Parturition

Question 1

What is the lengh of pregnancy on average?

Answer 1

40 weeks

Question 2

What is the date called that someone is due to give birth?

Answer 2

The EDD (estimated due date) or delivery date

Question 3

What is considered a term pregnancy?

Answer 3

37 - 42 weeks

Question 4

What is considered preterm birth?

Answer 4

Before 37 weeks

Question 5

What is considered post-term?

Answer 5

After 42 weeks

Question 6

When is the first trimester?

Answer 6

Under 14 weeks

Question 7

What is considered the second trimester?

Answer 7

14 - 26 weeks

Question 8

What is considered the third trimester?

Answer 8

27 - 40 weeks

Question 9

How do we calculate gestational age?

Answer 9

• Last menstraul cycle
• US dating (most acurate) (crown-rump length - most accurate from up to 13 weeks)
• Symp-fundal height (unreliable)
• Palpating uterus (unreliable)

Question 10

How does the amniotic sac prevent parturition?

Answer 10

Prostaglandins are not released

Question 11

How does the cervix ripen?

Answer 11

• Cervix need to stretch and open up, becomes more watery
• Cervix becomes effaced
• Becomes shorter
• Process mediated by prostaglandins

Question 12

What factors maintain the pregnant state?

Answer 12

• Cervix
• Uterine quiescence
• Amniotic fluid (keeps prostaglandins in)

Question 13

What does stage 1 of labour involve?

Answer 13

Cervix relaxes, causing it to dilaate and thin out

Question 14

What does stage 2 of labour involve?

Answer 14

Uterine contractions increase in strength and infant is delivered

Question 15

What does stage 3 of labour involve?

Answer 15

Placenta is expelled

Question 16

What maintains the quiescent uterus?

Answer 16

Progesterone and relaxin

Question 17

What causes the uterine ‘awakening’?

Answer 17

Increase in gap junction connectivity (prostaglandins), increase in oxytocin receptor numbers (estrogen)

Question 18

What triggers the oxytocin release?

Answer 18

Ferguson reflex

Question 19

What hormone causes the epulsion of the placenta and the final uterine contractions?

Answer 19

Oxytocin

Question 20

What are the 2 phases in the first stage of labour?

Answer 20

Latent phase 
- <4 cm 
Active phase 
- 4 - 10 cm (fully)
- Rupture of membranes

Question 21

How much do we expect the baby to move per hour in the active phase?

Answer 21

1 cm per hour

Question 22

What are the 7 stages in the 2nd stage of labour (essentially pushing out the baby)?

Answer 22

1. Engagement
2. Descent
3. FLexion
4. INternal rotation
5. Extension
6. External rotaation
7. Expulsion

Question 23

What is the difference in engagement between someone who has given birth before and someone who is having their first birth?

Answer 23

Engagement happens a lot closer to birth in someone who has given birth before

Question 24

What are some examples of abnormal presentations of the baby?

Answer 24

• Breech (bottom first) (frank or complete)
• Footling breech
• Shoulder
• Face
• Brow

Question 25

What is the normal and preferred presentation of the baby?

Answer 25

Cephalic presentation

Question 26

What does intrapartum monitoring monitor?

Answer 26

• Progress of childbirth
• On partograph
• Cervical dilation measured
• Strength and number of uterine contractions
• Colour of amniotic fluid
• Fetal HR

Question 27

How is the fetal Heart rate listened into?

Answer 27

Pinard stethoscope

Question 28

What is a CTG?

Answer 28

Cardiotocography

- Records fetal heart beat and uterine contractions during pregnancy

Question 29

Where are the majority of oxytocin receptors?

Answer 29

Fundus of uterus