Page 746 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

Box 23-4

Breathing Techniques

First-Stage Breathing

Cleansing Breath

Each contraction begins and ends with a deep inspiration and expiration.

Slow-Paced Breathing

Slow-paced breathing promotes relaxation.
Slow-paced breathing is used for as long as possible during labor.

Modified-Paced Breathing

Modified-paced breathing is used when slow-paced breathing is no longer
effective.
Breathing is shallow and fast.

Pattern-Paced Breathing

Pattern-paced breathing sometimes is referred to as pant-blow.
After a certain number of breaths (modified-paced breathing), the woman
exhales with a slight blow and then begins modified-paced breathing again.

Breathing to Prevent Pushing

The woman blows repeatedly, using short puffs, when the urge to push is
strong.

Second-Stage Breathing

Several variations of breathing can be used in the pushing stage of labor, and
the woman may grunt, groan, sigh, or moan as she pushes. Prolonged breath
holding while pushing with a closed glottis may result in a decrease in cardiac
output. If breath holding while pushing is used, the open glottis method or
limiting breath holding to less than 6 to 8 seconds should be done.

Box 23-5
Variability in Fetal Heart Rate

Absent Variability: Undetected variability

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