Page 162 - Critical Maternity & Newborn Health Nursing
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Nursing Care during the Intrapartum Period
Labor and delivery exert tremendous stress that could be fatal to the fetus
of a woman with cardiac disease because of the possible decreased oxygen
and blood supply to it.
Goal of Nursing Management
• To reduce the amount of physical exertion and accompanying
fatigue.
• Monitoring of Maternal and Fetal Well-being
o Assess maternal, pulse, respiration, BP.
o Pulse rate greater than 100 b/m, or respiration greater than 25/ mm,
requires careful evaluation to detect early signs of decompensation.
o Electronic fetal monitoring.
o Monitoring maternal contractions.
o Promotion of Optimum Cardiac Function through Proper Position
o Side-lying and semi-Fowler’s positions help in assuring cardiac
emptying and proper oxygenation, and maximum uteroplacental
blood flow.
o Monitoring Pulmonary Function
o Carefully assess the patient for the presence of cough or dyspnea.
• Implementation of Supportive Therapy
o Use of prophylactic antibiotics on doctor’s order.
o Oxygen by mask if dyspnea occurs.
o Administration of:
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