NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY
EXPERIENCING A COMPLICATION OF
LABOR OR BIRTH covering Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with
verified Notes by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
,NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
CHAPTER 23
NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY
EXPERIENCING A COMPLICATION OF COMMON TYPES OF DEVIATIONS THAT
LABOR OR BIRTH CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS DURING
COMMON TYPES OF DEVIATIONS THAT LABOR OR BIRTH: THE THREE P’S
CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS DURING
LABOR OR BIRTH: THE THREE P’S
• Dystocia- is difficult labor or abnormally
• Dystocia- is difficult labor or abnormally slow progression of labor
slow progression of labor Four main components of the labor process:
Four main components of the labor
1. the power, or the force that
propels the fetus (uterine
process:
contractions)
1. the power, or the force that 2. the passenger (the fetus)
propels the fetus (uterine
contractions) 3. the passageway (the birth canal)
4. the psyche (the woman’s and
2. the passenger (the fetus) family’s perception of the event)
3. the passageway (the birth
Notes:
canal)
Although labor often proceeds without any
4. the psyche (the woman’s and
deviation from the normal, many potential
complications can occur.
family’s perception of the
event)
A difficult labor—dystocia—Dystocia is
difficult labor or abnormally slow
progression of labor, can arise from any of
the four main components of the labor
process: (a) the power, or the force that
propels the fetus (uterine contractions); (b)
the passenger (the fetus); (c) the
passageway (the birth canal); or (d) the
psyche (the woman’s and family’s
perception of the event)
Because complications can occur at any
point in labor, a continuous assessment of a
laboring woman and her fetus as well as
providing emotional support for her and her
family are essential. The hours of labor are
stressful even when everything is
proceeding normally. Be certain to reassure
all women in labor that everything is going
smoothly and both she and her fetus appear
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
,NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
to be doing well. If a complication
arises and
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
, NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
assurances cannot be given as freely, it is Force of Labor)
doubly important that a woman has
someone who is both knowledgeable about
the deviation and what measures need to
be taken as well as able to feel empathetic
to her sense of helplessness and the
necessary change in her birth plan
(Zielinski, Brody, & Low, 2016). Nurses are
able to play a key role in providing this type
of care because they are skilled
practitioners of both physical and emotional
care.
Problems With the POWER
• Ineffective uterine force
• Inertia is a time-honored
term to denote
sluggishness of
contractions, or that the
force of labor, is less than
usual.
• Dysfunctional labor and
associated stages of labor - A
more current term
is dysfunctional labor- The risk of
maternal postpartal infection,
hemorrhage, and infant mortality
is higher in women
• Hypotonic Contractions - The
number of contractions is usually
low or infrequent
• Hypertonic Contractions –
increased in resting tone
• Uncoordinated contractions can
occur so closely together that
they can interfere with the blood
supply to the placenta
Notes:
Complications With the Power (The
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
EXPERIENCING A COMPLICATION OF
LABOR OR BIRTH covering Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with
verified Notes by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
,NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
CHAPTER 23
NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY
EXPERIENCING A COMPLICATION OF COMMON TYPES OF DEVIATIONS THAT
LABOR OR BIRTH CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS DURING
COMMON TYPES OF DEVIATIONS THAT LABOR OR BIRTH: THE THREE P’S
CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS DURING
LABOR OR BIRTH: THE THREE P’S
• Dystocia- is difficult labor or abnormally
• Dystocia- is difficult labor or abnormally slow progression of labor
slow progression of labor Four main components of the labor process:
Four main components of the labor
1. the power, or the force that
propels the fetus (uterine
process:
contractions)
1. the power, or the force that 2. the passenger (the fetus)
propels the fetus (uterine
contractions) 3. the passageway (the birth canal)
4. the psyche (the woman’s and
2. the passenger (the fetus) family’s perception of the event)
3. the passageway (the birth
Notes:
canal)
Although labor often proceeds without any
4. the psyche (the woman’s and
deviation from the normal, many potential
complications can occur.
family’s perception of the
event)
A difficult labor—dystocia—Dystocia is
difficult labor or abnormally slow
progression of labor, can arise from any of
the four main components of the labor
process: (a) the power, or the force that
propels the fetus (uterine contractions); (b)
the passenger (the fetus); (c) the
passageway (the birth canal); or (d) the
psyche (the woman’s and family’s
perception of the event)
Because complications can occur at any
point in labor, a continuous assessment of a
laboring woman and her fetus as well as
providing emotional support for her and her
family are essential. The hours of labor are
stressful even when everything is
proceeding normally. Be certain to reassure
all women in labor that everything is going
smoothly and both she and her fetus appear
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
,NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
to be doing well. If a complication
arises and
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
, NURSING CARE OF A FAMILY EXPERIENCING A
COMPLICATION OF LABOR OR BIRTH covering
Chapter 23.
A Comprehensive study Guide with verified Notes
by Experts.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
assurances cannot be given as freely, it is Force of Labor)
doubly important that a woman has
someone who is both knowledgeable about
the deviation and what measures need to
be taken as well as able to feel empathetic
to her sense of helplessness and the
necessary change in her birth plan
(Zielinski, Brody, & Low, 2016). Nurses are
able to play a key role in providing this type
of care because they are skilled
practitioners of both physical and emotional
care.
Problems With the POWER
• Ineffective uterine force
• Inertia is a time-honored
term to denote
sluggishness of
contractions, or that the
force of labor, is less than
usual.
• Dysfunctional labor and
associated stages of labor - A
more current term
is dysfunctional labor- The risk of
maternal postpartal infection,
hemorrhage, and infant mortality
is higher in women
• Hypotonic Contractions - The
number of contractions is usually
low or infrequent
• Hypertonic Contractions –
increased in resting tone
• Uncoordinated contractions can
occur so closely together that
they can interfere with the blood
supply to the placenta
Notes:
Complications With the Power (The
Downloaded by charles nguyo ()
