Labour Flashcards
Which stage is the longest?
First stage
What happens during the first stage of labour?
Contractions make cervix gradually open up
What is the latent phase and what happens during it?
1st stage of labour, before active and established labour
Lasts from hours to days
Softening of the cervix so it can open up, irregular contractions
When is labour established labour?
Cervix is dilated >3cm
Regular contractions opening cervix
What should one do during the latent phase of labour?
Eat and drink to have energy
Stay comfortable and relaxed
Sleep if happens at night
Keep upright and gently active if happens at day to encourage baby to move down into pelvix and for cervix to dilate
When should one contact a midwife during labour?
If
- Regular contractions (3 every 10 minutes)
- Water break
- Very strong contractions and need pain relief
- Worried about anything at all
How dilated must my cervix be for my baby to pass through?
10 cm
How long does it take to become fully dilated from the start of established labour during a first pregnancy?
6-12 hours
What will happen at the end of the first stage of labour?
You may feel an urge to push which is the second stage of labour
How may a doctor / midwife speed up the first stage of labour?
- Breaking your waters (artificial rupture of membranes)
- Oxytocin drip (if ARM doesnt work), given oxytocin (aka syntocinon) to make contractions stronger, given through a drip in the arm.
How long does the second stage of labour last?
From when the cervix is fully dilated to when the baby is delivered
If first baby, no longer than 3 hours
If not first baby, no more than 2 hours
What will I have to do during the second stage of labour?
You will feel an urge to push, much like when you need to go for a poo.
Contractions will come, and with that an urge. You should push with the urges as they come.
The urge will not come straight away. If you have an epidural you may not get an urge to push at all.
What happens as my baby is being born?
When the head is almost ready to come out, midwife will tell you to stop pushing and take some short breaths.
This is to slow down so head can be born slowly and gently, giving skin and muscles of the area time to stretch.
Sometimes the midwife may suggest an episiotomy to avoid a tear or speed up delivery. Local anaesthetic will be injected to numb the area, then once born the area will be stitched up.
After head is born most of the hard work is done and rest of body is born during next one or two contractions.
When does the third stage of labour begin and what happens during it?
After baby is born
Womb contracts and placenta comes through vagina
What are the two ways that the third stage of labour is managed?
Active - treatment given to speed it up
Physiological - no treatment, occuring naturally
