Bullets

These bullets cover topic about labor, pregnancy, nursing care of the newborn,

developmental stages

Basic Concepts

The male sperm contributes an X or a Y chromosome; the female ovum contributes

an X chromosome.

Fertilization produces a total of 46 chromosomes, including an XY combination

(male) or an XX combination (female).

Organogenesis occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, specifically, days 14

to 56 of gestation.

Implantation in the uterus occurs 6 to 10 days after ovum fertilization.

The chorion is the outermost extraembryonic membrane that gives rise to the

placenta.

The corpus luteum secretes large quantities of progesterone.

From the 8th week of gestation through delivery, the developing cells are known
as a fetus.

The union of a male and a female gamete produces a zygote, which divides into the
fertilized ovum.

Spermatozoa (or their fragments) remain in the vagina for 72 hours after sexual
intercourse.

If the ovum is fertilized by a spermatozoon carrying a Y chromosome, a male zygote

is formed.

Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in the
endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.
Implantation occurs when the cellular walls of the blastocyte implants itself in the
endometrium, usually 7 to 9 days after fertilization.

Heart development in the embryo begins at 2 to 4 weeks and is complete by the

end of the embryonic stage.

Menstruation

If a patient misses a menstrual period while taking an oral contraceptive exactly as

prescribed, she should continue taking the contraceptive.

The first menstrual flow is called menarche and may be anovulatory (infertile).

Breastfeeding

When both breasts are used for breastfeeding, the infant usually doesn’t empty the
second breast. Therefore, the second breast should be used first at the next
feeding.

Stress, dehydration, and fatigue may reduce a breastfeeding mother’s milk

supply.

To help a mother break the suction of her breastfeeding infant, the nurse should

teach her to insert a finger at the corner of the infant’s mouth.

Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to infants younger than age one (1) because it has a
low linoleic acid content and its protein is difficult for infants to digest.

A woman who is breastfeeding should rub a mild emollient cream or a few drops of
breast milk (or colostrum) on the nipples after each feeding. She should let the
breasts air-dry to prevent them from cracking.

Breastfeeding mothers should increase their fluid intake to 2½ to 3 qt (2,500 to

3,000 ml) daily.
After feeding an infant with a cleft lip or palate, the nurse should rinse the infant’s
mouth with sterile water.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been cultured in breast milk and can be
transmitted by an HIV-positive mother who breast-feeds her infant.

Colostrum, the precursor of milk, is the first secretion from the breasts after
delivery.

A mother should allow her infant to breastfeed until the infant is satisfied. The time
may vary from 5 to 20 minutes.

Most drugs that a breastfeeding mother takes appear in breast milk.

Prolactin stimulates and sustains milk production.

Breastfeeding of a premature neonate born at 32 weeks gestation can be

accomplished if the mother expresses milk and feeds the neonate by gavage.

A mother who has a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result shouldn’t
breastfeed her infant.

Hot compresses can help to relieve breast tenderness after breastfeeding.

Unlike formula, breast milk offers the benefit of maternal antibodies.

Neonatal Care

The initial weight loss for a healthy neonate is 5% to 10% of birth weight.

The normal hemoglobin value in neonates is 17 to 20 g/dl.

The circumference of a neonate’s head is normally 2 to 3 cm greater than the

circumference of the chest.

After delivery, the first nursing action is to establish the neonate’s airway.
The specific gravity of a neonate’s urine is 1.003 to 1.030. A lower specific gravity
suggests overhydration; a higher one suggests dehydration.

During the first hour after birth (the period of reactivity), the neonate is alert and
awake.

The neonatal period extends from birth to day 28. It’s also called the first four (4)
weeks or first month of life.

A low-birth-weight neonate weighs 2,500 g (5 lb 8 oz) or less at birth.

A very-low-birth-weight neonate weighs 1,500 g (3 lb 5 oz) or less at birth.

Administering high levels of oxygen to a premature neonate can

cause blindness as a result of retrolental fibroplasia.

An Apgar score of 7 to 10 indicates no immediate distress, 4 to 6 indicates

moderate distress, and 0 to 3 indicates severe distress.

To elicit Moro’s reflex, the nurse holds the neonate in both hands and suddenly,
but gently, drops the neonate’s head backward. Normally, the neonate abducts and
extends all extremities bilaterally and symmetrically, forms a C shape with the
thumb and forefinger, and first adducts and then flexes the extremities.

An Apgar score of 7 to 10 indicates no immediate distress, 4 to 6 indicates

moderate distress, and 0 to 3 indicates severe distress.

If jaundice is suspected in a neonate, the nurse should examine the infant under
natural window light. If natural light is unavailable, the nurse should examine the
infant under a white light.

Vitamin K is administered to neonates to prevent hemorrhagic disorders because

a neonate’s intestine can’t synthesize vitamin K.

Variability is any change in the fetal heart rate (FHR) from its normal rate of 120 to
160 beats/minute. Acceleration is increased FHR; deceleration is decreased FHR.
Fetal alcohol syndrome presents in the first 24 hours after birth and produces
lethargy, seizures, poor sucking reflex, abdominal distention, and respiratory
difficulty.

In a neonate, the symptoms of heroinwithdrawal may begin several hours to 4

days after birth.

In a neonate, the symptoms of methadone withdrawal may begin 7 days to

several weeks after birth.

