Birth of the baby

Question 1

Oxytocin

Answer 1

Stimulates powerful contraction that help to thin and dilate the cervix, move the baby down and out of the birth canal.

Pressure of the baby against your cervix and then against tissues in the pelvic floor stimulates oxytocin and contractions

Question 2

Endorphins

Answer 2

Produced during times of stress or pain

Alert, attentive

Strengthens mother-infant relationship

Question 3

Adrenaline

Answer 3

Can slow labour or stop it altogether

Can cause fetal distress, stop, slow or cause erratic contractions and creates a sense of panic and increasing pain

Question 4

Prolactin

Answer 4

Central to breast milk production

Question 5

Benefits of prolactin

Answer 5

Calms and relaxes both mother and baby

Regulates the baby’s heart rate and breathing, helping them to better adapt to life outside the womb

Regulates temperature

Stimulates the release of hormones to support breastfeeding and mothering

Question 6

Purpose of delayed cord clamping

Answer 6

Improves the iron levels in the newborn for up to 6 months

Question 7

Signs of separation of the placenta

Answer 7

Uterus contracted and rose to level if umbilicus

Lengthening of the umbilical cord

Trickle of blood from birth canal

Question 8

Immediate care of the mother following birth

Answer 8

Check the uterus to ensure it is well contracted (should be at the level of the umbilicus and should feel firm)

Monitor vital signs (1/4 for first hour especially if heavy bleeding or hypertensive)

Ensure that baby is safe with the mother if skin to skin initiated

Question 9

Types of separation of the placenta

Answer 9

Schultze method - central separation (fetal side facing upwards)

Matthew Duncan’s - marginal separation (maternal side facing upwards)

Question 10

Normal elimination at 1st 24 hours

Answer 10

Meconium and urine

Question 11

Normal elimination at day 6

Answer 11

Wet and dirty diapers

Question 12

Normal elimination day 6-7

Answer 12

Stool changes from black/green sticky to soft caramel brown to very soft yellow creamy

Question 12

Cephalhematoma

Answer 12

Bleeding under the scalp

Caused by damaged blood vessels inside the head

Question 13

Caput succedaneum

Answer 13

Swelling of the head

Caused by physical pressure on the outside of the head

Question 14

Umbilical vein

Answer 14

carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to fetus

Question 15

Umbilical arteries

Answer 15

carry mainly deoxygenated blood from fetal circulation back to the placenta for oxygenation

Question 16

Ductus venosus

Answer 16

Shunts blood from liver to inferior vena cava

Question 17

Foramen ovale

Answer 17

Shunts blood from right atrium to left atrium

Question 18

Ductus arteriosus

Answer 18

Shunts blood from pulmonary trunk to the aorta

Question 19

APGAR score

Answer 19

Appearance
Pulse
Grimace
Activity
Respirations

Question 20

Normal HR

Answer 20

110 - 160 bpm

Question 21

Normal respiratory rate

Answer 21

30 - 60 bpm

Question 22

Colour

Answer 22

Pink, acrocyanosis of feet and hands

Question 23

Normal axillae temperature

Answer 23

36.5 - 37.5 C

Question 24

Evaporation

Answer 24

amniotic fluid evaporates on baby’s skin

Question 25

Conduction

Answer 25

baby is placed on a cold surface

Question 26

Convection

Answer 26

newborn is exposed to cool surrounding air e.g., draft from opened door

Question 27

Radiation

Answer 27

baby is placed close to cold objects but not in contact with them e.g. cold walls and furniture in winter.