Labour and Delivery

Psy 30

Spiritwood High School

Stages• Described as occurring in three stages

1. Early Labour = very variable, 12-24 hours• Uterine contractions 15- 20 minutes apart,

getting progressively closer together as labour progresses

• Last about a minute, also increase in intensity

• Cervix dilates from starting point to 10 cm and thins out

Fundal Heights

Second Stage – Delivery

• Presenting part starts to move through the cervix.

• Again very variable in time – minutes to an hour.

• Mother bears down and pushes with each contraction

Third Stage - Afterbirth

• Shortest stage

• The placenta, umbilical cord and other membranes are expelled.

• Mother will be aware and feel this

• Birth attendants will try to ensure placenta intact

Placenta

Umbilical Cord

Cutting the Cord

In the Delivery Room• Birthing room for most Normal Term

deliveries• Babies do not get held upside down or slapped.• Fathers (or significant others) are most often

offered to cut the umbilical cord if they chose• Healthy infants are most often placed on the

mothers skin to allow warmth and immediate bonding. Only those infants that need specialized care are moved from the room.

External Fetal Monitoring

Electronic Fetal Monitoring

Birthing Techniques

• Lamaze

– A popular for of “natural childbirth” where expectant mothers try to cope actively with the pain of childbirth by relaxation and breathing.

– Meant to eliminate or reduce the need for medication

Birthing Techniques 2

• Caesarian Section– The surgical removal of a baby from the

uterus– Preformed when

• CPD – discordance between baby’s head and Mom’s pelvis.

• Fetal distress – monitoring suggests baby is in trouble

• Presenting part is not the head

• Maternal complications – bleeding

Caesarian Section

Pain Control

• Lamaze• IV • Epidural• Nitrous Oxide – “laughing gas” Used to

be more widely available. In Saskatchewan, fewer deliveries in rural hospitals (availability of staff and risks/liability) so seldom used.

Complications for Baby

• Precipitous delivery – baby arrives too fast. Less time for circulation and lungs to respond to conditions outside the uterus

• Anoxia – insufficient supply of oxygen to the baby which can result in brain damage

• Premature delivery• Breech position• Meconium aspiration

Posterior Presentation

Breech Presentations

External Version for Breech

Face Presentation

Brow Presentation

Transverse Lie

Meconium Aspiration

Prevention

NICU

Complications for Mom

• Retained placenta

• Post-partum hemorrhage

• Amniotic fluid embolus

Anti shock Garment