Labor and Birth: Nursing Management Flashcards
Factors influencing onset of labor
-Uterine stretch
-During last trimester, estrogen increases and progesterone decreases
-Increased oxytocin sensitivity
-Increased release of prostaglandins
Premonitory signs of labor
-Cervical changes (softening or dilation 1 hr - 1 m before labor)
-Lightening (baby drops into pelvis, uterus lowers, breathing is easier, decrease in gastric reflux, increased pelvic pressure, cramping, and edema; occurs 2 weeks or more before labor in primis and at time labor in multis)
-Increased energy level (nesting, spending more time on household chores and w/ children at home; 24-48 hrs before labor, increase in EPI)
-Bloody show (mucus plug expels as result of cervical softening; mixes w/ blood to produce pink-tinged secretions)
-Braxton hicks contractions (stronger and more frequent, pulling sensation at top of uterus; last abt 30 sec - 2 min; if it occurs more than 4-6x/hr –> call doctor)
-Spontaneous rupture of membranes (loss of amniotic fluid aka PROM, labor begins within 24 hrs, infection is possible, danger of cord prolapse)
Late preterm
-Infant born between 34-36 weeks gestation
-Experiences same health issues as other preemies
True labor
-Timing: regular (4-6 min apart, lasting 30-60 sec)
-Strength: stronger w/ time
-Discomfort: starts in back radiates around front of abdomen
-Activity: contractions continue no matter what positional change is made
-Stay or go: stay home until contractions are 5 min apart, last 45-60 sec, strong enough that convo is not possible
False labor
-Timing: irregular, not occurring close together
-Strength: weak, not getting stronger w/ time
-Discomfort: felt in front of abdomen
-Activity: contractions slow down w/ activity or position change
-Stay or go: drink fluids and walk around to diminish the contractions
Critical factors affecting labor and birth
-Passageway (birth canal: pelvis and soft tissues)
-Passenger (fetus and placenta)
-Powers (contractions
-Position (maternal: lying down slows labor)
-Psychological response (mom and partner to get more control of labor)
Additional factors affecting labor process
-Philosophy (low tech, high touch)
-Partners (support caregivers)
-Patience (natural timing)
-Pt preparation (childbirth knowledge base)
-Pain control (comfort measures)
Linea terminalis
-Division of false and true pelvis
-Thru sacral prominence at back of superior aspect of symphysis pubis at front of pelvis
True pelvis
-Below linea terminalis
-Bony passageway in which fetus must travel
-Inlet
-Mid pelvis
-Outlet
False pelvis
-Above linea terminalis
-Upper flared parts of 2 iliac bones and concavities
-Wings of base of sacrum
Pelvis shape
-Gynecoid: favorable for vaginal delivery, inlet is round and outlet is roomy
-Android: common in male, not favorable, prognosis for labor is poor –> C-section
-Anthropoid: usually adequate, common in men and white women, sacrum is long, producing a deep pelvis
-Platypelloid: not favorable, flat shape
Passageway: soft tissues
-Cervix: thins thru effacement to allow presenting part to descend into vagina
-Pelvic floor muscles
-Vagina
-Similar to pulling turtleneck sweater over head
Passenger
-Fetal skull (largest and least compressible structure)
-Fetal attitude (degree of body flexion and relationship of body parts with one another)
-Fetal lie (relationship of fetal spine to maternal spine)
-Fetal presentation (1st body part)
-Fetal position (relationship to maternal pelvis)
-Fetal station
-Fetal engagement
Sutures
-Allow for overlapping and changes in shape (molding)
-Help identify position of fetus
-Will close as baby develops to allow room for brain to grow
Fontanelles
-Intersections of sutures
-Help in identifying position of fetal head and in molding
-Anterior fontanelle is the famous “soft spot” (diamond shaped space 1-4 cm that closes 12-18 m after birth)
-Posterior fontanelle closes 8-12 weeks after birth (1-2 cm)
Diameters
-Occipitofrontal
-Occipitomental
-Suboccipitobregmatic (important, 9.5 cm, measured from base of occiput to center of anterior fontanelle, smallest anteroposterior diameter of skulls)
-Biparietal (important, 9.25 cm, largest transverse diameter of fetal skull, distance between 2 parietal bones)
Fetal attitude
-Body parts in relation to each other during labor
-Fetal position: head tucked into chest, arms and legs drawn in toward center of chest
Fetal lie
-Relationship of long axis (spine) of fetus to long axis (spine of mother)
-Longitudinal (ideal for vaginal delivery)
-Transverse (breech, needs C-section)
-Oblique (needs C-section)
Fetal presentation
-Cephalic (vertex), military, brow, face
-Breech: frank (buttocks), full or complete (foot/leg), footling or incomplete; risk of umbilical cord compression
-Shoulder
Fetal position
-Relationship of a given point on presenting part of fetus to a designated point of the maternal pelvis
-Occipital bone (O): vertex
-Chin (mentum): face
-Buttocks (sacrum): breech
-Scapula (acrominion): shoulder
-3 letter abbreviation: 1st letter defines whether presenting part is tilted toward L or R of maternal pelvis, 2nd letter defines particular presenting part of fetus such as occiput or sacrum, 3rd letter defines location of presenting part in relation to the anterior or posterior portion of the maternal pelvis (A, P, T)
