Questions and Answers
What do the symptoms of a woman who is 38 weeks' pregnant, stating that the baby has dropped and she is having urinary frequency again, describe?
How do Braxton-Hicks contractions differ from labor contractions?
Which statement regarding true labor is correct?
Why is the size and shape of the true pelvis more important than that of the false pelvis?
Signup and view all the answers
What method is used to visualize soft tissue and to determine adequacy of the pelvis?
Signup and view all the answers
What area of the uterus provides the force during a contraction?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the largest diameter of the fetal skull?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the reshaping of the skull called when pressure is applied during delivery?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ideal attitude for the fetal body during labor?
Signup and view all the answers
How should the nurse document the fetal position when using Leopold maneuvers and finding a soft rounded prominence at the fundus?
Signup and view all the answers
During the second stage of labor, how often should the nurse monitor the fetal heart rate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of monitor assesses the intensity of contractions?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a decrease in fetal heart rate to 120 beats/min at the beginning of a contraction indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
What would be an appropriate nursing intervention for comfort during the first stage of labor?
Signup and view all the answers
If a woman in active labor has a fetal heart rate of 124 beats/min, what action should the nurse take?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the first priority of the nurse when a patient's membranes have just ruptured?
Signup and view all the answers
How should the nurse determine if a patient is in true labor?
Signup and view all the answers
What immediate action should the nurse take when observing a protruding umbilical cord from the vagina?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the legal responsibility of the nurse when assessing the printout from the fetal monitor?
Signup and view all the answers
How long does the first stage of labor last?
Signup and view all the answers
Which assessment is the priority when admitting a patient to the labor and delivery unit?
Signup and view all the answers
What would be the most appropriate action for the nurse when a patient screams at her husband to get out of her sight during labor?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is true when a primigravida patient is admitted and the baby is found to be engaged?
Signup and view all the answers
When should the nurse expect that labor will start after inducing with prostaglandin gel and an amniotomy?
Signup and view all the answers
When does the second stage of labor end?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is oxytocin administered in the third stage of labor?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the priority action of the nurse after the delivery of a newborn?
Signup and view all the answers
What Apgar score should be assigned to an infant presenting 5 minutes after delivery with a heart rate of 105, some flexion in arms, crying, and a pink body with blue limbs?
Signup and view all the answers
How often should the nurse assess the mother for the first hour following delivery?
Signup and view all the answers
When the Nitrazine test paper turns yellow on vaginal secretions, what does this indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which assessment findings suggest probable fetal distress? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
Which factors could exclude a pregnant woman from delivering in a birthing center? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Labor and Delivery Overview
- Lightening occurs when the baby drops lower into the pelvis, often leading to increased urinary frequency.
- Braxton-Hicks contractions are non-painful and do not result in cervical dilation.
- True labor is characterized by contractions that become stronger with movement, while false labor does not follow a regular pattern.
Pelvis Characteristics
- The true pelvis is crucial for delivery as the fetal head must pass through it; the false pelvis does not impact birth.
- Ultrasonography is the preferred method for evaluating pelvis size and soft tissue without harming the fetus.
Contraction Dynamics
- The upper portion of the uterus generates the main force during contractions.
- The biparietal diameter is the largest measurement of the fetal skull.
Fetal Positioning and Assessment
- Molding refers to the reshaping of the fetal skull due to pressure during labor.
- Assessment of fetal position using Leopold maneuvers can indicate a Right Occiput Anterior (ROA) position.
- Continuous monitoring of fetal heart rate is essential, ideally every 5 minutes during the second stage of labor.
Monitoring and Interventions
- An internal monitor assesses contraction intensity effectively.
- Early deceleration in fetal heart rate indicates head compression during contractions, not fetal distress.
- Nurses should always check fetal heart rate immediately after membranes rupture.
Stages of Labor
- The first stage of labor is the longest and ends when the cervix is fully dilated.
- The second stage concludes with the delivery of the baby.
- The use of oxytocin in the third stage helps stimulate uterine contractions.
Post-Delivery Care
- Immediately after birth, suctioning the infant's mouth and nose is the first priority.
- Apgar scores assess the newborn's initial health; a score of 8 indicates generally good condition shortly after birth.
Maternal Assessment
- Post-delivery, maternal assessments should occur every 15 minutes.
- The Nitrazine test differentiates between amniotic fluid status; a yellow result indicates intact membranes.
Distress Indicators
- Signs of potential fetal distress include meconium-stained fluid and a slow return of the fetal heart rate to baseline.
Birthing Center Considerations
- Certain conditions excluded from birthing center eligibility include planned cesarean delivery and maternal preeclampsia.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on key concepts related to labor and delivery, including the mechanics of contractions, pelvic characteristics, and fetal positioning. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of these important aspects in obstetrics and maternity care.