In a neonate, the cardinal signs of narcotic withdrawal include coarse, flapping

tremors; sleepiness; restlessness; prolonged, persistent, high-pitched cry; and
irritability.

The nurse should count a neonate’s respirations for one (1) full minute.

Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is used to treat neonates who are addicted

to narcotics.

The nurse should provide a dark, quiet environment for a neonate who is
experiencing narcotic withdrawal.

Drugs used to treat withdrawal symptoms in neonates

include phenobarbital (Luminal), camphorated opium tincture (paregoric), and
diazepam (Valium).

In a premature neonate, signs of respiratory distress include nostril flaring,

substernal retractions, and inspiratory grunting.

Respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease) develops in

premature infants because their pulmonary alveoli lack surfactant.

Whenever an infant is being put down to sleep, the parent or caregiver should
position the infant on the back. Remember the mnemonic “back to sleep.”

The percentage of water in a neonate’s body is about 78% to 80%.

To perform nasotracheal suctioning in an infant, the nurse positions the infant
with his neck slightly hyperextended in a “sniffing” position, with his chin up and his
head tilted back slightly.

After birth, the neonate’s umbilical cord is tied 1″ (2.5 cm) from the abdominal
wall with a cotton cord, plastic clamp, or rubber band.

When teaching parents to provide umbilical cord care, the nurse should teach
them to clean the umbilical area with a cotton ball saturated with alcohol after
every diaper change to prevent infection and promote drying.

Ortolani’s sign (an audible click or palpable jerk that occurs with thigh abduction)
confirms congenital hip dislocation in a neonate.

Cutis marmorata is mottling or purple discoloration of the skin. It’s a transient

vasomotor response that occurs primarily in the arms and legs of infants who are
exposed to cold.

The first immunization for a neonate is the hepatitis B vaccine, which is

administered in the nursery shortly after birth.

Infants with Down syndrome typically have marked hypotonia, floppiness,

slanted eyes, excess skin on the back of the neck, flattened bridge of the nose, flat
facial features, spade-like hands, short and broad feet, small male genitalia,
absence of Moro’s reflex, and a simian crease on the hands.

The nurse instills erythromycin in a neonate’s eyes primarily to prevent blindness

caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia.

A fever in the first 24 hours postpartum is most likely caused by dehydration rather

than infection.

Preterm neonates or neonates who can’t maintain a skin temperature of at least

97.6° F (36.4° C) should receive care in an incubator (Isolette) or a radiant warmer.
In a radiant warmer, a heat-sensitive probe taped to the neonate’s skin activates
the heater unit automatically to maintain the desired temperature.
Neonates who are delivered by cesarean birthhave a higher incidence of
respiratory distress syndrome.

When providing phototherapy to a neonate, the nurse should cover the neonate’s
eyes and genital area.

The narcotic antagonist naloxone (Narcan) may be given to a neonate to correct

respiratory depression caused by narcotic administration to the mother
during labor.

In a neonate, symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome include expiratory

grunting or whining, sandpaper breath sounds, and seesaw retractions.

Cerebral palsy presents as asymmetrical movement, irritability, and excessive,

feeble crying in a long, thin infant.

The nurse should assess a breech-birth neonate for hydrocephalus, hematomas,

fractures, and other anomalies caused by birth trauma.

In a neonate, long, brittle fingernails are a sign of postmaturity.

Desquamation (skin peeling) is common in postmature neonates.

The average birth weight of neonates born to mothers who smoke is 6 oz (170 g)
less than that of neonates born to nonsmoking mothers.

Neonatal jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth is known as pathological jaundice
and is a sign of erythroblastosis fetalis.

Lanugo covers the fetus’s body until about 20 weeks gestation. Then it begins to
disappear from the face, trunk, arms, and legs, in that order.

In a neonate, hypoglycemia causes temperature instability, hypotonia, jitteriness,

and seizures. Premature, postmature, small-for-gestational-age, and large-for-
gestational-age neonates are susceptible to this disorder.

Neonates typically need to consume 50 to 55 cal per pound of body weight daily.
During fetal heart rate monitoring, variable decelerations indicate compression or
prolapse of the umbilical cord.

A neonate whose mother has diabetes should be assessed for hyperinsulinism.

The best technique for assessing jaundice in a neonate is to blanch the tip of the
nose or the area just above the umbilicus.

Milia may occur as pinpoint spots over a neonate’s nose.

Strabismus is a normal finding in a neonate.

Respiratory distress syndrome develops in premature neonates because their

alveoli lack surfactant.

Rubella infection in a pregnant patient, especially during the first trimester, can lead
to spontaneous abortion or stillbirth as well as fetal cardiac and other birth defects.

The Apgar score is used to assess the neonate’s vital functions. It’s obtained at 1
minute and 5 minutes after delivery. The score is based on respiratory effort, heart
rate, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color.

Erythromycin is given at birth to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum.

In the neonate, the normal blood glucose level is 45 to 90 mg/dl.

Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given within 48 hours of birth.

Hepatitis B immune globulin is usually given within 12 hours of birth.

Boys who are born with hypospadias shouldn’t be circumcised at birth because the

foreskin may be needed for constructive surgery.

In neonates, cold stress affects the circulatory, regulatory, and respiratory systems.
Fetal embodiment is a maternal developmental task that occurs in the second
trimester. During this stage, the mother may complain that she never gets to sleep
because the fetus always gives her a thump when she tries.

