What indicates labor?
Cervical change
What are the seven cardinal signs/mechanisms of labor?
Engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, delivery
What does the term dystocia mean?
difficult labor, dysfunction with one of the 5 P's
What is the meaning of a station?
The location of the head within maternal pelvis in relationship to the ischial spine (-4
to +4)
What does a +4 station indicate?
Baby is crowning
True vs false labor
True Labor → contractions w cervical dilation and shortening
False labor → irregular contractions (not progressively stronger), without cervical
changes
What labs and vital signs would you expect to see in a mother in labor?
, Increased WBC count
Increased heart rate and RR
What are the three phases of stage one labor?
Onset of contractions to complete dilation —> latent phase, active phase, and
transition phase
What happens in stage two of labor?
Delivery of the baby
What happens in stage three of labor?
Delivery of placenta (uterus continues to contract)
What assessment and interventions would the nurse implement in stage three of
labor?
Maintain IV Pitocin
Keep uterus firm and massage
Control the bleeding
Provider will assess placenta
What happens in stage four labor?
Recovery
high risk for maternal bleeding
In the VEAL CHOP MINE mnemonic for fetal heart tracing, what is the assessment
and intervention for "V" variable decelerations?
"C" and "M" = cord compression and move to left side