Nursing Care Before Birth
After admission to the labor unit, nursing care consists of
Monitoring the fetus
Monitoring the laboring woman
Helping the woman cope with labor
Fetal monitoring can be intermittent or continuous.
Review factors which can determine the type of monitoring employed
Monitoring the Fetus
Fetal heart rateIntermittent auscultationContinuous electronic fetal monitoringReview Skill 6-2 on p.
132, Box 6-2 on p. 133, and Skill 6-3 on p. 134.Elsevier items and derived items © 2015, 2011, 2007,
2006 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Monitoring the Woman
1. Vital signs
2. Contractions
3. Progress of labor
4. Intake and output
5. Response to labor
6. Discuss the frequency of each of the items to be monitored.
7. Closed glottis pushing decreases fetal oxygenation and should be avoided.
Helping the Woman Cope with Labor
Labor support
Teaching
Positioning and breathing techniques
Help to remind mother not to push before cervix fully dilated
When cervix is fully dilated then take a deep breath & exhale at beginning of a contraction then
take another deep breath and push while exhaling
Providing encouragement
Supporting/teaching the partner
Teach how labor pains affect the woman’s behavior/attitude
How to adapt responses to the woman’s behavior
What to expect in his/her own emotional responses
Effects of epidural analgesia
Nursing Responsibilities During Birth (pp. 144-146)
1. Preparing the delivery instruments and infant equipment
