Today our topic of discussion is Labor Stage.
Labor Stage
First Stage of Labor (in the Home)
- Greet the family and ascertain details regarding duration of labor pain, etc.
- Reassure mother and family and place midwifery bag on newspaper
- Place your watch and other personal belonging in a convenient safe place
- Ask the family to prepare boiling water
- Take out soap and towel from midwifery bag
- Wash hands thoroughly under running water and dry
- Put on the apron, prepare the mother for examination
- Examine the mother palpate abdomen and ascertain positions, watch nature of pain, enquire about bowel action, when urine is passed, etc. If mother is in first stage give enema, examine the urine and take blood pressure
- Wash hands and take out the necessary equipment from bag and put them in a covered container and boil for 20 minutes (Enamel bowls, 2 kidney trays, 2 covered basins, a pair artery forceps, scissors, 1 teaspoon, cord tie)
- Boil eye dropper and syringe and cotton swab (if required) separately
- Boil gloves and catheter (if used) separately and check temperature
- Watch the progress of labor and give sufficient nourishment (tea, milk, etc.)
- Prepare to receive baby.
Second Stage
- Wash hands and put on mask
- Set up articles for confinement on newspaper or clean banana leaf in order to use
- Prepare about a pint of dettol lotion 2% (3 drachma in a pint)
- Take a sterile bowl, artery forceps, sterile swab and prepare for perineal wash
- Place the mother in a comfortable position for delivery and bring mother down towards foot end of bed leaving enough space for delivering baby
- Scrub hands thoroughly for about three minutes using germicides
- Swab the perineum with dettol lotion, swab away from vaginal orifice
- Support perineum with the sterile pad and deliver the baby as it has been taught
- Soon after the baby’s head is delivered, clean the eyes, nose and mouth to remove mucus and if necessary suck out mucus by a mucus catheter
- Separate the cord and baby, soon the pulsation of the cord stops.
Third Stage
- Keep a kidney tray or mud pot ready to receive placenta.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap
- Watch for the separation of placenta and deliver it as you were taught
- Rinse hands and lean the perineum, examine the labia and perineum for lacerations or tears
- Apply sterile pad loosely and make the mother comfortable
- Examine the placenta to see that all parts are complete.
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Take the mother’s temperature, pulse and respiration
- Assemble all the articles, wash them and if possible boil and replace in the midwifery bag Examine the mother carefully before leaving the home.
Immediate Care of the Newborn
- Prepare equipment for baby’s bath in a protected corner of the room, baby clothing, methylated spirit and spring balance
- Wash hands, put on apron, take the baby in lap after protecting lap with a sheet
- Remove the excess vernix on the skin and do not bath unless the family insists
- Put one drop of 1% silver nitrate in each eye.
- Inspect the cord for seepage and if bleeding, religature and apply tincture of benzoin iodine, dress and cord if required or if indicated
- Inspect the infant thoroughly for abnormalities
- Put the child in clean clothes.
- Place the baby in the bed with head on one side
- Remove apron, clean and replace equipment.
Instruction to Family
- Watch for abnormal bleeding of mother and report if unusual amount appears.
- Watch for any bleeding from the cord, if it bleeds, takes the child to the doctor
- Place the baby to the breast after 6 to 12 hours.
- Teach to do proper perineal care as per using soap and water and change of sanitary pads as indicated
- Advice the family to give full diet.
- She needs food to regain her strength and help ensure sufficient milk for the baby.
Read more:
