stages of labor

How do I know labor is close?

Baby gets into LOA position and drops down low

Frequent bowel movements

Loss of mucus lining

Nesting

what is your clients body doing during pre-labor?

cervix ripening/softening, release of mucus plug/Bloody show, Braxton Hicks

what is your client filling during pre-labor?

tightening and releasing around the belly, mid back pain, reddish, pink, stringy discharge, nothing

what is doing during pre-labor?

Settling into optimal fetal position

what should your client do during pre-labor

Ignore it, drink water, and eat, take hot showers, rest and comfortable position, call Doula

Braxton Hicks

caused by over exertion or dehydration, does not produce significant change in the cervix, feels like a tightening in the abdomen, sporadic pattern, can be resolved with water, rest, and temperature therapy

contractions

Caused by the onset of labor, produces changes in the cervix, felt more in the lower abdomen, or in the back, very regular pattern, is progressive, nothing will resolve it

another word for labor

Latent

when does early labor start?

After loss of mucus plug

how long does early labor last?

Hours - days

another word for pre-labor

False labor

pre-labor dilation

0 to 2 cm

pre-labor starts between what weeks of pregnancy

38-40 weeks

how long does pre-labor last

days to weeks

what is your clients body doing during early labor?

Releasing oxytocin, signaling true contractions to begin, producing active change in the cervix in the form of effacement and dilation

what is the baby doing during early labor?

Dropping lower preparing to engage

what is the client Feeling during early labor

Pressure in the lower back in pelvis, waves of sensation starting from the top of their uterus and traveling to the bottom, periodic, trickles, drips, or gushes if water has broken

Active labor dilation

7-8 cm

when does active labor start?

After you have dilated past 6 cm

how long does active labor last?

up to 24 hours

what is your clients body doing during active labor?

contracting regularly and for longer stretches, Beta endorphins flood the system in response to the physical work the body is doing, they begin to regulate the level of oxytocin As the labor progresses, effacement Of the cervix, dilation of the cervix, rupture of the amniotic sac

what is the baby doing during active labor?

Fully engage engaged in the pelvis

what is the client feeling during active labor?

Increased pressure in pelvic area and back, increased waves of sensation, more persistent, trickles, gushes, or drips (Usually with each contraction if water is broken)

what should your client do during active labor?

Whatever helps you cope with your discomfort, eat, at this point you’re Going to want to head to the hospital or birthing center, call Doula

transition dilation

9 to 10 cm

when does transition start?

after reaching 9 cm

how long does transition last?

45 minutes to 2 hours

what is your clients body doing during transition?

Contracted and rapid succession, final stages of effacement, Final stages of dilation, Beta, endorphins, and oxytocin, still being produced in response to labor

during transition, what is the baby

Emerges from uterus and begins traveling down birth canal

what is the client feeling during transition?

Extreme pressure in the pelvic area and back, extreme sensation in the uterus, overwhelming sensation to have a bowel movement

what should I do during transition?

whatever helps you cope with your discomfort, drink plenty of water

when does pushing start?

After 10 cm

how long does pushing last?

5 to 45 minutes

what is my client’s body doing during pushing?

Labor usually pauses for a few minutes, oxytocin, reaches peak levels, contractions resume, but not as quickly as before, Baby has descended down the birth canal, and it slowly passing through the vagina

what is the baby doing during pushing stage?

Baby has descended down the birth canal and is slowly passing through into the world

what are they feeling during the pushing stage

intense pressure on your pelvic floor, overwhelming sensation to push, burning sensation

what should your client do during the pushing stage?

Get in the most comfortable pushing position, Wait for a contraction take a deep breath and bear (push) down, Push for as hard and as long as you can, rest in between contractions, drink water

how long does delivery of the placenta last?

5 to 15 minutes

what is the client’s body doing during the delivery of the placenta?

oxytocin levels remained, peaked, placenta, detached from the uterus

what is the baby doing during the delivery of the placenta?

The baby is here

what is the client feeling during the delivery of the placenta?

Another urge to push, nothing

what should your client do during the delivery of the placenta?

Focus on your brand new baby, doctor may instruct you to push one last time, drink water

when should the client go to the hospital?

When contractions are one minute long, five minutes apart, for one hour, water has been broken for 12 hours and contractions have not begun, contractions are to the point where the client can no longer cope, whenever the client wants to go