birth 2 Flashcards
survive test (102 cards)
Why do we not give pregnant women advil/naproxen
decreases fetal circulation and oligohydramios where the
amniotic fluid actually decreases
BUBBLE-EE
BUBBLE-EE
B = Breasts (rmness) and nipples
U = Uterine fundus (location;
consistency)
B = Bladder function (amount;
frequency)
B = Bowel function (passing gas
or bowel movements)
L = Lochia (amount; colour)
L = Legs (peripheral edema)
E = Episiotomy/Laceration or
Caesarean birth incision
(perineum: discomfort; condition
of repair, if done)
E = Emotional status (mood,
fatigue)
breasr assess
Breasts
* Inspect for size, symmetry, contour, engorgement, or erythema,
ask the mom if they are soft or lling
* Check nipple for shape (at, inverted, protruding), any cracking /
bruising / blistering / bleeding, and tenderness
* This assessment can be done when the mom is preparing to
feed her baby, or during / after a feed
uterus assess
Uterus
* Assess the fundus to determine degree of involution
* If possible have the mom empty her bladder beforehand
* Use a 2 handed approach with the woman laying completely at (supine)
* To palpate the uterus, the upper hand is cupped over the fundus; the
lower hand stabilizes the uterus at the symphysis pubis
* Document the location and tone.
* The fundus should be rm and midline, roughly at umbilicus during initial
postpartum period, then decreasing by a ngerbreadth below per day
bladder assess
Bladder
* Considerable diuresis can occur in the days following birth (up to 3 L)
* Ask the mom if she is voiding, experiencing any burning, diculty voiding / or
emptying her bladder, any urgency or frequency, any leakage of urine
(laughing / coughing)
* The bladder can be palpated for distention, or percussed for dullness
* If a mom hasn’t voided by 6 hours postpartum (or after catheter removal) a
catheter may need to be placed
preventing stress incontinence
Preventing Stress Incontinence
* Encourage her to start Kegel exercises after delivery
* Engage appropriate muscles – like trying to stop urine ow
* Start with 10 ve second contractions several times a day
* Weight loss can also help with stress incontinence
* Avoid smoking, caeine, alcohol – they irritate the bladder
bowels assess
Bowels
* A spontaneous BM may not occur for 2-3 days postpartum
* Inspect the abdomen for distention, ausculate for bowel sounds (should be
no distention, and active BS)
* Ask the mom if she has had a BM, and if not then ask if she is passing gas
* A stool softener (docusate) is routinely given postpartum
* Encourage intake of high ber foods and adequate fluids
lochia assess
Lochia
* Assess the amount – how many pads she
is using, assess amount on pad & when it
was last changed
* Assess the color – is it dark red, pink,
brown?
* Is there any unusual or foul odour?
* Is she passing any clots, and if so what
size are they?
* Larger clots can indicate poor uterine involution
* The amount of lochia is documented as
follows:
* Scant: 2.5-5 cm stain on pad
* Small: up to 10 cm stain on pad
* Moderate: 10-15 cm stain on pad
* Large: the pad is saturate within an hour
* A red flag is if the mom reports that she
is saturating a pad in less than an hour!
* Moms who have a c-section often have
much less lochia
episiotomy or perineum assess
Episiotomy or Perineum
* Easiest to assess with the mom on
her side and top leg drawn up
towards waist, then lift upper buttock
* Ensure you have adequate lighting
(ashlight if needed)
* Inspect for swelling, hematoma,
redness, bruising, as well as
presence of hemorrhoids
* Some bruising and swelling is normal
reeda asses episiotomy
R- Redness
E - Edema
E - Ecchymosis
D - Discharge
A - Approximation
extremities assess
Extremities
* Assess for signs of blood clots in the legs (unilateral edema,
tenderness, and warmth to aected leg)
* Assess legs and feet for edema (normal in immediate postpartum
period)
* Also be aware of signs of pulmonary embolus to watch for (SOB,
diculty breathing, heaviness in chest)
emotional assess
Emotional Status
* Assess level of independence with infant care and attention to the
infant’s needs
* Observe how she interacts with her family members
* Observe how she interacts with her baby (holding, feeding, eye
contact, response to cries)
* Nurses can be instrumental in promoting attachment
* Encourage parents to participate in infant care, promote skin to skin
time, build up condence
* Be alert for mood swings, irritability, excessive anxiety, crying
episodes, sleep patterns
postpartum blues
Postpartum Blues
* Aects up to 80 % of women in Canada
* The postpartum period is a happy, yet stressful time, marked by huge
changes – adjustment takes time
* The postpartum blues typically resolves without intervention within a
few weeks postpartum
* It’s a transient emotional disturbance characterized by emotional
lability, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue
Pain Assessment and Comfort Measures
Pain Assessment and Comfort Measures
* Postpartum women experience pain from a variety of sources (perineum, incision, breasts /
nipples etc.)
* Assess by using a pain scale (rating her pain from 0-10)
* Ask questions about location and severity
* Perineum can be soothed with: ice packs, peri bottle, sitz baths, analgesics
* Breasts & nipples can be soothed with warm compresses, breastmilk, lanolin cream, ice packs
* Hemorrhoids can be soothed with witch hazel pads or topical creams / ointments
* Note – the pptx presentaon tled, Perinatal Pain Management, covers this topic in more detail
Factors Affecting Labour and Birth
* The five P’s
Factors Affecting Labour and Birth
* The five P’s:
1. Passageway (birth canal)
2. Powers (contractions)
3. Passenger (fetus and placenta)
4. Position of mother
5. Psychological response
Intrapartum Factors: Passageway
Intrapartum Factors: Passageway
* The birth canal is composed of the following:
* Bony pelvis
* Soft tissue components
* Other factors
Soft Tissue Factors
Soft Tissue Factors
* Lower uterine
segment
* Pelvic floor
muscles
* Cervix
* Vagina
* Introitus
Intrapartum Factors: Powers
Intrapartum Factors: Powers
* Primary powers (Uterine contractions)
* Involuntary
* Effects:
* Effaces and dilates the cervix
* Decreases blood flow to uterus and placenta
* Raises maternal blood pressure during contractions
* Ferguson reflux
* With bearing-down efforts, expels the fetus and placenta
* Begins involution
Primary Powers
Primary Powers
* Characteristics
* Rhythmic with
increasing tone
(increment), peak
(acme), & relaxation
(decrement)
* Intensity - mild,
moderate, strong
* Uterine resting tone
* Maternal coping?
Secondary Powers
Secondary Powers
* Voluntary
* The intra-abdominal force provided by the labouring woman
* Aka “pushing” or bearing down
* When to start pushing?
* Technique?
Breathing During Labour
Breathing During Labour
* Feelings may change normal breathing pattern to breath holding or
panic breathing (hyperventilation)
* This increases tension and feelings of fear and anxiety, leading to more
breath holding/hyperventilation
* Breathing/relaxation releases endorphins, relaxes the pelvic floor, and
prevents adrenaline and cortisol from blocking the effects of oxytocin
* “SOS” technique
Intrapartum Factors: Passenger
Intrapartum Factors: Passenger
* Location of the placenta
* Fetal head
* Fetal position, components include:
* Fetal lie
* Fetal presentation
* Fetal attitude
* Fetal station and engagement
* Fetal orientation in relation to maternal pelvis
Fetal Head
Fetal Head
* Bones
* Sutures
* Fontanels
* Moulding
Station and
Engagement
Station and
Engagement
* Station - degree of
descent
* Engagement -
when widest
diameter of
presenting part has
descended into
pelvic inlet to the
imagined plane at
level of ischial
spines