Normal labour and childbirth

NORMAL LABOUR

• Make a rapid evaluation of the general condition of the woman including vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, respiration, temperature).
• Assess fetal condition:

- Listen to the fetal heart rate immediately after a contraction:

- Count the fetal heart rate for a full minute at least once every 30 minutes during the active phase and every 5 minutes during the second stage;
- If there are fetal heart rate abnormalities (less than 100 or more than 180 beats per minute), suspect fetal distress.

- If the membranes have ruptured, note the colour of the draining amniotic fluid:

- Presence of thick meconium indicates the need for close monitoring and possible intervention for management of fetal distress

- Absence of fluid draining after rupture of the membranes is an indication of reduced volume of Amniotic Fluid, which may be associated with fetal distress.

Read more here....

http://www.who.int/reproductive-heal...r_C57_C76.html

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J
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

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So is this all done in practice?? How many of you/your mentors auscultate the fetal heart for a full minute??? I know I do, I'm asking what others do/see.

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

I do try to, but often, the mentor will step in after about 20 secs and say, oh yeah, that's fine.

I also like to listen before, during and after a contraction now and again to assess how the fetus is coping with the contractions. I find it scary that more don't do this.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

Since a stint at the birthing centre I now do this, previous to this placement I did not as most would auscaltate for a few seconds, say it was fine, done.

Now I know a bit better and understand alot more, I do the same as Kentish, and longer if it doesn't sound 'right'

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Yes I've had MW's sort of look at me as if I've done something wrong, when I'm still standing there listening in, I don't listen in through contractions though I have to say, in my opinion its too awkward for the woman, and also I believe it will lead down the route of intervention much like the CTG. Things can be picked up can't they? that you wouldn't have otherwise known/been concerned about really, so I thats why I stick to listening in following a contraction, to see how it variates around the baseline x

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

I saw a midwife listen in for a minute following contractions too, but not during them.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

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