Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the conception and development of an embryo or fetus inside the uterus of a female. Pregnancy can be divided into three trimesters, lasting for 9 months or an estimated 34-36 weeks. Gravida is a term commonly used to pertain to pregnancy and it refers to the number of times a women has been pregnant. Parity or para refers to the number of successful births of a woman. Embryo is used to describe a developing offspring for the first 8 weeks and fetus is used from 2 months until birth.

Stages of Labor

Labor is the coordinated sequence of involuntary uterine contractions. Understanding the stages of labor would allow the mother and the health care team facilitate a less stressful and safe childbirth. The four stages of labor are based on the changes that the uterus and cervix undergo as labor progresses.

Mechanisms of Labor

The Mechanisms of Labor occur to the fetus during delivery. Knowledge of these mechanisms enables the nurse to proceed with normal delivery and detect if any abnormalities are occurring during delivery that can enable the health care team to perform measures that could prevent possible complications. You can be guided by the acronym EDFIERERE.

Leopold’s Maneuver

Leopold’s maneuver is a method that determines the fetal position, fetal presentation, and engagement. This consists of four different actions that help determine the position and presentation. With correct assessment and findings, it can indicate whether the delivery would be complicated or if the mother would need to undergo Caesarian delivery.

Fetal Position

The Fetal Position describes the location of a fixed reference point on the presenting bars in relation to the four quadrants. Also observed in the fetus is that the head is in flexion or is bowed, the back of the fetus is curved, and the limbs are bent and drawn up to the torso. The fetal reference is in the right or left of the mother’s pelvis. “O” is for Occiput where the fetus is in vertex presentation, “M” is for Mentum or chin where the fetus is in face presentation, “S” is for Sacrum where the fetus is in breech presentation, and Scapula or acronio the fetus is in shoulder presentation.

Fetal Lie

Fetal Lie is the orientation of the long axis of the fetus and the long axis of the woman. It has three different types the longitudinal lie, transverse lie, and the oblique lie.