Mongolian spots can range from brown to blue. Their color depends on how close
melanocytes are to the surface of the skin. They most commonly appear as patches
across the sacrum, buttocks, and legs.

Mongolian spots are common in non-white infants and usually disappear by age 2
to 3 years.

Vernix caseosa is a cheeselike substance that covers and protects the fetus’s skin in
utero. It may be rubbed into the neonate’s skin or washed away in one or two
baths.

Caput succedaneum is edema that develops in and under the fetal scalp
during labor and delivery. It resolves spontaneously and presents no danger to the
neonate. The edema doesn’t cross the suture line.

Nevus flammeus, or port-wine stain, is a diffuse pink to dark bluish red lesion on a

neonate’s face or neck.

The Guthrie test (a screening test for phenylketonuria) is most reliable if it’s done
between the second and sixth days after birth and is performed after the neonate
has ingested protein.

To assess coordination of sucking and swallowing, the nurse should observe the
neonate’s first breastfeeding or sterile water bottle-feeding.

To establish a milk supply pattern, the mother should breast-feed her infant at least
every 4 hours. During the first month, she should breast-feed 8 to 12 times daily
(demand feeding).

To avoid contact with blood and other body fluids, the nurse should wear gloves
when handling the neonate until after the first bath is given.
If a breast-fed infant is content, has good skin turgor, an adequate number of wet
diapers, and normal weight gain, the mother’s milk supply is assumed to be
adequate.

In the supine position, a pregnant patient’s enlarged uterus impairs venous return

from the lower half of the body to the heart, resulting in supine hypotensive
syndrome, or inferior vena cava syndrome.

Tocolytic agents used to treat preterm laborinclude terbutaline (Brethine), ritodrine

(Yutopar), and magnesium sulfate.

A pregnant woman who has hyperemesis gravidarum may require hospitalization

to treat dehydration and starvation.

Diaphragmatic hernia is one of the most urgent neonatal surgical emergencies. By

compressing and displacing the lungs and heart, this disorder can cause respiratory
distress shortly after birth.

Common complications of early pregnancy (up to 20 weeks gestation) include fetal

loss and serious threats to maternal health.

If the neonate is stable, the mother should be allowed to breast-feed within the
neonate’s first hour of life.

The nurse should check the neonate’s temperature every 1 to 2 hours until it’s
maintained within normal limits.
At birth, a neonate normally weighs 5 to 9 lb (2 to 4 kg), measures 18″ to 22″ (45.5 to
56 cm) in length, has a head circumference of 13½” to 14″ (34 to 35.5 cm), and has a
chest circumference that’s 1″ (2.5 cm) less than the head circumference.

In the neonate, temperature normally ranges from 98° to 99° F (36.7° to 37.2° C),
apical pulse rate averages 120 to 160 beats/minute, and respirations are 40 to 60
breaths/minute.

The diamond-shaped anterior fontanel usually closes between ages 12 and 18

months. The triangular posterior fontanel usually closes by age 2 months.
In the neonate, a straight spine is normal. A tuft of hair over the spine is an
abnormal finding.

Prostaglandin gel may be applied to the vagina or cervix to ripen an unfavorable

cervix before labor induction with oxytocin (Pitocin).

Supernumerary nipples are occasionally seen on neonates. They usually appear

along a line that runs from each axilla, through the normal nipple area, and to the
groin.

Meconium is a material that collects in the fetus’s intestines and forms the
neonate’s first feces, which are black and tarry.

The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid during labor indicates possible
fetal distress and the need to evaluate the neonate for meconium aspiration.

To assess a neonate’s rooting reflex, the nurse touches a finger to the cheek or the
corner of the mouth. Normally, the neonate turns his head toward the stimulus,
opens his mouth, and searches for the stimulus.

Harlequin sign is present when a neonate who is lying on his side appears red on
the dependent side and pale on the upper side.

Because of the anti-insulin effects of placental hormones, insulin requirements

increase during the third trimester.

Gestational age can be estimated by ultrasound measurement of maternal

abdominal circumference, fetal femur length, and fetal head size. These
measurements are most accurate between 12 and 18 weeks gestation.

Skeletal system abnormalities and ventricular septal defects are the most common
disorders of infants who are born to diabetic women. The incidence of congenital
malformation is three times higher in these infants than in those born to
nondiabetic women.

Skeletal system abnormalities and ventricular septal defects are the most common
disorders of infants who are born to diabetic women. The incidence of congenital
malformation is three times higher in these infants than in those born to
nondiabetic women.

The patient with preeclampsia usually has puffiness around the eyes or edema in
the hands (for example, “I can’t put my wedding ring on.”).

Kegel exercises require contraction and relaxationof the perineal muscles. These

exercises help strengthen pelvic muscles and improve urine control in postpartum
patients.

Symptoms of postpartum depression range from mild postpartum blues to intense,

suicidal, depressive psychosis.

The preterm neonate may require gavage feedings because of a weak sucking
reflex, uncoordinated sucking, or respiratory distress.

Acrocyanosis (blueness and coolness of the arms and legs) is normal in neonates
because of their immature peripheral circulatory system.

To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum (a severe eyeinfection caused by maternal

gonorrhea), the nurse may administer one of three drugs, as prescribed, in the
neonate’s eyes: tetracycline, silver nitrate, or erythromycin.
Neonatal testing for phenylketonuria is mandatory in most states.

