Birth Part 1

Question 1

What do Braxton Hicks contractions causes and what are they?

Answer 1

-Not True Labor

• Prepares muscles for labor
• May cause cervical RIPENING
• RARELY strong enough to dilate or push baby down
• Irregular to frequent

Question 2

What is Nesting and what is it a sign of?

Answer 2

Sudden burst of energy

- Prodromal sign of labor (labor is coming)

Question 3

What is considered preterm labor?

What is considered posterm labor?

Answer 3

< 37 weeks

> 42 weeks

Question 4

What is the bottom line of true labor?

Answer 4

True labor causes cervical change

Question 5

What should occur to the cervix during true labor?

Answer 5

Dilation - Cervix opening gets wider

Effacement- Cervix gets thinner

Question 6

Describe the First Stage of Labor

Answer 6

Dilation and Effacement

• Starts with true labor and ends at 10 cm dilation of cervix
• Lasts 6-24 hours+ (primigravidas typically takes longer)
• No evident fetal descent

Question 7

What is the order of phases in the first stage of labor?

Answer 7

1. ) Latent (early) Phase
2. ) Active Phase
3. ) Transitional Phase

Question 8

Describe the Latent (early) phase of First Stage Labor

Answer 8

• Dilation 0-4 cm
• Contractions Duration: 30 seconds
• Frequency: 10-30 minutes to another
• Emotions are Relieved and Excited
• Intensity: mild to moderate

Question 9

Describe the Active phase of First Stage Labor

Answer 9

• Dilation 5-7 cm
• Contractions Duration: 45-60 seconds
• Frequency: 2-5 minutes
• Emotions: More concentrated, more dependent, wavering self confidence
• Intensity: moderate to strong