Quiz 10: Managing pain during labour Flashcards
Analgesia means:
The relief of pain
Relieving anxiety
Putting the patient to sleep
All of the above
The relief of pain
Anaesthesia means:
The relief of pain
Relieving anxiety
Loss of all sensation
Putting the patient to sleep
Loss of all sensation
Which of the following statements is correct?
All patients experience severe pain during labour.
The severity of pain experienced during labour varies widely between different patients.
Pain is only experienced during labour when the cervix is almost fully dilated.
Pain is only experienced when the patient is in the second stage of labour.
The severity of pain experienced during labour varies widely between different patients.
Why do anxiety and fear make the pain of labour worse?
Anxiety increases the strength of uterine contractions.
Anxiety increases the duration of uterine contractions.
Anxiety increases the frequency of uterine contractions.
Anxiety lowers a patient’s pain threshold.
Anxiety lowers a patient’s pain threshold.
Pain relief during labour:
Should only be provided by powerful analgesics which are known to be effective
Starts with the preparation for labour during the antenatal period
Is only needed if the patient receives an oxytocin infusion
Is only needed if the patient does not have her partner or another family member with her
Starts with the preparation for labour during the antenatal period
Which of the following statements about rubbing a patient’s back during labour is correct?
Rubbing a patient’s back is an ‘old wives’ tale’ and is of no value.
It should not be done as physical contact with the patient should be avoided.
The pain impulses from the uterus and cervix are experienced as less painful if the patient’s lower back is rubbed.
There is no physiological reason why rubbing the patient’s back should relieve labour pains.
The pain impulses from the uterus and cervix are experienced as less painful if the patient’s lower back is rubbed.
Which of the following statements about pain relief in labour is correct?
The relief of pain often speeds up the progress of labour.
The relief of pain often slows the progress of labour.
Patients must accept pain as part of normal labour.
Pain relief in labour should only be given to patients who obviously are suffering severe pain.
The relief of pain often speeds up the progress of labour.
When should a patient be given pain relief in labour?
When a patient’s cervix is 4 to 6 cm dilated
When a patient is having 3 strong contractions in 10 minutes
When a patient reaches the active phase of the first stage of labour
When a patient asks for pain relief
When a patient asks for pain relief
Promethazine (Phenergan) or hydroxyzine (Aterax) should always be given together with pethidine for the relief of pain during labour because:
They have a sedative effect
They decrease nausea and vomiting which are common side effects of pethidine
They increase the analgesic effect of pethidine
All of the above
All of the above
Pethidine causes analgesia by:
Acting on the central nervous system
Acting on the uterine muscle
Acting on the peripheral nerves
Making the patient sleepy so that she is not aware of the pain
Acting on the central nervous system
What is a dangerous complication of an overdose of pethidine?
Suppression of uterine contractions
Respiratory depression in the patient
Convulsions
Excessive drowsiness
Respiratory depression in the patient
Pethidine and promethazine (Phenergan) or hydroxyzine (Aterax) should only be given if:
The cervical dilatation is 4 cm or less in a multigravida patient
The patient is unlikely to deliver in the next 4 to 6 hours
The intramuscular route is used
It is the most appropriate method of analgesia; the degree of cervical dilatation and the expected time of delivery are of little importance
It is the most appropriate method of analgesia; the degree of cervical dilatation and the expected time of delivery are of little importance
Pethidine may cause respiratory depression in the newborn infant if:
The drug is given when the patient’s cervix is more than 4 cm dilated
The drug is given less than 6 hours before delivery
More than 50 mg pethidine is given
Promethazine or hydroxyzine is not given together with the pethidine
The drug is given less than 6 hours before delivery
The duration of action when pethidine is given by intramuscular injection is usually:
1 hour
2 hours
4 hours
8 hours
4 hours
What is the correct management of a newborn infant who does not breathe well if the mother has been given pethidine during labour?
The infant should be ventilated until the effect of the pethidine wears off.
The infant should be given an intravenous infusion of 10% dextrose.
The infant should be given mask oxygen while being stimulated by gently flicking the soles of the feet.
The infant must be ventilated and given naloxone until the effect of the pethidine is reversed.
The infant must be ventilated and given naloxone until the effect of the pethidine is reversed.