The nurse should place the neonate in a 30-degree Trendelenburg position to

facilitate mucus drainage.

The nurse may suction the neonate’s nose and mouth as needed with a bulb
syringe or suction trap.

To prevent heat loss, the nurse should place the neonate under a radiant warmer
during suctioning and initial delivery-room care, and then wrap the neonate in a
warmed blanket for transport to the nursery.

The umbilical cord normally has two arteries and one vein.
When providing care, the nurse should expose only one part of an infant’s body at a
time.

Lightening is settling of the fetal head into the brim of the pelvis.

Prenatal Care

In a full-term neonate, skin creases appear over two-thirds of the neonate’s feet.
Preterm neonates have heel creases that cover less than two-thirds of the feet.

At 20 weeks gestation, the fundus is at the level of the umbilicus.

At 36 weeks gestation, the fundus is at the lower border of the rib cage.

A premature neonate is one born before the end of the 37th week of gestation.

Gravida is the number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of outcome.

Para is the number of pregnancies that reached viability, regardless of whether the
fetus was delivered alive or stillborn. A fetus is considered viable at 20 weeks
gestation.

A multipara is a woman who has had two or more pregnancies that progressed to
viability, regardless of whether the offspring were alive at birth.

Positive signs of pregnancy include ultrasound evidence, fetal heart tones, and
fetal movement felt by the examiner (not usually present until 4 months gestation

Quickening, a presumptive sign of pregnancy, occurs between 16 and 19 weeks

gestation.

Goodell’s sign is softening of the cervix.

Quickening, a presumptive sign of pregnancy, occurs between 16 and 19 weeks

gestation.
Ovulation ceases during pregnancy.

Immunity to rubella can be measured by a hemagglutination inhibition test

(rubella titer). This test identifies exposure to rubella infection and determines
susceptibility in pregnant women. In a woman, a titer greater than 1:8 indicates
immunity.

To estimate the date of delivery using Naegele’s rule, the nurse counts backward
three (3) months from the first day of the last menstrual period and then adds
seven (7) days to this date.

During pregnancy, weight gain averages 25 to 30 lb (11 to 13.5 kg).

Rubella has a teratogenic effect on the fetus during the first trimester. It produces
abnormalities in up to 40% of cases without interrupting the pregnancy.

At 12 weeks gestation, the fundus should be at the top of the symphysis pubis.

Chloasma, the mask of pregnancy, is pigmentation of a circumscribed area of skin

(usually over the bridge of the nose and cheeks) that occurs in some pregnant
women.

The gynecoid pelvis is most ideal for delivery. Other types include platypelloid
(flat), anthropoid (ape-like), and android (malelike).

Pregnant women should be advised that there is no safe level of alcohol intake.

Linea nigra, a dark line that extends from the umbilicus to the mons pubis,
commonly appears during pregnancy and disappears after pregnancy.

Culdoscopy is visualization of the pelvic organs through the posterior vaginal fornix.

The nurse should teach a pregnant vegetarian to obtain protein from alternative
sources, such as nuts, soybeans, and legumes.

The nurse should instruct a pregnant patient to take only prescribed prenatal
vitamins because over-the-counter high-potency vitamins may harm the fetus.
High-sodium foods can cause fluid retention, especially in pregnant patients.

A pregnant patient can avoid constipation and hemorrhoids by adding fiber to her

diet.

A pregnant woman should drink at least eight 8-oz glasses (about 2,000 ml) of
water daily.

Cytomegalovirus is the leading cause of congenital viral infection.

Tocolytic therapy is indicated in premature labor, but contraindicated in fetal death,

fetal distress, or severe hemorrhage.

Through ultrasonography, the biophysical profile assesses fetal well-being by

measuring fetal breathing movements, gross body movements, fetal tone, reactive
fetal heart rate (nonstress test), and qualitative amniotic fluid volume.

Pica is a craving to eat nonfood items, such as dirt, crayons, chalk, glue, starch, or
hair. It may occur during pregnancy and can endanger the fetus.

A pregnant patient should take folic acid because this nutrient is required for rapid
cell division.

A woman who is taking clomiphene (Clomid) to induce ovulation should be

informed of the possibility of multiple births with this drug.

During the first trimester, a pregnant woman should avoid all drugs unless doing so
would adversely affect her health.

The Food and Drug Administration has established the following five categories of

drugs based on their potential for causing birth defects: A, no evidence of risk; B, no
risk found in animals, but no studies have been done in women; C, animal studies
have shown an adverse effect, but the drug may be beneficial to women despite
the potential risk; D, evidence of risk, but its benefits may outweigh its risks; and X,
fetal anomalies noted, and the risks clearly outweigh the potential benefits.
A probable sign of pregnancy, McDonald’s sign is characterized by an ease in flexing
the body of the uterus against the cervix.

Amenorrhea is a probable sign of pregnancy.

A pregnant woman’s partner should avoid introducing air into the vagina during
oral sex because of the possibility of air embolism.

The presence of human chorionic gonadotropinin the blood or urine is a probable

sign of pregnancy.

Radiography isn’t usually used in a pregnant woman because it may harm the
developing fetus. If radiography is essential, it should be performed only after 36
weeks gestation.

A pregnant patient who has had rupture of the membranes or who is experiencing
vaginal bleeding shouldn’t engage in sexual intercourse.

