Ch. 17 Fetal Assessment During Labor Flashcards
What is electronic fetal monitoring?
A useful tool for visualizing FHR patterns continuously on monitor screen or printed tracing
What are the 2 modes used for electronic fetal monitoring?
External & Internal
What must be maintained during labor to prevent fetal compromise and promote newborn health after birth?
The fetal oxygen supply
How can the fetal oxygen supply decrease?
Maternal hypertension (chronic or gestational); Hypotension (caused by supine maternal position, hemorrhage, epidural analgesia, or anesthesia); Hypovolemia (caused by hemorrhage); Reduction of oxygen content in maternal blood (as a result of hemorrhage or severe anemia); Alterations in fetal circulation (compressed umbilical cord, placental separation or complete abruption, or head compression); & Reduction in blood flow to intervillous space in the placenta
What does UC stand for?
Uterine contraction
Are reassuring FHR patterns good or bad?
Good
What does EFM stand for?
Electronic Fetal Monitoring
What does UA stand for?
Uterine activity
What is normal uterine activity (UA)?
5 or fewer contractions in 10 minutes averaged over a 30-minute window
What is tachysystole uterine activity (UA)?
5 or more contractions in 10 minutes averaged over a 30-minute window
What are some characteristics of UCs?
Tachysystole should always be qualified by presence or absence of associated FHR decelerations. Tachysystole applies to both spontaneous or stimulated labor
What are the goals of intrapartum FHR monitoring?
To identify and differeniate reassuring patterns from nonreassuring patterns, which can indicate fetal compromise.
What is included in a reassuring FHR pattern?
Baseline FHR in normal range of 110-160bpm, with no periodic changes and a moderate baseline variability; Accelerations of FHR with fetal movement; Absence of decelerations
Nonreassuring FHR patterns are associated with what?
Fetal hypoxemia, which is a deficiency of oxygen in the arterial blood
What happens if fetal hypoxemia is not corrected?
Hypoxemia can deteriorate to severe fetal hypoxia, which is an inadequate supply of oxygen at the cellular level
What is the normal range for a baseline FHR?
Normal range is 110 to 160 bpm
What does a nonreassuring FHR include?
A baseline FHR of 160bpm; Decreased in baseline; Absent or persistently minimal variability; Irregular rhythms; Recurrent late or variable decelerations; Decreased FHR during or within 30 seconds after a contraction; Bradycardia
What is the nurse’s role in EFM?
To assess that FHR pattern reflects adequate fetal oxygenation
What does IA stand for?
Intermittent Auscultation
What is intermittent auscultation?
Listening to fetal heart sounds at periodic intervals to assess FHR
What can IA be performed with?
Left scope, DeLess-Hillis fetoscope, Pinard fetoscope, and ultrasound device
What is the goal of electronic FHR monitoring?
To detect fetal hypoxia and metabolic acidosis during labor so that interventions to resolve the problem can be implemented in a manner before permanent damage or death occurs
What are the 2 transducers used to monitor the FHR & UCs?
Ultrasound transducer & Tocotransducer
What instrument is used to assess the FHR through the transmission of Ultrahigh-frequency sound waves reflecting movement of the fetal heart and the conversion of these sounds into an electronic signal that can be counted?
Ultrasound device
What device is used in external monitoring to assess FHR and pattern?
Ultrasound transducer
What device is used in external monitoring to measure uterine activity transabdominally?
Tocotransducer
What does a tocotransducer determine?
The frequency, regularity, and approximately duration of UCs but not their intensity
How does the ultrasound transducer work and where is it placed?
It works by reflecting high-frequency sound waves off a moving interface: in this case the fetal heart and valves. It is placed on the lower abdomen.
How does the tocotransducer work?
The device is placed over the fundus above the umbilicus. UCs or fetal movements depress a pressure sensitive surface on the side next to the abdomen