First Stage of Labor

  >   Rahul's Noteblog   >   Notes on Ob/Gyn   >   First Stage of Labor

What happens in the First Stage of Labor?

The first stage of labor begins with regular uterine contractions and ends with complete cervical dilation at 10 cm. Divided into Latent and Active phases. Epidural block or blocking of T10-T12 used to relieve pain from uterine contractions and cervical dilation.

Management:

• Assess fetal heart rate.

• Obstetric analgesia administered if necessary.

• Amniotomy performed if necessary.

Latent Phase:

Begins with uterine contractions and ends with acceleration of cervical dilation. Complications are caused by injudicious analgesia.

Duration:

• Average for primipara is 6.4 hours.

• Average for multipara is 4.8 hours.

• Upper limit for primipara is 20 hours.

• Upper limit for multipara is 14 hours.

Prolonged Latent Phase:

• Pregnant with regular contractions.

• Cervix dilated 2 cm.

• No cervical change in 14 hours.

Management of Prolonged Latent Phase:

• Therapeutic rest and sedation.

Active Phase:

Begins with cervical dilation acceleration, usually at 3-4 cm of dilation, and ends with complete cervical dilation at 10 cm. Complications are caused by excessive fetal size, abnormal fetal orientation, bony pelvis size, and inadequate or dysfunctional uterine contractions. Intravenous agents or paracervical block may be used to relieve pain.

Rate of Dilation:

• 1.2 cm/hour for primipara.

• 1.5 cm/hour for multipara.

Prolonged Active Phase:

• Pregnant with regular uterine contractions.

• Cervix dilated 8 cm.

• 2 cm change in 4 hours.

• Treatment: oxytocin or morphine.

Active Arrest Phase:

• Pregnant with regular uterine contractions.

• Cervix dilated 8 cm.

• No cervical change in 3 hours.

• Treatment: C-section.

Management of Prolonged or Arrested Active phase:

• Contractions must occur every 2-3 minutes, last 45-60 seconds with 50 mm Hg pressure.

• For hypertonic contractions, give morphine sedation.

• For hypotonic contractions, give oxytocin.

• Do emergency C-section if necessary.

Additional Reading:

Notes on Stages of Labor:

1. Diagram of Stages of Labor
2. First Stage of Labor
3. Second Stage of Labor
4. Third Stage of Labor
5. Fourth Stage of Labor

Tests for Fetal Well-Being:

1. Notes on Non-Stress Test
2. Notes on Contraction Stress Test
3. Unresponsive Fetus Algorithm

Periodic Changes in Fetal Heart Rate:

1. Fetal Heart Rate Accelerations
2. Variable Decelerations of Fetal Heart Rate
3. Early Decelerations of Fetal Heart Rate
4. Late Decelerations of Fetal Heart Rate

Types of Spontaneous Abortion:

1. Notes on Complete Abortion
2. Notes on Incomplete Abortion
3. Notes on Threatened Abortion
4. Notes on Inevitable Abortion
5. Notes on Missed Abortion

Random Pages:

What is Time? Review of the HMT Janata Hindi Dial wrist watch
Rahul`s Piano Music MP3 Collection Notes on Female Reproductive System
Notes on Arteries of the Axilla Notes on Prenatal Infections
Notes on Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism What are the most common causes of aortic stenosis?
Differentiation of the Face Notes on Endocrine Pancreas
Notes on Basic Gastrointestinal Physiology One Powerful Prayer written by an Anonymous Author
Notes on Osteogenesis What is an ELEK`s Test?
Why did I decide to become a doctor? Medical School Admissions Essay Video: Titanic Piano Theme: The Portrait
Corporate Failure: The Enron Case My Experience during the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
USMLE Blood Lab Values Regulation of Heart Rate by Autonomic Nervous System
Images of Antibodies Signs you`re being married to for Green Card
Notes on Muscle Tissue Differentiation and Anatomy of a Blastocyst
Notes on Cell Components Notes on Nervous Tissue
Voices from Hell: My Experience in Mussoorie, India Video of Cardiology Examination in a Clinical Setting

Please Do Not Reproduce This Page

This page is written by Rahul Gladwin. Please do not duplicate the contents of this page in whole or part, in any form, without prior written permission.