Maternal and neonatal Nursing University of Karbala/College of Nursing
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4.Labor & delivery :(Normal)
, The Outline of Lecture
Labor overview
Theories of labor onset.
Signs of labor.
Components of labor.
Mechanisms (Cardinal Movements) of labor
Stages of labor.
Maternal and fetal responses to labor
Danger signs of labor
Maternal and fetal assessment during labor
Care of woman during each stage of labor.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the lecture, the student will be able to:
1. Identify common theories explaining the onset of labor
2. Identify the premonitory signs of labor.
3. Compare and contrast true versus false labor.
4. Categorize the factors affecting labor and birth.
5. Analyze the cardinal movements of labor.
6. Differentiate among the four stages of labor.
7. Evaluate the maternal and fetal responses to labor and birth.
8. Characterize danger signs of labor
9. Analyze the nurse’s role throughout the labor and birth process.
1
, Labor Overview
Labor is the series of events by which uterine contractions and
abdominal pressure expel a fetus and placenta from a woman’s body.
Regular contractions cause progressive dilation of the cervix and sufficient
muscular force to allow the fetus to be pushed to the outside.it is a time of
change, both an ending and a beginning, for a woman, a fetus, and her
family.
labor usually begins spontaneously, in about (280) days after
conception, but it may be started by artificial means if the pregnancy
continues past (42) weeks gestation. The average length of labor is about
(14) hour for a first pregnancy and about (8) hours in subsequent
pregnancies. However, many women experience a much longer or shorter
labor.
Theories of labor onset.
Initiation of labor:
It is difficult to determine exactly why labor begins and what initiates it.
Although several theories have been proposed to explain the onset of labor,
none of these has been proved scientifically. It is widely believed that labor
is influenced by a combination of factors, including:
Uterine muscle stretching result in release of prostaglandins.
Pressure on the cervix, which stimulates release of oxytocin.
Oxytocin work together with prostaglandins to initiate contractions.
Theories:
1. Change in the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio, which facilitate
coordination of uterine contraction and myometrium stretching
2. Prostaglandin level increase in late pregnancy secondary to elevated
level of estrogen. It stimulates smooth muscle contraction of the
uterus.
3. Reduce cervical resistance: cervix becomes soft, thin out and dilate
during labor.
2
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4.Labor & delivery :(Normal)
, The Outline of Lecture
Labor overview
Theories of labor onset.
Signs of labor.
Components of labor.
Mechanisms (Cardinal Movements) of labor
Stages of labor.
Maternal and fetal responses to labor
Danger signs of labor
Maternal and fetal assessment during labor
Care of woman during each stage of labor.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the lecture, the student will be able to:
1. Identify common theories explaining the onset of labor
2. Identify the premonitory signs of labor.
3. Compare and contrast true versus false labor.
4. Categorize the factors affecting labor and birth.
5. Analyze the cardinal movements of labor.
6. Differentiate among the four stages of labor.
7. Evaluate the maternal and fetal responses to labor and birth.
8. Characterize danger signs of labor
9. Analyze the nurse’s role throughout the labor and birth process.
1
, Labor Overview
Labor is the series of events by which uterine contractions and
abdominal pressure expel a fetus and placenta from a woman’s body.
Regular contractions cause progressive dilation of the cervix and sufficient
muscular force to allow the fetus to be pushed to the outside.it is a time of
change, both an ending and a beginning, for a woman, a fetus, and her
family.
labor usually begins spontaneously, in about (280) days after
conception, but it may be started by artificial means if the pregnancy
continues past (42) weeks gestation. The average length of labor is about
(14) hour for a first pregnancy and about (8) hours in subsequent
pregnancies. However, many women experience a much longer or shorter
labor.
Theories of labor onset.
Initiation of labor:
It is difficult to determine exactly why labor begins and what initiates it.
Although several theories have been proposed to explain the onset of labor,
none of these has been proved scientifically. It is widely believed that labor
is influenced by a combination of factors, including:
Uterine muscle stretching result in release of prostaglandins.
Pressure on the cervix, which stimulates release of oxytocin.
Oxytocin work together with prostaglandins to initiate contractions.
Theories:
1. Change in the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio, which facilitate
coordination of uterine contraction and myometrium stretching
2. Prostaglandin level increase in late pregnancy secondary to elevated
level of estrogen. It stimulates smooth muscle contraction of the
uterus.
3. Reduce cervical resistance: cervix becomes soft, thin out and dilate
during labor.
2
