Week 4 Flashcards
What are the five P’s of labour?
Passenger, Passageway, Powers, Position, Psychological response
What is the first stage of labour?
Begins with regular contractions, ends with full cervical dilation
What are the phases of the first stage of labour?
Latent phase (up to 5 cm)
Active phase (5 to 8 cm)
What is the second stage of labour?
Begins with full cervical dilation (10 cm), ends with the baby’s birth
What are the phases of the second stage of labour?
Latent phase (passive descent)
Active phase (active pushing)
What is the third stage of labour?
Placental separation and expulsion
What is the fourth stage of labour?
Postpartum care for mother, newborn, and family
What are common signs preceding labour?
Lightning (relieve some pressure on the mother’s diaphragm and make it easier to breathe, but it can increase pressure on the bladder)
backache
bloody show
energy surge (sudden increase in physical energy that some women experience shortly before labor)
What is cervical effacement?
Thinning of the cervix as it prepares for birth
What factors influence pain perception during labour?
Culture, anxiety, previous experience, gate-control theory
What are nonpharmacological methods of pain management?
Breathing techniques, massage, water therapy
What are pharmacological pain management options?
Sedatives, opioids, nerve blocks (e.g., epidural, spinal)
What is the purpose of Leopold’s manoeuvres?
To assess fetal position and presentation
What is the Ferguson reflex?
The urge to bear down during labour
What is the importance of maternal position during labour?
Relieves fatigue, improves circulation, and increases comfort
What is the Ritgen manoeuvre?
A technique to control the birth of the baby’s head during the second stage
What are signs of placental separation?
Uterus changes shape, cord lengthens, vaginal fullness
What is intradermal water block?
Injections of sterile water to reduce back pain during labour
What are the risks of epidural anaesthesia?
Hypotension, impaired breathing, postdural puncture headache
What is the difference between synclitism and asynclitism?
Synclitism: The fetal head is aligned with the maternal pelvis.
Asynclitism: The fetal head is tilted sideways
What are the signs of false labour?
Irregular contractions, no cervical changes
What is the function of the amniotic sac?
Protects the fetus, cushions it from external pressure, and helps with the process of labour
What are potential complications during the third stage of labour?
Retained placenta, excessive bleeding, uterine inversion
What is the role of the mother’s psychological response during labour?
Anxiety, fear, and cultural expectations can affect the experience and perception of pain
How does the fetal heart rate change during labour?
Heart rate may fluctuate due to uterine contractions, but should remain within normal ranges