Page 39 - 2023 Elctronic Book (3) Normal Labor_Neat

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
 The process of labor is completed spontaneously

 through the natural passage ( birth canal)
 The time of labor does not exceed 24 hours
 Without any complication to the mother or to the fetus

Factors affecting the progress of labor:

There are five essential factors that affect the process of labor :
Fetal factors:
Passengers: Fetus (Size of the fetal head, Attitude, position, presentation,

Engagement, Station) Placenta, membranes, umbilical cord, blood and amniotic fluid

Maternal Factors:.

 Passages: Pelvis, pelvic floor, uterus, cervix , vagina and vulva
 Powers :
• Primary power: contraction and retraction of the uterine muscles involuntary

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