Chapter 14: Caring for the Woman Experiencing Complications During Labor and Birth Flashcards
Dystocia
long, difficult, or abnormal labor, is a term used to identify poor labor progression
>may be related to maternal positioning during labor, fetal malpresentation, anomalies, macrosomia, and multiple gestation
Recognizing Indicators of Dystocia
nurses should suspect dystocia when there is a lack of progress in the rate of cervical dilation, fetal descent and expulsion, or an alteration in the pattern of normal uterine contractions
Factors Associated with an Increased risk of Uterine Dystocia
- uterine abnormalities, such as congenital malformations and overdistension (e.g. hydramnios and multiple gestation)
- fetal malpresentation or malposition
- cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)
- maternal body build (greater than 30 lb overweight, short stature)
- uterine overstimulation with oxytocin
- inappropriate timing of analgesic/anesthetic agents
- maternal fear, fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance
Hypertonic Labor
contractions are strong and often painful but are ineffective in producing cervical effacement and dilation
>an increase in catecholamine release (e.g. epinephrine and norepinephrine) can result in poor uterine contractility
>uterine pacemakers (the energy source of contractions located in the uterine wall) do not initiate a good myometrial response needed for progressive cervical change; instead, irregular spasmodic episodes occur that do not result in effective contractions or assist in bringing the fetus into a more favorable downward position
What causes hypertonic labor?
-maternal anxiety; anxiety produces high levels of catecholamines
>many factors contribute to a woman’s fear: primiparous labor, loss of control, sexual abuse, lack of support, cultural differences, fear of pain
-occiput-posterior malposition of the fetus can be a cause
Management of Hypertonic Labor
-establish a more effective labor pattern
-rest, hydration, and sedation reduce the irritability of the uterus and help to diminish the ineffective contractions
-medications for rest: meperidine (Demerol), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and morphine
-non-pharmacological techniques to reduce anxiety: relaxation techniques, massage, warm shower or rub bath, and emotional support
>whose fetus is in a occiput-posterior position: facilitate the head into a more favorable position; walk and change positions during course of labor (want an anterior lie for the fetus)
Nursing Care For Hypertonic Labor
- thorough assessment; identify factors that contribute to increased maternal anxiety
- monitoring of contractions
Hypotonic Labor
uterine contractions decrease in frequency and intensity
- hypotonia
- occurs during active phase of labor
- fewer than 2 or 3 contractions during a 10 minute period
- uterus can be easily indented, even at the peak of the contraction, and the intrauterine pressure (IUP) is insufficient for the progression of cervical effacement and dilation
How does Hypotonic labor happen?
maternal and fetal factors that produce excessive uterine stretching and overdistention
>fetal macrosomia, anomalies, malpresentation, multiple gestation, and hydramnios
Fetal Macrosomia
leading cause of uterine hypotonia
-fetus whose birth weight is above the 90th percentile on an intrauterine growth chart for that gestational age
Risks for Uterine Hypotonia
- fetal macrosomia
- maternal obesity
- pharmacological agents used to alleviate pain
How is Labor hypotonia managed?
