Labour And Delivery Flashcards
Define parturition
Parturition = transition from pregnant to non- pregnant state (birth)
Define labour
Labour = physiologic process by which a fetus is expelled from the uterus to the outside world
Define delivery
Delivery = the method of expulsion of the fetus,
transforming fetus to neonate
What are the changes that occurs in labour
- Involves sequential integrated changes in the uterine decidua (internal lining) and myometrium
- Changes in the cervix tend to precede uterine contractions
Describe contraction
- Two major end points – • dilatation of the cervix
* pushing the fetus through the birth canal
What is stage 1
Creation of the birth canal
• Physiologically – multiple changes resulting in
creation of the birth canal and descent of the fetal
head into it
• Clinically – interval between onset of labour and full dilatation of the cervix
• Two phases –
• Latent: Onset of labour with slow cervical dilatation but softening. Lasts a variable time.
• Active: Faster rate of change & regular contractions
What is the second stage
- Physiologically – changes in uterine contractions to expulsive, descent of the fetus through the birth canal and delivery. (adaptations of the fetus)
- Clinically – the time between full (10cm) dilatation of the cervix and delivery.
- passive – descent and rotation of the head
- active –Maternal effort to expel the fetus and achieve birth
What is the 3rd stage
• Physiologically – expulsion of the placenta and contraction of the uterus
• Clinically – third stage starts with the completed birth of the baby and ends with complete expulsion of placenta and membranes
• Usually lasts between 5 and 15 minutes; up to 30 -60 minutes may be normal depending on circumstances
and management
How does labour start?
Uterine musculature becomes progressively more excitable Cervical “ripening” • In humans – Prostaglandins promote labour • So situation is unclear
What are prostaglandins
- Biologically active lipids • Local hormones
- Produced mainly in myometrium and decidua
- Production controlled by oestrogen:progesterone ratio
What are teh fucntions of prstaglandins in labour and what are they synthesised by
- Powerful contractors of smooth muscle and are also involved in cervical softening.
- Increase in oestrogen: progesterone ratio and mechanical damage stimulates prostaglandin synthesis.
- Placenta, decidua, myometrium and membranes can all synthesis prostaglandins
- Increased synthesis of prostaglandins by amnion in third trimester
- Levels of prostaglandins in amniotic fluid rise very early in labour
- Cervical ripening is due to oestrogen, relaxin and prostaglandins breaking down the connective tissue.
What are the roles of progesterone and oestrogen leading up to labour
• Progesterone inhibits contractions
• Oestrogen increases gap junctional communication between smooth muscle cells – increases
contractility
• Mechanical stretching of uterine smooth muscle increases contractility – as gestation increases
Whhat are the role of oxytocin
• Initiates uterine contractions
• Action inhibited in pregnancyo by progesterone, relaxin and low number of oxytocin receptors
• Pregnancy = increased number of gap junctions to aid communication between muscle cells (coordinates effective uterine activity)
• @ 36 weeks = increased number of oxytocin receptors in myometrium - therefore uterus can respond to pulsatile release of oxytocin from
posterior pituitary gland
What is oxytocin secreted by and where does it act
• Secreted by posterior pituitary
•Controlled by hypothalamus
•Increased by afferent impulses from Cervix and vagina
– ‘Ferguson reflex’
•Acts on smooth muscle receptors
– More receptors if oestrogen:progesterone ratio high
What are other factories in initiating labour
• Cervical stretching releases prostaglandins
• Fetal effects ? – glucocorticoids – placenta – inhibits
progesterone
• Fetal oxytocin?
• Infection, bleeding – feed into the central mechanisms triggering contractions
What is cervical ripening
• Cervix retains fetus for most of pregnancy
– Tough, thick
– Collagen
• Needs to soften, shorten, open
– ‘cervical ripening’
and open to around 10cm so fetus can i through