EXAM #2 Flashcards
Powers:
Primary:
-Uterine contractions
-Causes dilation and effacement
-Increment, acme, decrement, relaxation
Secondary:
-Maternal pushing
-Urge to bear down
-Should NOT push if the cervix is not fully dilated.
What devices measure uterine contractions?
Tocodynamometer (TOCO): external
Intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)
What is Increment, acme, decrement?
-Increment: building of contraction
-Acme: Peak
-Decrement: decrease of the contraction
Frequency of contractions is defined as:
The beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next one.
A mild contraction feels like the…
nose
A moderate contraction feels like the…
chin
A strong contraction feelss like the…
forehead
Define Effacement:
Process of shortening and thinning of the cervix.
Passageway
Baby must pass through the Inlet, midpelvis and the outlet.
Passenger:
Fetal lie:
*Longitudinal: baby is upside-down
*Transverse: baby is coming out shoulder first
*Oblique: baby is coming out bottom first
Fetal attitude/presentation:
*Flexion: Vertex. Fetal head is flexed so that the chin is tucked to the chest
*Moderate flexion: Military, straight up
*Poor flexion or extension: Brow presentation
*Full Extension: face presentation
*Breech presentation:
-Frank: legs are extended up
-Footling
-Complete: Legs are flexed
Engagement:
When the widest part of the fetal presenting part had passed through the pelvic inlet
Station:
The level of the presenting part in relation to the ischial spine.
Station zero
Will usually start pushing at +1
Position:
*Right or left of the patient
*Occiput: Position of head coming into the uterus
*Sacrum: Breeched
*mentum: chin
* Acromian process: shoulder
*Anterior,posterior or transverse
Characteristics of false labor:
-Contractions are irregular
-Pain is abdominal
-No change in cervix
-Walking lessens pain
Characteristics of true labor:
-Contractions are at irregular intervals
-Pain is in lower back and radiates to the abdomen
-Cervical changes occur
-Walking increases labor pain
Signs and symptoms of impending labor:
-Lightening: Baby’s head settles in pelvis at 38W
-Braxton Hicks
-Cervial effacement: thinning and softening
-ROM
-Bloody show: bloody mucus plug
-Energy Spurt
-Weight loss
-GI disturbances
What to assess on a mother in impending labor:
-Interview
-Fetal & Maternal assessment
-Psychosocial & cultural assessment
-Lab tests (Blood type, Rh factor, CBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, glucose, STIs; UA: WBC, protein, glucose and ketones)
-IV start
What is Leopold maneuvers?
Abdominal Palpation of the fetal position.
What is baseline fetal heart rate?
The average FHR that observed between contractions over a ten minute period
-110 to 160bpm
What can cause tachycardia in a fetus?
-Fetal anemia & hypoxia
-Maternal fever & dehydration
-Medications & substances
-Infection
What can cause bradycardia in a fetus?
-Medications
-Maternal hypotension
-Maternal or fetal hypoglycemia, hypothermia and dehydration
-Prolonged cord compression or prolapse
Variability predicts…
fetal oxygenation during labor
Absent variability
Undetectable, may represent fetal cerebral asphyxia
Minimal variability
2-5bpm
May be related to narcotics, mag sulfate, anesthetic agents, supine hypotension, cord compression, unterine tachysystole, or fetal sleep (30min)