Labour And Birth 2 (keynote) Flashcards
What is gestation?
Period of of pregnancy; the time that the embryo or foetus is carried in the uterus
What is parturition?
The process by which the foetus is expelled from the mothers body at the end of gestation is called birth/parturition.
Before labour, several hormone changes occur, causing what?
What helps the mother to give birth?
- ligaments of the pelvis to soften
- increase the response of the uterus to stimuli
- strengthen contractions of the muscles of the uterus
What are the 3 stages of labour called?
Stage one - dilation of the cervix
Stage 2 - stage of expulsion
Stage 3 - placental stage
What happens during stage 1 (dilation of the cervix)? How long does it last?
- dilation of the cervix (10cm)
- uterus, cervix and vagina form the birth canal
Average length is 8-9 hours
What happens during stage 2 (expulsion)? How long does it last?
- from full dilation to the cervix to birth
- frequently begins with the bursting of the amniotic membrane and a gush of fluid from the vagina
- foetus moves through the fully dilated cervix
This process lasts 20minutes to 2hours
What causes the contraction of the mothers abdominal muscles? What stage does this happen during?
As the foetus moves through the fully diluted cervix, the head of the baby stretches the vagina, stimulating the woman to contract her abdominal muscles.
What happens during stage 3 (placental)?
- baby begins to breath with its own lungs
- the amnion, chorion and placenta are still inside the uterus at this stage
- the umbilical cord is clamped, tied in 2 places, and then but between the 2 ties.
- the arteries and veins in the umb cord contract
- baby is covered in a protective, waxy coat called the vernix.
Why is only little blood lost when the placenta, amnion and chorion at expelled?
- placental blood vessels constrict
- contractions of the uterus squeeze shit the uterine vessels that supply blood to the placenta
- blood clots form
