Definitions
The number of weeks a pregnancy is considered full term.
What is 39 weeks?
A synthetic hormone given to laboring patients to induce or augment labor contractions.
What is pitocin?
The typical length of early labor.
What is 12-20+ hours?
The typical length of active labor.
What is approximately 1 cm per hour or 3-5 hours?
The number of centimeters a cervix dilates to prepare for the second stage of labor.
What is 10?
One of the most common positions for laboring and delivery for hospital births in the US.
What is lithotomy/supine/flat on your back?
This short-acting drug is a shot often used to “take the edge off” of labor pain.
What is fentanyl?
This naturally occurring “love hormone” can help laboring people feel calm and confident during labor.
What is oxytocin?
This process is described as “water breaking”.
What is the fluid sac around the baby breaks, causing a release of fluid to escape the vaginal opening?
Laboring people are often given these instructions for pushing.
What is hold your breath and push for the count of 10?
The term for the ripening and shortening/thinning of the cervix.
What is effacement?
A combination of longer acting pain medications through a catheter in a patient’s back.
What is an epidural?
A common cause of back labor.
What is occiput posterior/OP/“sunny side up” position of the baby?
Two unexpected bodily functions that may occur as labor intensifies.
What is vomiting and shaking?
One of the most common fears of birthing people when they are pushing.
What are pooping on the table or vaginal tearing?
This describes how low a baby is in the pelvis.
What is station?
*show pic*
What is a fetal monitor?
These positions can help relieve labor pains with a “sunny side up” baby.
What are hands and knees, leaning, dancing, squatting, etc.?
The centimeters of dilation called transition.
What is 8-10cm?
The average length of pushing for a first time birthing person.
What is 1-2 hours?
The “ideal” position for baby to be in for labor.
What is head down, chin tucked, & facing mom’s back/posterior?
AROM.
What is artificial rupture of membranes?
This “informative” rule of thumb can help laboring people know when to go to the hospital.
What is 411?
Common refrains from birthing people in transition.
What are: I can’t do this, get the baby out, I don’t care, just cut the baby out of me!
Surgical procedure used if the baby or birthing person’s health is in danger.
What is a cesarean section?