Labor and birth

Question 1

How do you know a patient is in labor?

Answer 1

The onset of regular progressive contractions.

Question 2

What does dilation mean?

Answer 2

The opening of the cervix (0 - 10cm)

Question 3

What does effacement mean?

Answer 3

Thinning of the cervix (from thick to 100%)

Question 4

What does station mean?

Answer 4

The relationship between the fetal presenting part and the ischial spines.

Question 5

What are the ischial spines?

Answer 5

The bony spots on each side of the pelvis, or the smallest diameter through which the baby must fit.

Question 6

How is station measured?

Answer 6

On a scale from -5 to +5

-5 = head floating above the pelvis
\+5 = head crowning at the vaginal opening 

“Positive numbers are positive news, negative numbers are negative news.”

Question 7

What does engagement mean?

Answer 7

Station 0, the present is at the ischial spine

Question 8

What does lie mean?

Answer 8

The relationship between the spine of the mother and the spine of the baby.

• longitudinal (vertical, parallel) lie = good
• transverse lie = bad

Question 9

What does presentation mean?

Answer 9

The part of the baby that enters the birth canal first.

Question 10

What are the four stages of labor and delivery?

Answer 10

1. Labor
2. Delivery of the baby
3. Delivery of the placenta
4. Recovery

Question 11

What are the three phases of labor?

Answer 11

1. Latent
2. Active
3. Transition

“The first three letters in the first phase (latent), tell you the first letters of all three phases… L-A-T.”

Question 12

How long does recovery last?

Answer 12

2 hours

Question 13

What is the purpose of uterine contractions in the 1st stage?

Answer 13

Dilate and efface the cervix

Question 14

What is the purpose of uterine contractions in the 2nd stage?

Answer 14

Push the baby out

Question 15

What is the purpose of uterine contractions in the 3rd stage?

Answer 15

Push the placenta out

Question 16

What is the purpose of uterine contractions in the 4th stage?

Answer 16

Contract the uterus and stop the bleeding

Question 17

When does postpartum begin?

Answer 17

2 hours after delivery of the placenta

Question 18

What happens during the Latent phase of labor?

Answer 18

Cervical dilation = 0 - 4cm
Contractions frequency = 5 - 30min apart
Contraction duration = 15 - 30sec
Contraction intensity = mild

Question 19

What happens during the Active phase of labor?

Answer 19

Cervical dilation = 5 - 7cm
Contractions frequency = 3 - 5min apart
Contraction duration = 30 -60sec
Contraction intensity = moderat

Question 20

What happens during the Transition phase of labor?

Answer 20

Cervical dilation = 8 - 10cm
Contractions frequency = 2 - 3min apart
Contraction duration = 60 - 90sec
Contraction intensity = stronge

Question 21

Contraction should not be longer than ______sec or closer than every _____min.

Answer 21

90sec, 2min

Question 22

What are the signs of uterine tetany?

Answer 22

Contractions longer than 90sec or closer then 2min.

Question 23

What are the signs of uterine hyperstimulation?

Answer 23

Contractions longer than 90sec or closer then 2min.

Question 24

How do you know when a woman is in trouble in labor?

Answer 24

Contractions longer than 90sec or closer then 2min.

Question 25

What parameters would make you stop pitocin?

Answer 25

Contractions longer than 90sec or closer then 2min.

Question 26

How do you time a contraction?

Answer 26

Time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

Question 27

What is the duration of a contraction?

Answer 27

Time from beginning to end of one contraction.

Question 28

What is the intensity of a contraction?

Answer 28

The subjective strength of the contraction.

Question 29

What do you need to teach the patient in order for them to determine the intensity of a contraction?

Answer 29

Palpate with one hand to over the fundus with the pads of the fingers (or fingertips).

Question 30

What is the cervical dilation during the active phase of labor?

Answer 30

5 -7cm

Question 31

What is the contraction frequency during the active phase of labor?

Answer 31

3 - 5min apart

Question 32

What is the contraction duration during the active phase of labor?

Answer 32

30 - 60sec

Question 33

What is the contraction intensity during the active phase of labor?

Answer 33

Moderate