O+G- Labour + Antenatal care Flashcards
How many stages of labour are there?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6
a) 3
There are three stages of labour – dilation, expulsion and delivery of the placenta
At what cervical dilation is a woman in active labour?
a) 6
b) 10
c) 3
d) 8
c) 3
The active phase of labour begins when the cervix is 3cm dilated
Which term describes a first pregnancy?
a) multiparous
b) gravidy
c) Postpartum
d) primiparous
d) primiparous
Primiparous refers to a first pregnancy.
Multiparous refers to any subsequent pregnancies.
Gravity means the number of times a person has been pregnant.
What is Parturition?
• Parturition is the process whereby the foetus and placenta are expelled from the uterus, which usually occurs between 37-42 weeks
Parturition occurs in three stages which are?
- Dilation (latent/active)
- Expulsion of the foetus
- Delivery of the placenta
In first pregnancies, the process lasts around ___ hours. In subsequent pregnancies, it is a lot shorter
In first pregnancies, the process lasts around 18 hours. In subsequent pregnancies, it is a lot shorter
Stage 1 - Dilation
occures in two phases which are?
– the latent phase and the active phase
Stage 1 - Dilation
Latent phase- what are the three key points to know?
- 0-3cm dilation
- Irregular contractions every 5-30mins, lasting 30secs
- Cervical effacement is completed
Stage 1 - Dilation
Active phase- what are the three key points to know?
- 4-10cm dilation
- Regular contractions every 3-5mins, lasting +1min
• Average cervical dilation in the active phase is around 1cm/h in nulliparous women and around 2cm/ in multiparous women
• Should last for around 2-6hrs
Stage 1 of labour – What are assessments of the mother
- Observations: temperature & blood pressure (4 hourly), pulse (hourly), urine (protien/ketones), contraction frequency ( 30 mins) (strength, length, frequency)
- Cervix: dilation, effacement, position
- Amniotic fluid: intact membranes/colour of liquor
Stage 1 of labour – What are assessments of the foetus
- Presentation/position/engagement
- Heart rate (Pinard stethoscope or hand-held doppler)
- External foetal monitoring (cardiotocograph)
- Foetal scalp blood sampling
Explain Stage 2 of labour
Expulsion of the Foetus
Divided into a passive and active stage
- The passive stage lasts for a few minutes, but can be longer
- The active stage last for an average of 40 minutes (20 mins in multiparous)
- Active stage ends with the delivery of the foetus
Explain stage 3 of labour?
- The time from delivery of the fetus to delivery of the placenta
- Lasts around 15 minutes
- Normal blood loss is 500ml
Stage 3 of Labour
– Assessment of the Mother and foetus
- Full dilation of the cervix confirmed by vaginal examination if the head is not visible
- Valsalva manoeuvre – woman will get an expulsive reflex with each contraction, will take a deep breath, hold it, and strain down
Explain the mechanism of labour
- Engagement
- Descent
- Flexion
- Internal rotation
- Extension
- Restitution
- External rotation
- Delivery of the shoulders and foetal body
What are the three fetal changes after birth?
1. The gas exchange takes place in the baby’s lungs
- Lung liquid squeezed out of the thorax during vaginal delivery
- Baby takes first gasp - air-liquid interface which moves rapidly down the lungs
- Blood supply to lungs increases dramatically
2. Placental circulation is switched off when the cord is cut
3. Foetal heart shunts become closed.
- Pressure change in atria causes the foramen ovale to close
- Prostaglandins cause the ductus arteriosus to close
- Ductus venosus closes within minutes of birth – can take up to a week