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A pregnant staff member should not be assigned to work with a patient who has
cytomegalovirus infection because the virus can be transmitted to the fetus.

A pregnant patient should take an iron supplement to help prevent anemia.

Nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy are caused by rising
levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.

The duration of pregnancy averages 280 days, 40 weeks, 9 calendar months, or 10

lunar months.

Before performing a Leopold maneuver, the nurse should ask the patient to empty
her bladder.

Pelvic-tilt exercises can help to prevent or relieve backache during pregnancy.

The nurse must place identification bands on both the mother and the neonate
before they leave the delivery room.
Dinoprostone (Cervidil) is used to ripen the cervix.

Because women with diabetes have a higher incidence of birth anomalies than
women without diabetes, an alpha-fetoprotein level may be ordered at 15 to 17
weeks gestation.

Painless vaginal bleeding during the last trimester of pregnancy may indicate
placenta previa.

The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin is a marker for pregnancy.

With advanced maternal age, a common genetic problem is Down syndrome.

Methergine stimulates uterine contractions.

The administration of folic acid during the early stages of gestation may prevent
neural tube defects.

A clinical manifestation of a prolapsed umbilical cord is variable decelerations.

The nurse should keep the sac of meningomyelocele moist with normal

salinesolution.

If fundal height is at least 2 cm less than expected, the cause may be growth
retardation, missed abortion, transverse lie, or false pregnancy.

Fundal height that exceeds expectations by more than 2 cm may be caused by

multiple gestation, polyhydramnios, uterine myomata, or a large baby.

A major developmental task for a woman during the first trimester of pregnancy is
accepting the pregnancy.

A pregnant patient with vaginal bleeding shouldn’t have a pelvic examination.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the finding of glucose in the urine may be related
to the increased shunting of glucose to the developing placenta, without a
corresponding increase in the reabsorption capability of the kidneys.
A patient who has premature rupture of the membranes is at significant risk for
infection if labor doesn’t begin within 24 hours.

Infants of diabetic mothers are susceptible to macrosomia as a result of increased

insulin production in the fetus.

To prevent heat loss in the neonate, the nurse should bathe one part of his body at
a time and keep the rest of the body covered.

A patient who has a cesarean delivery is at greater risk for infection than the patient
who gives birth vaginally.

The occurrence of thrush in the neonate is probably caused by contact with the
organism during delivery through the birth canal.

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein is detectable at 7 weeks of gestation and peaks

in the third trimester. High levels detected between the 16th and 18th weeks are
associated with neural tube defects. Low levels are associated with Down
syndrome.

An arrest of descent occurs when the fetus doesn’t descend through the pelvic
cavity during labor. It’s commonly associated with cephalopelvic disproportion, and
cesarean delivery may be required.

A late sign of preeclampsia is epigastric pain as a result of severe liver edema.

In the patient with preeclampsia, blood pressure returns to normal during the
puerperal period.

To obtain an estriol level, urine is collected for 24 hours.

An estriol level is used to assess fetal well-being and maternal renal functioning as
well as to monitor a pregnancy that’s complicated by diabetes.

The period between contractions is referred to as the interval, or resting phase.

During this phase, the uterus and placenta fill with blood and allow for the
exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.
In a patient who has hypertonic contractions, the uterus doesn’t have an
opportunity to relax and there is no interval between contractions. As a result, the
fetus may experience hypoxia or rapid delivery may occur.

Two qualities of the myometrium are elasticity, which allows it to stretch yet
maintain its tone, and contractility, which allows it to shorten and lengthen in a
synchronized pattern.

During crowning, the presenting part of the fetus remains visible during the interval
between contractions.

Uterine atony is failure of the uterus to remain firmly contracted.

The major cause of uterine atony is a full bladder.

If the mother wishes to breast-feed, the neonate should be nursed as soon as

possible after delivery.

A smacking sound, milk dripping from the side of the mouth, and sucking noises all
indicate improper placement of the infant’s mouth over the nipple.

Before feeding is initiated, an infant should be burped to expel air from the
stomach.

Most authorities strongly encourage the continuation of breastfeeding on both the

affected and the unaffected breast of patients with mastitis.

Neonates are nearsighted and focus on items that are held 10″ to 12″ (25 to 30.5
cm) away.

In a neonate, low-set ears are associated with chromosomal abnormalities such as

Down syndrome.

Meconium is usually passed in the first 24 hours; however, passage may take up to
72 hours.
Obstetric data can be described by using the F/TPAL system:
F/T: Full-term delivery at 38 weeks or longer
P: Preterm delivery between 20 and 37 weeks
A: Abortion or loss of fetus before 20 weeks
L: Number of children living (if a child has died, further explanation is needed to
clarify the discrepancy in numbers).

Parity doesn’t refer to the number of infants delivered, only the number of
deliveries.

Women who are carrying more than one fetus should be encouraged to gain 35 to
45 lb (15.5 to 20.5 kg) during pregnancy.

The recommended amount of iron supplement for the pregnant patient is 30 to 60

mg daily.

Drinking six alcoholic beverages a day or a single episode of binge drinking in the
first trimester can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
Chorionic villus sampling is performed at 8 to 12 weeks of pregnancy for early
identification of genetic defects.

In percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, a blood sample is obtained from the

umbilical cord to detect anemia, genetic defects, and blood incompatibility as well
as to assess the need for blood transfusions.

