of the pregnant abdomen
- Diagnose the onset of labour
- Describe the 3 stages of labour
- Demonstrate the normal progress in labour and descent of the fetal head through the maternal pelvis
- Explain the possible causes of slow progress in labor (3 Ps)
- Outline abnormal delivery methods
Childbirth definition
Childbirth is the process where BOTH the baby and the placenta are expelled from the uterus
When does childbirth normally occur? i.e. when is term?
37-42 weeks is considered term but most commonly the average is 39-40 weeks
Use your eyes?
Big stomach
- high bmi?
- abdominal tumor? very rare under 45
- pregnant; check for any scars of previous caesarian as this impacts on labour
Use your hands?
- palpate the abdomen to feel the fundus/top of the uterus
- feel the fetus and the fluid volume
Fetal lie?
Fetal lie is the relation of the long axis of the baby to the uterus (which way the baby is lying essentially)
What is the most common fetal lie?
Longitudinal lie (others are transverse and oblique)
How do you measure fetal size/gestational age?
Measure fundal height/how far the fundus is from the pubic symphysis
Presentation?
Presentation describes the part of the fetus that occupies the lower segment of the uterus i.e. the part that is presenting to the outside world
> i.e. vertex/cephalic, breech (bottom first), shoulder
> most common is longitudinal lie with cephalic presentation, also get longitudinal lie with breech presentation and transverse lie with shoulder presentation (can’t deliver vaginally)
Engagement?
Engagement refers to how deep the presenting part of the fetus is engaged in the bony pelvis
- 0 is taken by the ischial spine (pelvic brim/pubic symphysis and is unengaged)
- split into 5ths (if 5/5ths is palbale abd/above pelvic brim then is not engaged)
- tells you about progress of labor
What 4 things does using your hands help you with?
- Gestational age/fetal size
- Presentation
- Engagement
- Fetal lie
Use your ears?
- fetal heart rate
> US doppler looks at the HR in the moment (110-160bpm)
> external fetal monitor looks at the HR over time and shows it on a trace over a period of hours OR weeks of pregnancy
What is a normal fetal HR?
110-160 BPM
Use your mouth?
Ask about the babies movements (movement is good)
What does an obstetric examination include?
Observation Palpation > fetal lie > presentation > engagement Fetal heart rate Baby's movements
When has childbirth started?
Childbirth has started when painful uterine contractions begin AND there is both effacement and dilation of the cervix
Effacement of the cervix?
Reduction in thickness of the cervix
Childbirth starts when..
Painful uterine contractions (oxytocin) and there is both effacement and dilation of the cervix
How many stages is labour divided into?
3
First stage of labour
The first stage of labour is where the cervix opens to full dilation
Begins long and undilated then becomes thin and 10cm fully dilated