Page 41 - 33Elctronic Book (3) Normal Labor

she has been through the experience before, family focused nursing care is needed

to support the family as they mark the beginning of a new

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this this session, the student should be able to:

1-Discuss the physiology of the four stages of normal labor.

2-Describe the nursing management of the four stages of normal labor.

3-Discuss the physiological changes of mothers during each stage of normal labor.

4-Apply the nursing process to the care of women in each stage of normal labor.

5-Recognizethe normal characteristics of the newborn baby & identify abnormalities

6-Appreciate the importance of nursing care during labor & delivery to the fetus &the
mother.

Definition of terms:
Labor is the process by which a viable fetus and placenta are expelled from the uterus

at the end of 28 weeks or more.
Delivery refers to the actual birth of the newborn.
- Preterm or premature labor: It is labor occurring before 38 weeks of pregnancy (37
completed weeks).

- Mature or term infant: It is an infant born between 38 and before 42 weeks of
pregnancy.

- Post term pregnancy (post maturity ): prolongation of pregnancy two weeks or
more beyond the expected date of delivery, i.e., the duration of pregnancy is 42
weeks or more(294 days or more).

Characteristics of normal labor

➢ The fetus is born at full term (>completed 37 weeks)
➢ The fetus is viable and single
➢ The fetus presentation is vertex

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