Labor and Birth Process

Question 1

Uterine contractions have two main functions…

Answer 1

1. to dilate the cervix

2. to push the fetus through the birth canal

Question 2

effacement

Answer 2

the enhanced collagen breakdown that was previously inhibited by progesterone.

Question 3

Lightening

Answer 3

when the fetal presenting part begins to descent into the true pelvis…the uterus lowers and moves into a more anterior position.

Question 4

Bloody shows

Answer 4

the mucus plug expels and ruptures some cervical capillaries- producing a pink-tinged secretions.

Question 5

Braxton Hicks contractions

Answer 5

Occur primarily in the abdomen and groin and gradually spread downward before relaxing.

Question 6

True Labor Contractions

Answer 6

normally felt in the lower back

Question 7

Braxton Hicks contractions aid..

Answer 7

in moving the cervix from a posterior position to an anterior position, they help to soften and ripen the cervix.

Question 8

How long do Braxton Hicks contractions normally last

Answer 8

from 30 seconds to 2 minutes

Question 9

As birth nears, the uterus becomes more sensitive to oxytocin the

Answer 9

frequency and intensity of these contractions increase

Question 10

Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM)

Answer 10

rupture of membranes with loss of amniotic fluid prior to the onset of labor

Question 11

Pregnancy last approx.

Answer 11

10 lunar months, 9 calendar months, 40 weeks, or 280 days

Question 12

the length of pregancy is computed from

Answer 12

the first day of the LNMP

Question 13

Nagele’s Rule is used to

Answer 13

calculate EDD

Question 14

Gravida

Answer 14

number of times pregnant including the present pregnancy regardless of the outcome

Question 15

para

Answer 15

number of deliveries at 20 weeks or greater whether the newborn is born dead or alive

Question 16

GTPAL

Answer 16

method used for recording a woman’s pregnancy history

Question 17

GTPAL

Answer 17

G-Gravida 
T- Term pregnancies
P- Preterm deliveries 
A- Abortions 
L- Number of children living

Question 18

First trimester

Answer 18

From the firs day of LMP through 12 weeks

Question 19

Second trimester

Answer 19

13 weeks through 27 weeks

Question 20

Third trimester

Answer 20

28 weeks to 40 weeks

Question 21

Stages of Labor

Answer 21

First Stage, second stage, third stage

Question 22

Factors influencing the onset of labor

Answer 22

uterine stretch, hormones, aging placenta, increased oxtocin sensitivity, increased release of prostaglandins

Question 23

Pre term labor

Answer 23

labor that begins before 37 full weeks

Question 24

Onset of labor

Answer 24

uterine muscles tighten and contractions start to form a patern, become stronger, longer and closer together.

Question 25

pre-labor signs

Answer 25

Braxton Hicks/ Warm up/false labor contractions Weeks to hours before labor begins Uterus tighten/relax-strengthening for labor CTX arent strong enough to open cervix significantly tend to go away with change in activity

Question 26

Braxton-Hicks/ Warm up contractions/ false labor ctx

Answer 26

sporatic, less than 30 seconds, eventually fade away, increased activity increases incidence, full bladder increases incidence

Question 27

False labor

Answer 27

ctx may go away with change in activity usually felt in front of abdomen irregular frequently weaker, not stronger or closer

Question 28

True Labor

Answer 28

Ctx continue even with change in position starts in the back and radiates around toward the front of the abdomen, regular and become closer together, become stronger with time

Question 29

Timing uterine ctx

Answer 29

D-Duration (from beginning of one ctx to end of the same ctx) F- Frequency ( from beginning of one ctx to beggining of next ctx I- Intensity (degree of pressure) R- Regularity (estabilshed pattern that iincreases)

Question 30

First Stage of labor

Answer 30

true labor to complete cervical dilation longest of all stages has three phases

Question 31

What are the three phases of the first stage of labor

Answer 31

early/latent phase active phase transition phase

Question 32

What happens to the cervix during the Early/Latent phase

Answer 32

the cervix dilates 0-3 cm and effacement 0-40%

Question 33

how long is the early/latent phase

Answer 33

Duration: 6-12 hours primip--8.6 hours multip--5.3 hours

Question 34

abortion

Answer 34

a pregnancy that terminates before the fetus reaches 20 weeks gestation

Question 35

antepartum

Answer 35

time before birth

Question 36

prenatal

Answer 36

time before birth

Question 37

embryo

Answer 37

human concepus 3-8 weeks gestation

Question 38

fetus

Answer 38

human conceptus 9th week gestation through term

Question 39

gravida/gravity

Answer 39

number of times pregnant including the present pregnancy-regardless of the duration or outcome

Question 40

para/parity

Answer 40

number of births after 20 weeks gestation whether the infants were born dead or alive

Question 41

Primigravida

Answer 41

a woman pregnant for the first time

Question 42

multigravida

Answer 42

a woman who is in her second or subsequent pregnancy

Question 43

nullipara

Answer 43

a woman who has not produced a viable offspring

Question 44

primpipara

Answer 44

a woman who has given birth to a fetus dead or alive that has reached 20 weeks gestation

Question 45

multipara

Answer 45

a women who has given birth two or more times at more than 20 weeks gestation

Question 46

living children

Answer 46

refers to number of living children

Question 47

still birth

Answer 47

a fetus born dead after 20 weeks gestation

Question 48

viability

Answer 48

capability of living outside uterus, usually accepted as 24 weeks, although survival is rare