Hemodilution of pregnancy is the increase in blood volume that occurs during

pregnancy. The increased volume consists of plasma and causes an imbalance
between the ratio of red blood cells to plasma and a resultant decrease in
hematocrit.

Visualization in pregnancy is a process in which the mother imagines what the child
she’s carrying is like and becomes acquainted with it.

Mean arterial pressure of greater than 100 mm Hg after 20 weeks of pregnancy is

considered hypertension.
Laden’s sign, an early indication of pregnancy, causes softening of a spot on the
anterior portion of the uterus, just above the uterocervical juncture.

During pregnancy, the abdominal line from the symphysis pubis to the umbilicus
changes from linea alba to linea nigra.

The treatment for supine hypotension syndrome (a condition that sometimes

occurs in pregnancy) is to have the patient lie on her left side.

A contributing factor in dependent edema in the pregnant patient is the increase of

femoral venous pressure from 10 mm Hg (normal) to 18 mm Hg (high).

Hyperpigmentation of the pregnant patient’s face, formerly called chloasma and

now referred to as melasma, fades after delivery.

The hormone relaxin, which is secreted first by the corpus luteum and later by the
placenta, relaxes the connective tissue and cartilage of the symphysis pubis and the
sacroiliac joint to facilitate passage of the fetus during delivery.

Progesterone maintains the integrity of the pregnancy by inhibiting uterine motility.

Labor and Delivery

During labor, to relieve supine hypotensionmanifested by nausea and vomiting and

paleness, turn the patient on her left side.

During the transition phase of the first stage of labor, the cervix is dilated 8 to 10
cm and contractions usually occur 2 to 3 minutes apart and last for 60 seconds.

The first stage of labor begins with the onset of labor and ends with full cervical
dilation at 10 cm.

The second stage of labor begins with full cervical dilation and ends with the
neonate’s birth.
The third stage of labor begins after the neonate’s birth and ends with expulsion
of the placenta.

The fourth stage of labor (postpartum stabilization) lasts up to 4 hours after the

placenta is delivered. This time is needed to stabilize the mother’s physical and
emotional state after the stress of childbirth.

Unlike false labor, true labor produces regular rhythmic contractions, abdominal

discomfort, progressive descent of the fetus, bloody show, and progressive
effacement and dilation of the cervix.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent during labor, floating means the
presenting part is not engaged in the pelvic inlet, but is freely movable (ballotable)
above the pelvic inlet.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent, engagement means when the
largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.

Fetal stations indicate the location of the presenting part in relation to the ischial
spine. It’s described as –1, –2, –3, –4, or –5 to indicate the number of centimeters
above the level of the ischial spine; station –5 is at the pelvic inlet.

Fetal stations are also described as +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 to indicate the number of
centimeters it is below the level of the ischial spine; station 0 is at the level of the
ischial spine.

Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be considered a complication until

proven otherwise.

During delivery, if the umbilical cord can’t be loosened and slipped from around the
neonate’s neck, it should be clamped with two clamps and cut between the clamps.

During the first stage of labor, the side-lying position usually provides the greatest
degree of comfort, although the patient may assume any comfortable position.
Fetal stations are also described as +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 to indicate the number of
centimeters it is below the level of the ischial spine; station 0 is at the level of the
ischial spine.

Fetal stations indicate the location of the presenting part in relation to the ischial
spine. It’s described as –1, –2, –3, –4, or –5 to indicate the number of centimeters
above the level of the ischial spine; station –5 is at the pelvic inlet.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent, engagement means when the
largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.

Amniotomy is artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes.

The three phases of a uterine contraction are increment, acme, and decrement.

The intensity of a labor contraction can be assessed by the indentability of the

uterine wall at the contraction’s peak. Intensity is graded as mild (uterine muscle is
somewhat tense), moderate (uterine muscle is moderately tense), or strong (uterine
muscle is boardlike).

The frequency of uterine contractions, which is measured in minutes, is the time

from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

Before internal fetal monitoring can be performed, a pregnant patient’s cervix

must be dilated at least 2 cm, the amniotic membranes must be ruptured, and the
presenting part of the fetus (scalp or buttocks) must be at station –1 or lower, so
that a small electrode can be attached.

Teenage mothers are more likely to have low-birth-weight neonates because they

seek prenatal care late in pregnancy (as a result of denial) and are more likely than
older mothers to have nutritional deficiencies.

The narrowest diameter of the pelvic inlet is the anteroposterior (diagonal

conjugate).

During labor, the resting phase between contractions is at least 30 seconds.

The length of the uterus increases from 2½” (6.3 cm) before pregnancy to 12½” (32
cm) at term.

To estimate the true conjugate (the smallest inlet measurement of the pelvis),
deduct 1.5 cm from the diagonal conjugate (usually 12 cm). A true conjugate of 10.5
cm enables the fetal head (usually 10 cm) to pass.

The smallest outlet measurement of the pelvis is the intertuberous diameter, which
is the transverse diameter between the ischial tuberosities.

Electronic fetal monitoring is used to assess fetal well-being during labor. If

compromised fetal status is suspected, fetal blood pH may be evaluated by
obtaining a scalp sample.

In an emergency delivery, enough pressure should be applied to the emerging

fetus’s head to guide the descent and prevent a rapid change in pressure within the
molded fetal skull.

Massaging the uterus helps to stimulate contractions after the placenta is

delivered.

