onset of labor

Flowchart nodes

• Onset of Labor: when uterus becomes more sensitive to oxytocin & contractions increase in intensity & frequency

• nursing actions

• assess & document FHR

• assess & document amniotic fluid; color, odor & amount

• document date and time of ROM

• False

• irregular contractions w/ little or no cervical changes

• Rupture of Membrane (ROM)

• spontaneous (SROM)

• True

• contractions occur at regular intervals; increase in duration, frequency & intesity

• results in changes of cervical effacement and dilation

• protective barrier to infection is lost & delivery should happen w/in 24hr to reduce infection to mom & baby

• assessing ROM

• speculum exam to assess for fluid in vaginal vault

• nitrazine paper: paper turns blue with amniotic fluid

• ferning: fluid assessed under microscope for ferning pattern