You are the nurse on duty in labor and delivery at a local hospital. D. H. comes to the unit having contractions. Upon examination, D.H. is 80% effaced and 4 cm dilated. The fetal heart rate (FHR) is 150 beats/ min and regular. She is admitted to a labor and delivery room.
List the stages and phases of labor. D.H. is in what stage of labor?
It is given that the D.H. is 80% effaced and 4 cm dilated, so the patient is experiencing the early stage of labor or the latent phase of labor.
The cervical dilatation also stimulates the release of oxytocin (from the posterior pituitary) by a reflex mechanism.
The following are the three stages of labor.
Stage 1: This is the stage of cervical dilatation, the membranes rupture and regular contractions begin. The cervix dilates up to 6 cm.
Stage 2: Maximal cervical dilatation and delivery occur during this phase.
Stage 3: This stage begins after childbirth and ends with the expulsion of the placenta, amniotic sac, and umbilical cord, which together with known as “afterbirth.” After “afterbirth,” bleeding is controlled, the blood vessels close off due to the uterine muscle contraction.
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