When a patient is admitted to the unit in active labor, the nurse’s first action is
to listen for fetal heart tones.

Nitrazine paper is used to test the pH of vaginal discharge to determine the

presence of amniotic fluid.

A pregnant patient normally gains 2 to 5 lb (1 to 2.5 kg) during the first trimester
and slightly less than 1 lb (0.5 kg) per week during the last two trimesters.

Precipitate labor lasts for approximately 3 hours and ends with delivery of the
neonate.

As emergency treatment for excessive uterine bleeding, 0.2 mg of

methylergonovine (Methergine) is injected I.V. over 1 minute while the patient’s
blood pressure and uterine contractions are monitored.
Braxton Hicks contractions are usually felt in the abdomen and don’t cause cervical
change. True labor contractions are felt in the front of the abdomen and back and
lead to progressive cervical dilation and effacement.

If a fetus has late decelerations (a sign of fetal hypoxia), the nurse should instruct
the mother to lie on her left side and then administer 8 to 10 L of oxygen per
minute by mask or cannula. The nurse should notify the physician. The side-lying
position removes pressure on the inferior vena cava.

Oxytocin (Pitocin) promotes lactation and uterine contractions.

Because oxytocin (Pitocin) stimulates powerful uterine contractions during labor, it

must be administered under close observation to help prevent maternal and fetal
distress.

Molding is the process by which the fetal head changes shape to facilitate
movement through the birth canal.

If a woman suddenly becomes hypotensive during labor, the nurse should increase
the infusion rate of I.V. fluids as prescribed.

During fetal heart monitoring, early deceleration is caused by compression of the

head during labor.

After the placenta is delivered, the nurse may add oxytocin (Pitocin) to the patient’s
I.V. solution, as prescribed, to promote postpartum involution of the uterus and
stimulate lactation.

If needed, cervical suturing is usually done between 14 and 18 weeks gestation to

reinforce an incompetent cervix and maintain pregnancy. The suturing is typically
removed by 35 weeks gestation.

The Food and Drug Administration has established the following five categories of

drugs based on their potential for causing birth defects: A, no evidence of risk; B, no
risk found in animals, but no studies have been done in women; C, animal studies
have shown an adverse effect, but the drug may be beneficial to women despite
the potential risk; D, evidence of risk, but its benefits may outweigh its risks; and X,
fetal anomalies noted, and the risks clearly outweigh the potential benefits.

The mechanics of delivery are engagement, descent and flexion, internal rotation,
extension, external rotation, restitution, and expulsion.

The duration of a contraction is timed from the moment that the uterine muscle
begins to tense to the moment that it reaches full relaxation. It’s measured in
seconds.

Fetal demise is death of the fetus after viability.

The most common method of inducing labor after artificial rupture of the
membranes is oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion.

After the amniotic membranes rupture, the initial nursing action is to assess the
fetal heart rate.

The most common reasons for cesarean birth are malpresentation, fetal distress,

cephalopelvic disproportion, pregnancy-induced hypertension, previous cesarean
birth, and inadequate progress in labor.

Amniocentesis increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, trauma to the fetus or

placenta, premature labor, infection, and Rh sensitization of the fetus.

After amniocentesis, abdominal cramping or spontaneous vaginal bleeding may

indicate complications.

To prevent her from developing Rh antibodies, an Rh-negative primigravida should

receive Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) after delivering an Rh-positive neonate.

When informed that a patient’s amniotic membrane has broken, the nurse should
check fetal heart tones and then maternal vital signs.

Crowning is the appearance of the fetus’s head when its largest diameter is
encircled by the vulvovaginal ring.
Subinvolution may occur if the bladder is distended after delivery.

For an extramural delivery (one that takes place outside of a normal delivery
center), the priorities for care of the neonate include maintaining a patent airway,
supporting efforts to breathe, monitoring vital signs, and maintaining adequate
body temperature.

The administration of oxytocin (Pitocin) is stopped if the contractions are 90

seconds or longer.

If a pregnant patient’s rubella titer is less than 1:8, she should be immunized after
delivery.

During the transition phase of labor, the woman usually is irritable and restless.

Maternal hypotension is a complication of spinal block.

The mother’s Rh factor should be determined before an amniocentesis is

performed.

With early maternal age, cephalopelvic disproportion commonly occurs.

ADVERTISEMENTS
Spontaneous rupture of the membranes increases the risk of a prolapsed umbilical
cord.

Postpartum Care

Lochia rubra is the vaginal discharge of almost pure blood that occurs during the
first few days after childbirth.

Lochia serosa is the serous vaginal discharge that occurs 4 to 7 days after
childbirth.

Lochia alba is the vaginal discharge of decreased blood and increased leukocytes
that’s the final stage of lochia. It occurs 7 to 10 days after childbirth.
After delivery, a multiparous woman is more susceptible to bleeding than a
primiparous woman because her uterine muscles may be overstretched and may
not contract efficiently.

The nurse should suggest ambulation to a postpartum patient who has gas pain
and flatulence.

Methylergonovine (Methergine) is an oxytocic agent used to prevent and

treat postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony or subinvolution.

After a stillbirth, the mother should be allowed to hold the neonate to help her
come to terms with the death.

If a woman receives a spinal block before delivery, the nurse should monitor the
patient’s blood pressure closely.

A postpartum patient may resume sexual intercourse after the perineal or uterine
wounds heal (usually within 4 weeks after delivery).

