cOGText: Labour Flashcards
what is labour? (aka parturition)
the process where products of conception are expelled from the uterine cavity after 24 weeks gestation.
what is preterm labour?
before the commencement of the 37th week of gestation.
There is no normal duration of labour, average for a primiparous woman is ___ hours and for parous women, it is ___ hours.
1) 10 2) 5.5
T/F: Women should be informed that a standard duration of the latent first stage has not been established and can vary widely from one woman to another.
true
The duration of active first stage (from 5 cm until full cervical dilatation) usually does not extend beyond __ hours in first labours, and usually does not extend beyond __ hours in subsequent labours
1) 12 2) 10
A markedly prolonged labour is associated with increased fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity such as …?
fetal distress, PPH, pelvic floor dysfunction and fistulae.
how is ‘prolonged labour’ defined?
Clinically, there is not a specific duration, rather, it is diagnosed when cervical dilatation is <2cm in 4 hours during active labour.
Labour is a continuum and is divided into which 3 stages?
1st stage: starts with the onset of regular painful contractions and cervical changes until it reaches full dilatation and cervix is no longer palpable. 2nd stage: the duration from full dilatation to delivery of the fetus. 3rd stage: the time between delivery of the fetus and delivery of the placenta and membranes.
The first stage of labour is divided into which phases?
early latent phase: cervix becomes effaced, shortens in length and dilates up to 4cm active phase: cervix dilates from 4cm to full dilatation (10cm).
how long should the 3rd stage of labour take? (delivery of the fetus -> delivery of placenta + membranes)
occurs 5-10 minutes after delivery (is considered normal up to 30minutes)
What are the 2 different ways of managing the third stage?
active or physiological
The length of labour will vary between individuals. It is expected that the cervix will dilate ≥?cm in 4 hours during labour.
2
Inform women that, while the length of established first stage of labour varies between women:
- First labours last on average ___ hours and are unlikely to exceed __ hours
- Subsequent labours last on average __ hours and are unlikely to exceed __ hours
- 8, 18
- 5, 12
Definition of the second stage of labour?
when the cervix is fully dilated until complete expulsion of the baby.
The 2nd stage of labour (fully dilatation -> expulsion of the baby) is defined in which two stages?
- Passive 2nd stage: full dilatation prior to or in the absence of persistent (occurring with every contraction) involuntary expulsive contractions.
- Active 2nd stage: when the baby is visible; or Persistent involuntary expulsive contractions with a finding of full dilatation of the cervix or other signs of full dilatation of the cervix or Active maternal effort following confirmation of full dilatation of the cervix in the absence of expulsive contractions.
When is ‘delayed’ labour defined in a
- nulliparous
- multiparous
mother?
- when the active 2nd stage has reached 2 hours
- when the active 2nd stage has lasted 1 hour
at this point the patient should be referred to the obstetric registrar unless the birth is imminent.
The third stage of labour?
the time from the birth of the baby to the expulsion of the placenta and membranes.
What does physiological management of the 3rd stage refer to?
- Uterotonic drugs (oxytocin) are NOT used
- The cord is NOT clamped until the pulsations have ceased
- The placenta is delivered by maternal effort
What does active management of the third stage involve?
- prophylactic use of uterotonic drugs (oxytocin 10 units or syntometrine) with the birth of the anterior shoulder or immediately after the birth of the baby and before the cord stops pulsating or is clamped and cut
- Bladder emptying (catheterisation)
- Deferred clamping and cutting of the cord
- Controlled cord traction after signs of separation of the placenta.
What are the 3 classic signs to indicate separation of the placenta and membranes?
- uterus contracts, hardens and rises
- Umbilical cord lengthens permanently
- There’s a gush of blood variable in amount
- Placenta and membranes appears at introitus.
pros of active management compared to physiological management?
pros
- shortens length of 3rd stage
- is half as likely to cause N&V
cons
- higher risk of haemorrhage of >1L
- higher risk of blood transfusion
when is changing from physiological management to active management indicated?
- Excessive bleeding/ haemorrhage
- Failure to deliver the placenta within 1 hour
- patient’s desire to shorten 3rd stage
Delay in the 3rd stage is diagnosed if not completed within:
__ ___ of physiological management;
__ ___ of active management
60 minutes
30 minutes
Syntometrine is ____ in combination with ____
ergometrine
oxytocin








