Page 55 - 33Elctronic Book (3) Normal Labor

• Solid food is usually avoided during active labor since gastric emptying is

prolonged, and in anticipation of anesthesia, may cause aspiration of vomitus.
• If solid food is permitted, it should be rich in carbohydrates such as jam, honey
and canned fluids. Fats and proteins are not allowed because they are not easily

digested
Rest and Sleep
• Anxiety and painful uterine contractions produce sleeplessness. So, اأ أ5

important to be with the woman, reassure her, and encourage her to express
her discomfort, fear and anxiety, or help her to sleep by use of hypnotics.
• The nurse helps the woman fo sleep by.

o Have her evacuate the bladder.
o Serving her a warm, nourishing drink.

o Maintaining a quiet room with dim lighting and a comfortable bed.
• Rest is important in the first stage of labor to reserve energy, prevent
exhaustion and anxiety, and maintain mental equilibrium.

• Ambulation may decrease the need for analgesics, shorten labor, and decrease
incidence of fetal heart rate abnormalities.
• The woman is allowed to ambulate if there are no contraindications like

bleeding, premature rupture of membranes with high head, pregnancy-
induced hypertension, cardiac disease, or any other medical problems.

Comfort and Assistance
• Follow the aseptic techniques to prevent infection.

• Provide dry and clean clothes and bed linen for the woman.
• Reassure the woman that vomiting is normal (if it happens).
• Provide mouthwash and sips of water if her mouth is dry.

• Massage the back if she complains of backache.
• Relieve pain by encouraging deep breathing during contractions and use of

analgesics.
• Make dorsiflexion if cramps of her legs occur.
• Change the pad frequently if there is excessive vaginal discharge.

Preparation of the Woman in Labor
• Trimming of hair: trimming of hair is permitted to clean and disinfect the

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