Ch. 15 Key Terms - Maternal Newborn Nursing | OpenStax

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Key Terms

active phase: phase of labor in the first stage that lasts from 6 cm (nulliparous) or 4 cm (multiparous) to 10 cm/100 percent effacement

early phase: early part of the first stage of labor lasting until 6 cm in a nulliparous person and 4 cm in a multiparous person

external cephalic version (ECV): procedure that attempts to change the fetal position and, if successful, can negate the need for a cesarean birth

fetal attitude: description of the presence of flexion or extension (also referred to as deflexed) of the fetal head and neck

fetal position: relation of the presenting fetal part to the pelvic anatomic landmarks

first stage: stage of labor in which contractions and cervical dilation occur; ends with complete dilation/effacement

fourth stage: stage of labor that begins after the placenta delivery and the end of perineal assessment/repair and ends 1 to 4 hours later

labor: uterine contractions that lead to dilation and effacement of the cervix and move the presenting fetal part through the pelvis

lightening: process by which the fetal presenting part descends into the maternal pelvis; occurs prior to or during labor

molding: compression of the cranial bones, sutures, and fontanelles of the fetus to allow for the fetus to pass through the birthing person’s pelvis

oblique lie: describes a fetus with the long axis at an angle between the perpendicular and parallel

passage: pelvic anatomy that the fetus navigates during birth

passenger: fetus and how they proceed through the passage

position: position of the laboring and birthing person; impacts much of the birth process and often changes the course of labor

power: strength of the uterine muscle contractions and the birthing person’s expulsive efforts

psyche: mind of the laboring and birthing person, which can have a lasting impact on every stage of labor and birth

restitution: external rotation of the fetal head once the head is born, whereby the fetus then turns to the left or right oblique diameter of the pelvis to allow passage of the shoulders under the maternal pubic arch

second stage: stage of labor in which the cervix reaches 10 cm dilation/100 percent effacement; lasts until birth occurs

third stage: stage of labor that begins after birth and ends with completion of the placenta delivery and perineal assessment/repair

transverse lie: describes a fetus with the long axis perpendicular to the maternal long axis

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Authors: Amy Giles, Regina Prusinski, Laura Wallace
Publisher/website: OpenStax
Book title: Maternal Newborn Nursing
Publication date: Jun 26, 2024
Location: Houston, Texas
Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/maternal-newborn-nursing/pages/1-introduction
Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/maternal-newborn-nursing/pages/15-key-terms

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