If a pregnant patient’s test results are negative for glucose but positive for acetone,
the nurse should assess the patient’s diet for inadequate caloric intake.

Direct antiglobulin (direct Coombs’) test is used to detect maternal antibodies

attached to red blood cells in the neonate.

Before discharging a patient who has had an abortion, the nurse should instruct
her to report bright red clots, bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days, or signs of
infection, such as a temperature of greater than 100° F (37.8° C), foul-smelling
vaginal discharge, severe uterine cramping, nausea, or vomiting.

The fundus of a postpartum patient is massaged to stimulate contraction of the

uterus and prevent hemorrhage.

Laceration of the vagina, cervix, or perineum produces bright red bleeding that
often comes in spurts. The bleeding is continuous, even when the fundus is firm.
To avoid puncturing the placenta, a vaginal examination should not be performed
on a pregnant patient who is bleeding.

A patient who has postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony should be

given oxytocin as prescribed.

After delivery, if the fundus is boggy and deviated to the right side, the patient
should empty her bladder.

In the early postpartum period, the fundus should be midline at the umbilicus.

Pregnancy Complications

An ectopic pregnancy is one that implants abnormally, outside the uterus.

A habitual aborter is a woman who has had three or more consecutive

spontaneous abortions.

Threatened abortion occurs when bleeding is present without cervical dilation.

A complete abortion occurs when all products of conception are expelled.

Hydramnios (polyhydramnios) is excessive amniotic fluid of more than 2,000 ml

in the third trimester.

In an incomplete abortion, the fetus is expelled, but parts of the placenta and
membrane remain in the uterus.

When a pregnant patient has undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, vaginal examination

should be avoided until ultrasonography rules out placenta previa.

A patient with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy commonly has sharp pain in the lower
abdomen, with spotting and cramping. She may have abdominal rigidity; rapid,
shallow respirations; tachycardia; and shock.

A 16-year-old girl who is pregnant is at risk for having a low-birth-weight neonate.

A rubella vaccine shouldn’t be given to a pregnant woman. The vaccine can be
administered after delivery, but the patient should be instructed to avoid becoming
pregnant for 3 months.

Nonstress Test

A nonstress test is considered nonreactive (positive) if fewer than two fetal heart

rate accelerations of at least 15 beats/minute occur in 20 minutes.

A nonstress test is considered reactive (negative) if two or more fetal heart rate

accelerations of 15 beats/minute above baseline occur in 20 minutes.

A nonstress test is usually performed to assess fetal well-being in a pregnant

patient with a prolonged pregnancy (42 weeks or more), diabetes, a history of poor
pregnancy outcomes, or pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Placental Abnormalities

Placenta previa is abnormally low implantation of the placenta so that it

encroaches on or covers the cervical os.

In complete (total) placenta previa, the placenta completely covers the cervical
os.

In partial (incomplete or marginal) placenta previa, the placenta covers only a

portion of the cervical os.

Abruptio placentae is premature separation of a normally implanted placenta. It

may be partial or complete, and usually causes abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding,
and a boardlike abdomen.

In placenta previa, bleeding is painless and seldom fatal on the first occasion, but
it becomes heavier with each subsequent episode.
Nursing interventions for a patient with placenta previa include positioning the
patient on her left side for maximum fetal perfusion, monitoring fetal heart tones,
and administering I.V. fluids and oxygen, as ordered.

Treatment for abruptio placentae is usually immediate cesarean delivery.

A classic difference between abruptio placentae and placenta previa is the degree
of pain. Abruptio placentae causes pain, whereas placenta previa causes painless
bleeding.

Because a major role of the placenta is to function as a fetal lung, any condition
that interrupts normal blood flow to or from the placenta increases fetal partial
pressure of arterial carbon dioxide and decreases fetal pH. 

Preeclampsia

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a leading cause of maternal death in the

United States.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia) is an increase in blood

pressure of 30/15 mm Hg over baseline or blood pressure of 140/95 mmHg on two
occasions at least 6 hours apart accompanied by edema and albuminuria after 20
weeks gestation.

The classic triad of symptoms of preeclampsia are hypertension, edema,

and proteinuria. Additional symptoms of severe preeclampsia include
hyperreflexia, cerebral and vision disturbances, and epigastric pain.

After administering magnesium sulfate to a pregnant patient for hypertension

or preterm labor, the nurse should monitor the respiratory rate and deep tendon
reflexes.

Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures that aren’t caused by a cerebral disorder in

a patient who has pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In a patient with preeclampsia, epigastric pain is a late symptom and requires

immediate medical intervention.
In a pregnant patient, preeclampsia may progress to eclampsia, which is
characterized by seizures and may lead to coma.

HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome is an

unusual variation of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Contraceptives

The failure rate of a contraceptive is determined by the experience of 100

women for 1 year. It’s expressed as pregnancies per 100 woman-years.

Before providing a specimen for a sperm count, the patient should avoid
ejaculation for 48 to 72 hours.

If a patient misses two consecutive menstrual periods while taking an oral

contraceptive, she should discontinue the contraceptive and take a pregnancy test.

If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses a dose, she should take the
pill as soon as she remembers or take two at the next scheduled interval and
continue with the normal schedule.

If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses two consecutive doses, she
should double the dose for 2 days and then resume her normal schedule. She also
should use an additional birth control method for 1 week.