Labor

Question 1

Labor

Answer 1

The process of birth

Question 2

Presentation

Answer 2

part of fetus lying over cervix

- The first part delivered

Question 3

Vertex Presentation

Answer 3

top of head is presenting

• Most common presentation by far
• Safest presentation

Question 4

Breech Position

Answer 4

lower areas are presenting

• Can endanger the baby
• Body may be delivered before head can exit
• Head may compress umbilical cord
• Compressed cord stops oxygen to fetus

Question 5

Position

Answer 5

direction that back of baby’s head is pointing

Question 6

Occipital bone

Answer 6

bone of the back of the skull

Question 7

Occiput anterior (OA)

Answer 7

back of the skull toward the chest.

• Most favorable position
• Most common position

Question 8

Occiput posterior (OP)

Answer 8

back of the skull toward the back.

- More painful than OA

Question 9

Station

Answer 9

cm of the head below the pelvis.

• Ex: -4 = 4 cm above pelvis
• Lightening: relief of pressure in chest due to descent

Question 10

Labor

Answer 10

Occurs ~38 weeks after fertilization.

• Small minority born on due date
• about half are born within 1 week of due date.
• Vast majority come within 2 weeks of due date.

Question 11

Possible signs of approaching labor/prelabor

Answer 11

• Backache
• Lower abdomen crams
• Frequent, soft bowel movements
• Nesting urge

Question 12

Backache

Answer 12

• Comes and goes
• A single position may not be comfortable for very long.
• May be caused by early contractions.

Question 13

Lower abdomen cramps

Answer 13

• Mild or moderately uncomfortable

- May progress to uterine contractions

Question 14

Frequent, soft bowel movements

Answer 14

• Clears intestines to make more room for birth

- May manifest as diarrhea

Question 15

Nesting urge

Answer 15

A strong desire to complete preparation for the baby.

- Accompanied by a burst of energy

Question 16

Labor stages

Answer 16

Dilation stage, Expulsion stage, Placental stage

Question 17

Prelabor

Answer 17

Stage with nonprogressing uterine contractions

• Not actually part of labor
• Occurs before labor
• Indicates that labor is imminent

Question 18

Nonprogressing contractions

Answer 18

Contractions that do not increase in intensity, frequency, or duration.

• May bring cervix forward, ripen it, and efface it
• May last for hours

Question 19

Signs of prelabor

Answer 19

Bloody show, fluid leaking from vagina

Question 20

Bloody show

Answer 20

blood stained mucus that comes through the vagina.

• Due to softening, effacement, and dilation of cervix
• Removes mucus plug

Question 21

Mucus plug

Answer 21

thick mucus blocking the cervix.

- Prevents pathogen passage through cervix

Question 22

Fluid leaking from vagina

Answer 22

• A loss of amniotic fluid

- Caused by small rupture of “bag of waters”

Question 23

Dilation Stage

Answer 23

Stage of labor when progressing contractions begin.

- Ends when cervix is completely dilated

Question 24

Events of Dilation Stage

Answer 24

Progressing contractions begin, Cervix dilates, cervix effaces, water breaks

Question 25

Progressing contractions

Answer 25

contractions that increase in strength, length, and frequency

Question 26

Oxytocin

Answer 26

hormone that promotes contractions.

• Promotes endorphin release
• Endorphins decrease pain
• Promotes a bonding feeling with the newborn.

Question 27

Pitocin

Answer 27

synthetic oxytocin

• Used to speed up/promote labor
• Causes uterine contractions
• Does not circulate identically to oxytocin
• May increase pain of childbirth
• Does not promote endorphin release
• Increases epidural use
• May increase rate of cesarean

Question 28

Epidural

Answer 28

pain medication often used during child birth

Question 29

Cesarean

Answer 29

A surgical operation used for delivery