Midterm One Archive: Psychology of Childbirth

This set of flashcards is designed to help students review key concepts and details from the lecture notes on the psychology of childbirth.

DOMINANT CHILDBIRTH NARRATIVE?

Medicalized, negative portrayal.

HYPER-MEDICALIZATION OF CHILDBIRTH?

Childbirth shown as predominantly medical.

SOCIAL MEDIA'S EFFECT ON PREGNANCY DECISIONS?

Influences medicalized norms.

WHAT IS A 'GOOD BIRTH' ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Curated idyllic births, 'protocol of birthing well'.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE ON CHILDBIRTH?

Creates unrealistic norms, not alleviation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL OR 'NORMAL BIRTH'?

Labor without surgical or medical intervention.

ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IN CHILDBIRTH?

Sensory data and contextual meanings inform experiences.

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA AND LABOR PAIN KNOWLEDGE?

Often fails to change knowledge, low credibility, disregarded.

ANCIENT POTTERY DEPICTIONS?

Birth scenes from over 2,600 years ago.

HOLLYWOOD vs. NATURAL BIRTH FILMS?

Hollywood: painful/dangerous; Natural: emphasizes women’s agency.

INDIGENOUS BIRTH PRACTICE EXAMPLE?

Swallowing hair, inducing vomiting for preparation.

MEDIA EXPOSURE'S IMPACT ON CHILDBIRTH VIEWS?

Influences questions asked and approaches.

HORMONAL CHANGES FOR UTERINE QUIESCENCE?

Ovarian hormones decrease muscle fiber activity.

UTERINE MYOCYTES DURING PREGNANCY?

Increase in length, width, gaining muscle mass.

BRAXTON-HICKS CONTRACTIONS SIGNIFICANCE?

Practice contractions aiding labor preparation.

LONG CONTRACTIONS' RISK?

Reduced blood flow, hypoxia to uterus/fetus.

FACTORS INFLUENCING LABOR PAIN PERCEPTION?

Expectation, context, social support.

PRIMARY SENSATION PATTERN DURING LABOR?

Pain only during contractions, not between.

PLACENTA'S PURPOSE IN CHILDBIRTH?

Facilitates bi-directional flow of O2, nutrients, waste.

OXYTOCIN'S ROLE IN CHILDBIRTH?

Promotes powerful uterine contractions, released during labor.

'OXYTOCIC' DEFINITION?

Substance speeding labor by stimulating uterine contractions.

ENDOGENOUS vs. ARTIFICIAL OXYTOCIN?

Endogenous: natural; Artificial: IV-administered.

HORMONAL RESPONSE DURING LABOR STAGES?

Involuntary release of oxytocin and prostaglandins for contractions.

THIRD STAGE OF LABOR?

Placenta expelled, usually within 30 min postpartum.

NOCICEPTION DEFINITION?

Encoding/processing harmful stimuli signaling potential harm.

PAIN vs. NOCICEPTION?

Pain: subjective; Nociception: sensory process producing signals.

BABY'S PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO PAIN?

Crying, body movement, heart rate changes, stress response.

WHY VITAMIN K FOR NEWBORNS?

Prevents bleeding due to low levels at birth.

CONVENTIONAL NEWBORN EYE TREATMENT?

Erythromycin ointment to prevent infections.

ANXIETY'S EFFECT ON CHILDBIRTH PAIN?

Promotes cholecystokinin release, facilitating pain.

PLACEBO EFFECT ON LABOR PAIN?

Positive expectations reduce pain by increasing endogenous opioids.

HYPERALGESIA (NOCEBOS) MEANING?

Increased pain sensitivity due to negative expectations.

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN CHILDBIRTH?

Influence comfort and pain experienced.

STANDING DURING LABOR'S EFFECT?

Often more comfortable and less painful than lying down.

MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS' EFFECT ON UTERINE BLOOD FLOW?

Compresses vessels, reduces flow, causes hypoxia.

CONTRACTION FREQUENCY: PREGNANCY vs. LABOR?

Labor: stronger, coordinated; Pregnancy: non-coordinated.

FIRST STAGE OF LABOR?

