Chapter 13: Nursing Care During Labor And Birth Flashcards
What is the priorities for a focused assessment?
- Determine condition of mother & fetus
- If birth is imminent
Focused assessment includes
- FHR
- Maternal VS
- Impending Birht
Focused Assessment: FHR
- Intermittent auscultation for termed fetus.
- Normal rate and rhythm
- Note presence of acceleration and absconded of decelerations.
Focused Assessment: Maternal VS
-Assessed to identify HTN or infection: BP and temperature
HTN or preeclampsia in pregnancy
140/90 or higher
Maternal temperature of 38 C (100.4 F) or higher suggests
Infection
Impending Birth sings include
- Grunting sounds
- Bearing down
- Sitting on one buttock
- “Baby is coming”
Comfort measures during labor and birth include **
- Lighting
- Temperature
- Cleanliness
- Mouth care
- Bladder
- Positioning
- Water
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Lighting
Soft, indirect lighting is soothing.
Bright overhead light is irritating.
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Temeprature
- Mom is usually hot and perspiring. Cool, damp washcloths on her face and neck promote comfort.
- Electrical fan
- Socks if feet get cold
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Cleanliness
Bloody show and amniotic fluid leak from the vagina during labor.
- Change sheets and gown as need, keep her dry and comfortable.
- Change the underpad regularly to reduce microorganisms that may ascend into vagina. (Folded towel or bath blanket absorbs larger quantities of amniotic fluid than the pad alone)
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Mouth care
- Ice chips, frozen juice bars, and hard candy on a stick reduce discomfort from dry mouth.
- Brushing teeth and simply rinsing mouth.
- Lip balm
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Bladder
Get her to empty her bladder and check her suprapubic area at least every 2 hours.
How can a full bladder affect labor and birth?
- Intensifies pain during labor
- Delay fetal descent
- Cause pain that remains after epidural is started
Comfort measures during labor & birth: Positoning
-Movement and frequent position changes
Movement and frequent position changes in labor promotes:
- Decrease in pain, improve maternal-fetal circulation
- Improves the strength and effectiveness of contractions
- Decrease length of labor
- Facilitate fetal descent
- Decrease perineal trauma and episiotomies.