- clinical, ongoing assessments
- walking and position changes
- use of relaxation techniques, massage, and water treatments can decrease need for pharmacological agents for pain
- an amniotomy, or artificial rupture of membranes may be successful in increasing uterine contractility
- other measures to enhance progress of labor: membrane stripping, nipple stimulation, and oxytocin infusion
- maternal and fetal assessments: vital signs, contraction patterns, and cervical changes documented
Precipitous Labor
produce very rapid, intense contractions
-lasts less than 3 hours from the beginning of contractions to birth
>greatest risk: multiparous women with little soft tissue resistance
-patients often progress through the first stage of labor with little or no pain and may present to the birth setting already advanced into the second stage
Complications of a Precipitous Labor
result from trauma to maternal tissue and to the fetus because of the rapid descent
-hemorrhage may occur from uterine rupture and vaginal lacerations
>most women are not prepared for the rapid advancement of labor and become alarmed, highly anxious, and fearful
>fetus may suffer from hypoxia related to the decreased periods of uterine relaxation between the contractions and intracranial hemorrhage r/t the rapid birth
Nursing Considerations for a Precipitous Labor
-initial assessments
-a multiparous patient with a previous history of rapid labors needs to alert physician or midwife; prenatal record should include this
-in a nulliparous patient, careful examination for cervical dilation and effacement is required
>because a previous labor pattern is an unknown variable in a nulliparous patient, the nurse must be alert in recognizing signs of abnormally rapid cervical dilation
The nurse who assists with a precipitous birth should take the following actions
- request a translator to interpret for patients unable to speak or understand English
- assist the laboring woman to breathe through each contraction to prevent pushing
- provide continuous emotional support
- provide perineal support with warm cloths
- frequently monitor the maternal and fetal vital signs and immediately report any abnormal findings to physician or certified midwife
- after birth, carefully monitor for signs of hemorrhage; assess for trauma to the perineum
- assess neonate for evidence of trauma and report and document all findings
Pelvic Dystocia
occurs when contractures (fixed tightening) of the pelvic diameters reduce the capacity of the bony pelvis, the mid-pelvis, the outlet, or any combination of these planes
-contractures of the maternal pelvis may result from malnutrition, neoplasms, congenital abnormalities, traumatic spinal injury, or spinal disorders
-immaturity of the pelvis may predispose adolescent mothers to pelvic dystocia
>contractures of the inlet, midplane, or outlet can cause interference in engagement and fetal descent, necessitating a cesarean birth
Soft Tissue Dystocia
occurs when the birth passage is obstructed by an anatomical abnormality other than that involving the bony pelvis
-the obstruction, which prevents the fetus from entering the bony pelvis, may be caused by placenta previa, uterine fibroid tumors (leiomyomas), ovarian tumors, or a full bladder or rectum
>Bandl ring; late sign associated with obstructed labor
Bandl ring
a pathological retraction ring that develops between the upper and lower uterine segments
- is the abnormal junction between the two segments of the human uterus
- associated with prolonged labor, prolonged rupture of the membranes, and an increased risk of uterine rupture
- late sign associated with an obstructed labor
Trial of Labor (TOL)
the surveillance of a woman and her fetus for a set amount of time (usually 4 to 6 hours) during spontaneous active labor to assess the safety of a vaginal birth
->indications for a trial of labor: situations when the maternal pelvis is of questionable size or shape, fetus is in an abnormal presentation, and when the woman decides to have a vaginal birth after a previous (low segment transverse) cesarean birth
What happens before a trial of labor (TOL)?
an assessment of the adequacy of the maternal pelvis for vaginal birth (to rule out cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)) is conducted with sonography or maternal pelvimetry
>cervix must be favorable (soft, dilatable), and throughout the TOL, the woman is assessed for the presence of adequate contractions, engagement an descent of the fetal presenting part, and cervical dilation and effacement
Nursing Responsibilities during a Trial of Labor (TOL)
- assessment of maternal vital signs and FHR pattern
- if complications arise, notify primary care provider, and evaluates and documents the maternal-fetal responses to the interventions
- offer support and encouragement; ongoing information about labor progress
Amnioinfusion
instillation of normal saline or lactated ringers solution into the uterine cavity
-used to supplement the amniotic fluid volume in patients with oligohydramnios caused by uteroplacental insufficiency, premature rupture of membranes, and postmaturity
>patients experiencing variable FHR decelerations caused by cord compressions is improved through use of Amnioinfusion
>risks of procedure: infection, overdistention of the uterus, and increased uterine tone
How is Amnioinfusion Performed?
the fluid is instilled through an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC); the amniotic membranes must be ruptured for catheter placement
- fluid may be warmed with a blood warmer before administration and the infusion may be given by bolus or continuous flow
- when possible, a double lumen IUPC is used because the intrauterine pressure can be monitored without stopping the Amnioinfusion