Lecture 7

Question 1

What is a babies age of Viability? (chance of it surviving if born)

Answer 1

7 months

Question 2

What is the best position for birth in the womb?

Answer 2

Head down, bum up

Question 3

How many stages are there of labour?

Answer 3

3

Question 4

What are the 3 stages of labour known as?

Answer 4

Early labour and Active labour, Pushing, and Afterbirth

Question 5

What is characteristic of early labour (stage 1)

Answer 5

Weak and irregular contractions can last 10-16 hours (longer in first pregnancy)

Question 6

What is characteristic of active labour (stage 1)

Answer 6

Contractions are very strong and regular, around every 5-20 mins. Lasts 2-8 hours, dilated 7-8 cm

Question 7

What is the transition phase? (active labour)

Answer 7

Most painful part of labour, no pushing yet, head is moving through the thinnest part of the pelvis. Extreme and constant contractions.

Question 8

What is characteristic of pushing (stage 2)

Answer 8

Baby moves down birth canal, crowning or breech position.

Question 9

What is characteristic of afterbirth (stage 3)

Answer 9

Happens 10-15 mins after the baby is born, placenta detaches from uterine wall, other support structures are pushed out.

Question 10

What is the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and regular ones?

Answer 10

Braxton Hicks don’t affect cervix. Real contractions start at the top of the cervix as it thins and shortens (no dilation yet)

Question 11

How does nitrous oxide help during labour?

Answer 11

Relaxes patient (But doesn’t kill pain). Anxiety makes contractions worse. As soon as mask is off, however, it goes out of your system

Question 12

How does pitocin/oxytocin help during labour?

Answer 12

Induces labour and makes contractions stronger

Question 13

How does Demerol affect labour?

Answer 13

Fentanyl like narcotic painkiller, reduces parents and babies heart rate. If it’s taken during stage 2, baby will be born sleepy

Question 14

How does an Epidural affect labour?

Answer 14

Makes you numb from wherever it was inserted down, but causes trouble with pushing

Question 15

Is a Caesarean section a safer alternative to labour?

Answer 15

Sometimes, but a lot of times can cause increased bleeding, risk of infection, muscles not healing, inability to lift things (however, no risk for baby)

Question 16

What are some complications that can arise during labour?

Answer 16

Preeclampsia, Cephalopelvic Disproportion, Prolapsed Umbilical cord.

Question 17

What are some symptoms of Preeclampsia and what is it?

Answer 17

High blood pressure, protein in urine, limb swelling. Can cause increased bleeding after childbirth.

Question 18

What do a lot of African American woman die from in the states?

Answer 18

Preeclampsia (in Canada, we screen for it!)

Question 19

What is Cephalopelvic Disproportion?

Answer 19

When the infants head is larger than the moms pelvis-have to do a c-section

Question 20

What happens when the infants umbilical cord is prolapsed?

Answer 20

Gets wrapped around part of the baby, oxygen cut off, have to have c-section

Question 21

What is the Apgar scale and what are the different cut off points?

Answer 21

Looks at 5 different qualities on the baby and assesses. 7-10 is good, 5 is possible delays, 3 is an emergency

Question 22

What are some issues with the Apgar scale?

Answer 22

Skin colour. Apgar scale looks for babies who have pink skin, however babies with increased melanin aren’t born pink

Question 23

What are some things that can cause an infant to be at risk?

Answer 23

Preterm infants, Small-for-date infants, and low birth weight infants

Question 24

What are preterm infants?

Answer 24

Born before 38 wks. Viable at over 27-28 wks. 50% chance of survival at 22wks.

Question 25

Which province has the highest number of premature babies?

Answer 25

Alberta

Question 26

What is a small-for-date infant?

Answer 26

Born smaller than average, has a higher risk than a preemie, possibility for developmental concerns

Question 27

What is considered low birth weight in an infant?

Answer 27

Less than 3.3 pounds.

Question 28

How can we help babies who are at risk?

Answer 28

Specialized care in the NICU-incubators which mimic womb, massages (rubbing the baby helps mature the brain)
Kangaroo care-attaches baby to stomach of someone