Patient teaching

Question 1

Signs of labor:

what is lightening?

when does it usually occur?

what happens to urinary frequency?

Answer 1

Lightening during pregnancy actually describes the baby engaging in the pelvis before vaginal birth. It is thus named because as the baby moves down from under the rib cage, the mother may feel a sense of relief as her rib cage expands more easily allowing her to draw deeper breaths and eat without feeling full quickly.

• 2 weeks before term
• it becomes a problem again

Question 2

signs of labor:

What is fetal engagement?

Answer 2

When the presenting part is at least at 0 station

Question 3

How is fetal stations measured?

Answer 3

measured in centimeters, measures the relationship of the presenting part of the fetus to the ischial spines of the mother.

Question 4

signs of labor:

Braxton hicks contractions will become___

softening of the ___

bloody____

rupture of____

sudden burst of______, called_____

will they get diarhea?

Answer 4

• more frequent and stronger than before
• cervix
• show (no heavy bleeding)
• membranes
• energy (nesting); nesting
• some do

Question 5

When should she go to the hospital?

Answer 5

when contractions are 5 minutes apart or when the membrane ruptures

Question 6

what are we worried about when the membranes rupture?

Answer 6

infection (can get this within 24 hours)

prolapsed cord (immediately) can kill baby