BringingUpBaby.ComŽ Homepage
Course Homepage
Class One
Class Two
Class Three
Helpful Tables
Childbirth Information Handouts
 Online Baby Shopping Mall
Back to Class Two Contents .
Birth Classes
 . CLASS TWO, SECTION II.
.
Previous
Previous
Top of Page
Next
Next

II. Special childbirth procedures and techniques

A. Maternal monitoring

1) Health history

2) Vital signs

3) Weight

4) Lungs

5) Heart

6) Fundus: At 40 weeks should be at base of xiphoid process

7) Edema: Swelling

8) Energy: Conserve strength for labor

9) Labor status: Dilation, effacement of cervix, length and duration of contractions, and evaluation of fetal heart tones

10) Contractions assessed by:

(a) Palpation: Hand placed on fundus to feel duration, frequency, and intensity (b) External uterine monitor: Indirect method to monitor frequency and duration (not intensity) by small pressure-sensitive disk held tight to the abdomen by a belt, recording increases and decreases in pressure from contractions.

(c) Internal monitor: Pressure-sensitive catheter is inserted into uterus and assesses contraction frequency, duration, and intensity.

(d) Dilation: Opening of cervix from 0 to 10 cm, assessed by vaginal examination

(e) Effacement: Thinning and softening of cervix, assessed by vaginal examination

(f) Fetal descent: Movement of baby down birth canal, assessed by vaginal examination

(g) Membranes: Assess whether amniotic sac has ruptured. If unsure, nitrazine strips can be used.

(h) Psychological and emotional response to labor
.Top of Page
Continue on
Class Two,
Section II, B
.
BringingUpBaby.Com®
Please submit any questions or comments to: BringingUpBaby.Com
Copyright © 1998 BringingUpBaby.Com®. All rights reserved
.

lsb 05/12/2002