Week 6- Labour Flashcards
what is the mechanisim on labour onset?
Foetus releases cortisol
decrease progesteron and increase in estorgen
increased estrogen makes uterus suseptible to oxytocin
oxytoicin leads to contraction
what are the premonitory signs of labour?
Braxton Hicks contractions increaes pelvic pressure and congestion decent of foetus into pelvis relaxed pelvic floor cervical effacements static weight or weightloss rupture of membranes
what is the defintion of frist tage labour?
progressive effacement and dilation of cervix from 0cm to 10 cm
2 phases- cx 3-4cm
acttive cx >3cm to 10cm
what does the term effacement refer to?
the shortening of the cervix until it become part of the lower uterus
what happens in the latent phase of first stage labour?
3-8 hours
cervix dilates to 3cm - 4cm
cervix effaces 3cm to 0.5cm
contractions are starting irregulary and becoming more regular
slow increase in strenght, length and frequency
what occurs in the active phase of first phase labour?
more rapid dilation begins at 3-4cm compeltes at 10cm regular painful contractions - longer stronger, dilates at about 1cm per hour usually 3 contractions in 10minutes rarely longer than 60 seconds
what is true labour?
progressive dilation and effacement of the cervix
contractions regular and increasing in frequency and intensity
for many, discomfrot radiates from back to abdomen
pain not relaved by ambulation
decsnt of head
what is spurious labour?
contractions do not produce progressive cervical effacement and dilation
contractions irregular and dont increase in frequency
there may be tightness rather than pain
discomfort in lower abdomen and groin
discomfort improves when ambulating
what are the 5 ps of labour?
Passenger - foetus powers- primary uterine - second maternal effort postion- foetal postion passage- pelvis pshycological- maternal reaction
what can effects can the passanger have on labour
SIze of baby- particularly the head
foetal life of baby
foetal attitude
presenting part
what are the pwers in the stages of labour?
contractions; 1st stage- uterine contracctions
secondary stage- mpothers ability to push
what affects the passage
the type of pelvis
and soft tissues- cervix, uterus, vagina and perineum
what causes pain in labour?
contractions- dilation of cervix
streching of vagina and perineum
pressure of baby as it decends on pelvic floor
what are the normal vaginal losses during labour?
liqour/amniotic fluid- clear, muconium stained, blood stained
Operculum-show- muscus, blood
bleeding
what is the second stage of labour?
from end of first stage to birth of the baby