Labour Steps And Recognition

Front 1

Non progressing contractions, do not become longer/stronger or more frequent over time

Back 1

Pre labour or Braxton Hicks contractions, peeping body for full on labour - cervix has not yet begun to open

Front 2

Step 1 of labour progression? Pre labour

Back 2

Cervix softens thru action of hormones and prostaglandin - sometimes causing soft stool or sick feeling - off and on again contractions, non progressive

Front 3

Step 2 of labour progression? Dilation (first stage in hospital terms)

Back 3

Cervix position changes from posterior to anterior, cervix ripens, thins and opens to about 3cm, contractions are constant and progressive, usually quite slow at first

Front 4

Step 3 labour progression? 3-5 cm stage

Back 4

Cervix thins and shortens (effaces), moment of truth realization of no control over labour, usually contractions are intense and constant

Front 5

Step 4 of labour? Active labour

Back 5

The cervix opens - dilates from 5 - 8 cm, contractions become closer and more intense to finish the cervical opening, progress speeds up, labour becomes very demanding, pain usually peaks around this phase

Front 6

Step 5 of labour? Transition

Back 6

Baby's tucks chin and rotates head to fit down birth canal called flexion, last 2 cm of dilation, long painful contractions, potential cervical lip may halt progress, baby may begin descending

Front 7

Step 6 of labour? Birthing stage 'catch up phase' - hospital 2 stage begins

Back 7

Baby descends - the descent is measured in +4 to - 4 the closer to + 4 the closer baby is to the outside, cervix fully dilated, uterus re contracting around baby after head had slipped out, opportunity to rest and recover for birth

Front 8

Pre labour refers to?

Back 8

Time before labour when non progressive contractions are effacing and preping the cervix

Front 9

First stage of labour?

Back 9

The dilation stage where progressive contractions are opening the cervix

Hint 9

This is a hospitalized term

Front 10

The second stage of labour?

Back 10

Is the actual birthing stage

Hint 10

Hospitalized term

Front 11

The third or placental stage?

Back 11

Birth of the placenta

Hint 11

Hospitalized term

Front 12

Step 7 of labour? Descent phase

Back 12

Contractions resume with stronger urges to push, urge is involuntary, baby is moving down w push and slipping back a bit bw each push, pushing needs to be a bit slowed and controlled to avoid swelling cervical lip if there and to give vagina/perneium time to stretch

Front 13

Step 8 of labour? Crowning

Back 13

Head no longer slips back, ring of fire phase, slow controlled pushes, birth is imminent, first head then shoulders and body

Front 14

Step 9 of labour? Placental birth

Back 14

Uterus cramps, placenta detaches and then is birthed, may need painful abdominal massage to stimulate uterus and prevent bleeding out