Longest, most painful, cervix dilates.

SENSATIONS IN 'BACK LABOR'?

Pain between contractions, especially lower back.

HISTORICAL OXYTOCICS USE?

Speed up labor, induce abortion, reduce postpartum hemorrhage.

IMPORTANCE OF MUSCLE FIBERS IN LABOR?

Coordinated contractions essential for childbirth.

SENSATIONS DURING POSTPARTUM CONTRACTIONS?

Uterus contracts to pre-pregnancy state, can be painful.

PAIN FIBERS FROM VISCERAL ORGANS?

Largely C fibers.

CONTRIBUTORS TO CHILDBIRTH VARIETY?

Environmental factors: noise, lighting, temperature.

ANATOMICAL FEATURE CHANGES DURING LABOR?

Baby's head molding due to flexible skull bones.

PROLONGED STRESS'S IMPACT ON LABOR?

Can inhibit oxytocin release, affecting labor progress.

CONCERN DURING THIRD STAGE OF LABOR?

Disturbances risk postpartum hemorrhage.

CULTURAL FACTORS' INFLUENCE ON CHILDBIRTH?

Beliefs/practices shape expectations, practices, experiences.

ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX'S ROLE IN PAIN?

Involved in affective component of pain processing.

BABY PAIN MANIFESTATION (BEHAVIORAL)?

Crying, body movement changes, physiological stress indicators.

BIRTHING ENVIRONMENT'S INFLUENCE?

Supportive environment alleviates pain, smooths labor.

SENSORY PAIN SIGNALS IN BRAIN?

Pathways to thalamus, amygdala, and other regions.

SENSORY DENERVATION DURING PREGNANCY?

Reduced uterine sensitivity, not fully understood.

OUTCOME OF POSITIVELY FRAMED BIRTH?

More positive labor experience, less reported pain.

UTERINE CONTRACTILITY REGULATION DURING CHILDBIRTH?

Hormonal control is predominant.

MOTHER/BABY BLOOD INTERCONNECTION VIA PLACENTA?

Mother's blood in intervillous space, separated by thin membrane.

LABOR PAIN'S PURPOSE?

Guides movements/efforts, focuses resources on birth.

PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS?

Triggers endorphin release, modulating pain.

CHALLENGES IN VARYING CHILDBIRTH ENVIRONMENTS?

Differences in pain management, emotional support vary.

HORMONAL LEVEL CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY/LABOR?

Neurohormone balance governs muscle activity/contractions.

FINDINGS ON FAMOUS CHILDBIRTH SCENES?

Often dramatized, impacts perceptions/expectations.

WHY SOCIAL MEDIA PORTRAYALS OF BIRTH ARE CRITICAL?

Shape societal expectations and norms.

CRITICAL SENSORY INPUT DURING BIRTHING?

Visceral sensations and psychological context influence pain.

FEAR/ANXIETY ABOUT PAIN TRANSMISSION PHENOMENON?

Nocebo effects amplify pain perception.

MEDICATION RISK: HOSPITALS vs. ALTERNATIVE CENTERS?

Hospital births significantly more likely to use pain medication.

HEALTHCARE INTERACTIONS' IMPACT ON PREGNANCY/LABOR?

Can create anxious/unrealistic expectations.

COMPRESSION'S EFFECT ON FETAL CIRCULATION?

Temporary reduction in blood flow, contributing to hypoxia.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION'S ROLE IN LABOR EXPERIENCE?

Modulates expectations, reduces anxiety.

CULTURAL PRACTICES' IMPACT ON LABOR EXPERIENCE?

Traditional support/community influences pain perception.

EMERGING RESEARCH ON FETAL PAIN PERCEPTION?

Neonates are more pain-sensitive than previously understood.

BENEFIT OF UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT CHILDBIRTH APPROACHES?

Insights into cultural variations and influences.

UTERUS'S 'MOTOR INNERVATION' CONTRIBUTION?

Contributes to regular contraction patterns.

WHY UNDERSTAND PHYSIOLOGICAL PREGNANCY CHANGES?

Understanding these changes verifies expectations and narratives surrounding childbirth.