Labor and Delivery Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts in labor and delivery from the lecture notes.

Critical Factors in Labor

Birth passage, fetus, relationship between passage and fetus, physiologic forces of labor, psychological factors.

Fetal Presentation

The position of the fetus during labor, which can be cephalic, breech, or shoulder.

Cephalic Presentation

A presentation where the fetal head is positioned to be delivered first.

Breech Presentation

A fetal position where the buttocks or feet are delivered first.

Effacement

The gradual thinning and shortening of the cervix, measured in percentages from 0% to 100%.

Dilation

The gradual opening of the cervix measured in centimeters from 0 to 10 cm, allowing for delivery.

True Labor

Regular contractions that increase in frequency, duration, and strength, leading to progressive dilation and effacement.

False Labor

Irregular contractions that do not lead to dilation or effacement.

Pitocin

A synthetic form of oxytocin used to induce labor or increase uterine tone after delivery.

Cardinal Movements

The movements the fetus makes during labor, including descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, restitution, external rotation, and expulsion.

Electronic Fetal Monitoring

A method to monitor fetal heart rate and contractions during labor.

Variable Decelerations

Abrupt drops in fetal heart rate due to umbilical cord compression.

Late Decelerations

Decreases in fetal heart rate that coincide with contractions and indicate potential uteroplacental insufficiency.

Amniotic Fluid

Fluid surrounding the fetus, important for cushioning and protecting it during labor.

Laceration and Episiotomy

Lacerations are tears in vaginal tissue, while an episiotomy is a surgical cut made to allow for easier delivery.