-LOA is most common and most favorable, followed by ROA
Fetal station
-0: good
- Negative 4 to positive 4
-Negative: lightening hasn’t occurred
-Positive: lightening has occurred
-Mother not ready for delivery
Fetal engagement
-Presenting part reaching 0 station
-Floating: no engagement (cervix is dilated, C-section needed), presenting part freely movable about pelvic inlet
-Biparietal diameter is important factor in navigation thru maternal pelvis
Cardinal movements during labor
-Engagement: greatest transverse diameter of head in vertex (biparietal diameter) passes thru pelvis inlet (0 station)
-Descent: downward movement of head into pelvic inlet (pressure of amniotic fluid and fundus d/t fetus’s buttocks or head), contractions of abdominal muscles, extension of fetal body)
-Flexion: vertex meets resistance from cervix, walls of pelvis, or pelvic floor; chin is brought into contact w/ fetal thorax and presenting diameter is changed from occipitofrontal to suboccipitobregmatic
-Internal rotation: as head descends, lower portion of head meets resistance from one side of pelvic floor, head rotates 45 degrees)
-Extension: nucha (base of occiput) becomes impinged under symphysis, occurs after internal rotation is complete, anterior fontanelle, brow, nose, mouth, chin are born
-External rotation: after head is born, it untwists, causing occiput to move 45 degrees to its original L or R position (restitution); allows shoulders to rotate internally to fit thru pelvis
-Expulsion: rest of body occurs more smoothly after birth of head and shoulders
Powers
-Uterine contractions (primary stimulus)
-Intra-abdominal pressure from mother pushing and bearing down
-Contractions: involuntary, thin and dilate cervix
-Parameters: frequency, duration, intensity
Uterine contractions
-Responsible for thinning and dilating cervix
-Cervical canal 2 cm –> 0% effaced
-Cervical canal 1 cm –> 50% effaced
-Cervical canal 0 cm –> 100% effaced
-Cervix is no longer palpable when fully dilated (10 cm)
-External cervical os closed –> 0 cm dilated
-External cervical os half open –> 5 cm dilated
-External cervical os fully open –> 10 cm dilated
Uterine contraction parameters
-Frequency: how often contractions occur, beginning of 1 contraction to beginning of next
-Duration: how long contraction lasts, beginning of 1 contraction to end of same contraction
-Intensity: strength of contraction determined by manual palpation or measured by internal intrauterine pressure catheter
Factors influencing a positive birth experience
-Clear information on procedures
-Support, not being alone
-Sense of mastery, self-confidence
-Trust in staff caring for her
-Positive rxn to pregnancy
-Personal control over breathing
-Preparation for childbirth experience
Physiologic responses to labor: maternal
-Increased HR, CO, BP (during contractions)
-Increased WBC
-Increased RR and O2 consumption
-Decreased gas motility and food absorption
-Decreased gastric emptying and gastric pH
-Slight temp elevation
-Muscle aches/cramps
-Increased BMR
-Decreased blood glucose levels
Physiologic responses to labor: fetal
-Periodic FHR accelerations and slight decelerations
-Decrease in circulation and perfusion
-Increase in arterial CO2 pressure
-Decrease in fetal breathing movements
-Decrease in fetal O2 pressure, decrease in partial pressure of O2
-Helps prepare fetus for extrauterine respiration immediately after birth
1st stage of labor
-True labor to complete cervical dilatation (10 cm)
-Longest of all stages
-3 phases: latent phase, active phase, transition phase
1st stage of labor: stages
-Latent: 0-6 cm, contractions every 5-10 min, lasting 30-45 sec, intensity mild
-Active: 6-10 cm, contractions every 2-5 min, 45-60 sec, intensity moderate
2nd stage of labor
-Cervix 10 cm dilated to birth of baby
-Lasts up to 3 hours
2nd stage of labor: stages
-Pelvis phase: period of fetal descent
-Perineal phase: period of active pushing, contractions every 2-3 min, 60-90 sec, intensity strong
3rd stage of labor
-Birth of infant to placental separation
-Placental separation: detaching from uterine wall
-Placental expulsion: coming outside of vaginal opening
-Takes 5-10 min, may take up to 30
4th stage of labor (not true labor)
-1-4 hrs following surgery or birth of newborn
-Maternal physiologic adjustment
-Mother is wide awake and initially talkative
-Uterus becomes boggy, massaged to be kept firm
-Lochia is red w/ clots and of moderate flow
-Mother needs food and water
-Bladder is hypotonic
-Cramps
-VS monitored q15m - 1 hr
Signs of placental separation
-Uterus rises upward
-Umbilical cord lengthens
-Sudden trickle of blood is released from the vaginal opening
-Uterus changes its shape to globular
Placental expulsion
-Expelled 2-30 min after separation from uterine wall
-After expulsion, uterus is massaged by physician or midwife until it is firm so that blood vessels constrict, minimizing possibility of hemorrhage
-Normal blood loss is 500 mL for vaginal birth and 1,000 mL for C-section
-Risk for postpartum hemorrhage is any piece is still attached to uterine wall
Factors influencing pain during labor and birth
-Physiologic
-Spiritual
-Psychosocial
-Cultural
-Environmental