Assessment of Fetal lie, position, and presentation (consider abdominal palpation) Flashcards
What are the three stages of abdominal palpation?
- Inspection / ‘Look’
- Palpation and measurement / ‘Feel’
- Auscultate / ‘Listen’
What two positions could the fetal lie be?
Longitudinal or transverse (unstable)
What is the attitude of the fetus?
The relationship of the fetal head (and limbs) to its body. For example, flexed or deflexed.
What are the five possible denominators?
Cephalic, breech, chin, face, shoulder
What is the presentation of the fetus?
The part of the fetus lying in the lower pole of the uterus.
What is cephalic presentation?
Ideal fetal presentation, where the denominator is the occiput.
What is the denominator in a breech presentation?
Sacrum (the bottom of vertebrae)
What is the denominator in a face presentation?
The mentum (chin)
How is it written, when the fetal head is fully engaged?
0/5
What is fetal engagement?
How far the fetal head has passed through the brim of the pelvis.
How is fetal engagement measured?
In a fraction of fifths.
0/5 - 5/5
What is the fetal position?
The relationship of the denominator to eight areas of the maternal pelvis. Left and right anterior, lateral and posterior.
Give examples of the fetal attitude? (4)
Well flexed.
Deflexed.
Partly extended.
Extended.
What are the three manoeuvres used when palpating?
Fundal (two hands), lateral then pelvic
