Labor and Delivery Practice Flashcards

Sixty vocabulary-style flashcards based on a lecture transcript covering the stages of labor, fetal monitoring, birth mechanisms, and postpartum nursing care.

Labor

The body's process of getting the cervix ready, moving the baby down, delivering the baby, and delivering the placenta.

True Labor

Labor characterized by contractions that get stronger and closer together, leading to regular cervical dilation and effacement.

False Labor

Contractions that may be painful but do not result in thinning or opening of the cervix; often ease with rest, hydration, or positional changes.

Sunny side up

A fetal position where the infant's face is facing upwards instead of down during delivery.

Breech presentation

A fetal position where the baby is upside down relative to the pelvis, making it difficult to push the baby out normally.

Bloody show

A sign of true labor involving the passage of the mucus plug as it is pushed down.

Stage 1 of Labor

The stage from the start of true contractions until the cervix reaches a complete dilation of $10$\text{ cm}.

Stage 2 of Labor

The stage from full cervical dilation to the actual birth of the infant.

Stage 3 of Labor

The stage involving the delivery of the placenta.

Stage 4 of Labor

The recovery and stabilization period for both the mother and the baby following delivery.

Latent Phase

The early part of Stage 1 labor, typically occurring from $0$ to $3$\text{ cm} dilation, which is usually more manageable.

Active Phase

The part of Stage 1 labor where dilation is $4$ to $7$\text{ cm}, contractions are stronger, and the mother needs more support.

Transition Phase

The most intensive phase of Stage 1 labor, from $7$ to $10$\text{ cm} dilation, often marked by irritability and nausea.

Ambulation

The act of walking around, which the nurse should encourage to facilitate fetal descent and cervical dilation during the active stage.

Effacement

The process of the cervix thinning out, measured in percentages from $0\%$ (thick) to $100\%$ (fully thinned).

Dilation

The process of the cervix opening up, measured from $0$ to $10$\text{ cm} in diameter.

Fetal Station

A measurement on a scale from negative to positive that describes how far down the baby is in the pelvis relative to the ischial spine.

Negative numbers (Station)

Indicates that the baby is still high up in the uterus.

Zero Station

Indicates the baby is at the level of the ischial spine.

Positive numbers (Station)

Indicates the baby has moved lower into the pelvis and is preparing to be delivered.

Station $+4$

A measurement indicating the baby is crowning or practically floating out for delivery.

Contraction Frequency

Measured from the start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction.

Contraction Duration

Measured from the start to the end of a single contraction.

Resting Tone

The period of relaxation between contractions when the baby receives better oxygen flow.

Meconium

Stool passed by the baby in utero, indicated by green or brown amniotic fluid upon membrane rupture.

Normal Fetal Heart Rate (FHR)

A baseline heart rate between $110$ and $160$\text{ bpm}.

FHR Non-reassuring Patterns

Concerning heart rate signs including late decelerations, low heart rate, high heart rate, or little to no variability.

Interventions for Non-reassuring FHR

Actions taken including repositioning the mother, increasing IV fluids, stopping oxytocin, and notifying the provider.

Rectal Pressure

A sensation often felt by mothers when the fetal head moves past the ischial bone, indicating readiness to push.

Crowning

The point when the head of the fetus is visible at the opening of the vaginal wall.

Episiotomy

A surgical incision made to the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening for delivery.

Tearing/Incision Nursing Care

Monitoring for pain, bleeding, swelling, and signs of infection while teaching comfort care.

Engagement

The initial movement where the fetal head enters the pelvis, occurring before neck flexion.

Descent

The initial downward movement of the fetus into the pelvis, occurring before neck flexion.

Internal Rotation

The movement following neck flexion where the fetus rotates its head to align with the pelvic outlet.

Extension

Occurs after internal rotation when the fetal head crowns and extends to pass through the birth canal.

Placental Separation Duration

The delivery of the placenta usually lasts around $5$ to $30$ minutes after the birth of the baby.

Signs of Placental Separation

Includes a gush of blood, lengthening of the umbilical cord, and the uterus becoming firm and rising.

Oxytocin (Post-delivery)

A medication used to help the uterus clamp down after delivery to reduce the risk of hemorrhage.

Fundus

The top portion of the uterus that is assessed postpartum for tone and position.

Boggy Uterus

A uterus that feels soft to the touch rather than firm, indicating a high risk for heavy bleeding.

Hypotension (Postpartum)

A drop in blood pressure, such as $90/50$\text{ mmHg}, which requires slowing the oxytocin infusion and notifying the provider.

Golden Hour

The first hour of recovery focusing on stabilization, skin-to-skin bonding, and breastfeeding.

Lochia

The vaginal discharge or bleeding that occurs after childbirth.

Firm Midline Fundus

The normal, expected finding during a postpartum assessment of the uterus.

Displaced Uterus

A condition where the fundus is not midline (deviated) because it has been pushed aside by a full bladder.

Uterine Massage

A nursing intervention performed to restore uterine tone and reduce the risk of bleeding if the uterus is boggy.

Voiding (Postpartum)

The primary nursing action when a fundus is displaced; the mother should empty her bladder to allow the uterus to return to midline.

Patient Education Timing

Teaching information should be divided into small pieces and use simple words to avoid overwhelming stressed parents.

Contraction Intensity

The level of strength or power of a contraction.

Pre-admission Assessment

Includes vital signs, pain, allergies, medications, prenatal history, and membrane status.

Ischial Spine

The anatomical landmark used to determine a fetal station of zero.

Continuous Monitoring

Fetal heart rate monitoring that may be required depending on risk, doctor's orders, or hospital policy.

Side-lying Position

A common repositioning technique to improve oxygen and blood flow to the baby during fetal distress.

Oxytocin Infusion Stop

A priority action if the fetal heart rate is non-reassuring while the medication is running.

Epidural Pressure

Mothers with an epidural may not feel pain during the second stage but will still feel pressure and require coaching to push.

Meconium Assessment

Evaluation of amniotic fluid for green or brown color, which may indicate fetal bowel movement in embryo.

Membrane Odor Assessment

A bad smell in the amniotic fluid is an indicative sign of infection.

Hemorrhage Timing

The delivery of the placenta in Stage 3 is the period when mothers typically run the highest risk of hemorrhaging.

Cultural Sensitivities

The nursing responsibility to respect different background needs, such as a preference for specific remedies or support styles.