Test 2 Flashcards
Four P’s of labor
-passageway
-passenger
-powers
-psyche
a problem in any area influences labor negatively
passageway
-bony pelvis and soft tissue of the cervix and vagina
false pelvis
- flared upper portion of the bony pelvis
- not part of the bony passageway
true pelvis
- inner portion of the pelvis below the linea terminalis
- consists of the inlet, midpelvis, and outlet
most favorable for a vaginal birth. rounded shape
gynecoid
elongated shape
anthropoid
heart shaped
android
flat in its dimensions
platypelloid
is considered the most important measurement of the inlet. to measure this the practitioner measures the diagonal conjugate, then subtract 1.5-2.0cm
obstetric conjugate
ischial spine is level of
midpelvis
if they are prominent and extend into the midpelvis they can ………………… and …………………..
reduce the diameter of the midpelvis, interfere with the journey of the fetus
………….. and ………….. are soft tissue that form the part of the passageway known as the ……………….
cervix, vagina, birth canal
cervix during early pregnancy …………………
firm, long and closed
cervix at delivery
begins to soften, gets shorter and thinner in a process called effacement, dilatation occurs
cervix during birth
rugae of the vaginal walls stretch and smooth out allowing for considerable expansion
T or F : The gynecoid pelvis is the most favorable for a vaginal birth
True
Rationale: The gynecoid pelvis is most favorable for a vaginal birth.
passenger refers to the
fetus
size of the ……………….. and ………………. to the ……………… can significantly affect the labor process .
fetal skull, fetal accommodations, passageway
the most important fetal structure in relation to labor and birth
fetal skull
- diameters must be small enough to allow the head to travel through the bony pelvis
- molding- the process where the cartilage between the bones allows the bones to overlap during labor.
- molding allows the fetal skull to elongate ultimately reducing the diameter of the head
the long axis of the fetus is parallel to the long axis of the mother
longitudinal lie
in between the two
oblique lie
the long axis of the fetus is perpendicular to the long axis of the woman
transverse lie
fetal presentation
the foremost part of the fetus that enters the pelvic inlet
three main ways a fetus can present
- head
- feet or buttocks
- shoulder
cephalic presentation
head
breech presentation
feet or buttocks
shoulder presentation
shoulder
relationship of fetal parts to one another ……………
fetal attitude
fetal attitudes
- vertex
- military
- brow
- face
attitude most favorable for vaginal delivery
vertex
attitude with no flexion or extension
military
attitude with partial extension
brow
attitude with full extension
face
the relationship of the reference point on the presenting part to the quadrants of the maternal pelvis
fetal position
refers to the side of the pelvis in which the reference point is facing
first designation
-R/L
reference point of the presenting part
second designation
-O
Refers to the part of the pelvis (front, back, or side) in which the reference point is found
third designation
-ATP
you want a baby to come out
OA
the relationship of the presenting part of the fetus to the ischial spines
fetal station
presenting part is at the level of the ischial spines
zero station
presenting part is above the ischial spines
minus station
presenting part is below the ischial spines
plus station
phases of involuntary uterine contraction
- increment
- acme
- decrement
- relaxation period
building up of the contraction - longest phase
increment
peak of the contraction
acme
letting up phase back to baseline
decrement
rest period between contraction
relaxation period
descriptors of contractions
- frequency
- duration
- intensity
how often the contractions are occurring. measured by counting the time interval from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the following contraction
frequency
the interval from the beginning of a contraction to its end
duration
the strength of the contraction
intensity
during a contraction blood vessels are …………. . this decreases the amount of ……………. that flows to the fetus. ……………….. allows the vessels to fill with oxygen-rich blood to supply the uterus and placenta.
squeezed, oxygen, relaxation
Fetal attitude refers to the relationship of fetal parts to each other. Which fetal attitude is most favorable to a vaginal birth?
a. Extension
b. Flexion
c. Military
d. Hyperextension
b. Flexion
Rationale: The most common attitude, and the one that is most favorable for a vaginal birth, is an attitude of flexion, also called a vertex presentation.
factors impacting the psyche of a laboring woman
- current pregnancy experience
- previous birth experiences
- expectations for current birth experience
- preparation for birth
theories of labor onset
- progesterone-withdrawal theory: when it comes time for labor, progesterone drops
- oxytocin theory: oxytocin levels increase for contractions
- prostaglandin theory: helps soften cervix/tissue (Cytotec)
anticipatory signs of labor
- lightening or sense that the baby has “dropped”
- Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor pains)
- gastrointestinal disturbances
- expelling the mucous plug
- feeling a burst of energy
- ripening (softening) and effacement (thinning) of the cervix
this labor has an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions with NO cervical changes; can be uncomfortable ……………..
prodromal labor
this kind of labor is progressive dilation and effacement of cervix
true labor
cardinal movements of labor
- engagement
- descent
- flexion
- internal rotation
- extension
- external rotation
- expulsion
factors that may affect the progress of labor .
- agents to soften the cervix
- labor induction techniques
- type of anesthesia
how many stages of labor?
4
first stage of labor
Dilation
- early labor (latent phase)
- active labor (active phase)
- transition (transition phase)
second stage
birth
third stage
delivery of the placenta
fourth stage
recovery
dilation in cm for each phase in the first stage
- early: 0-3 cm
- active: 4-7 cm
- transition: 8-10 cm
Which stage of labor is birth?
a. First stage
b. Second stage
c. Third stage
d. Fourth stage
b. Second stage
Rationale: The second stage begins when the cervix is dilated fully and ends with the birth of the infant.
physiologic adaptation
-increased demand for oxygen during the first stage of labor
-increased cardiac output
-increased heart rate
-increased respiratory rate
-gastrointestinal and urinary systems are affected
blood pressure usually does not change
-usually women are only given clear liquids due to risk of aspiration.
-pressure on the urethra from presenting part may cause overfilling of the bladder, a decreased sensation to void and edema. May need in-and-out cath.
-stress of labor can cause elevated WBC
-urine specific gravity is high
-trace amount of urinary protein
physiologic adaptation by stage
- early stage of labor: excited and talkative
- active labor: more introverted, focusing her energies on coping with the stress of contractions
- transition: feel out of control
- pushing: more in control
- maternal responses to the birth vary widely
fetal adaptation to labor
- increased ICP
- placental blood flow temporarily interrupted during uterine contractions: stresses the cardiovascular system. results in a slowly decreasing pH throughout labor
- passing through the birth canal is beneficial in two ways
- stimulates surfactant production
- helps clear the respiratory passageways
- pressure on the fetus caused by progress through the birth canal may result in: ecchymosis, edema, caput succedaneum, cephalohematoma
pain is
- individual
- subjective
- sensory experience
many factors influence the way a client perceives pain
- physiological
- psychological
- emotional
- environmental
- sociocultural
uniqueness of labor and birth pain
- different from other types of pain
- increased intensity desired and positive outcome
- occurs in predictable pattern
first stage of labor pain
- pain from cervix and lower uterine segment
- characteristics like other abdominal pain
- diffuse in nature
- occurs in the lower abdomen
- may be referred to the lower back, buttocks, and thighs
second stage of labor pain
- pain from perineum and birth canal as the fetus descends
- described as most extreme pain
- “burning” pain in perineum
psychosocial influences
- level of fear and anxiety
- culture
- circumstances surrounding the birth experience
the level of pain necessary for an individual to perceive pain
pain threshold