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Power: Primary forces: is the uterine contraction →
complete effacement and dilation of the cervix.
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Secondary forces: use
of abdominal muscles to push during the 2nd stage of labor.
Pushing force adds to the primary force after the cervix is fully
dilated.
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Contractions have a
rhythmic pattern, with periods of
relaxation between, allowing the woman to rest. This resting period
allows for restoration of placental
circulation: important to uterine muscles but also for the baby’s
oxygenation.
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Increment: the
building up and longest; acme – peak; and decrement or letting
up.
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Characteristics: frequency:
time between beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Duration: beginning to completion of
a single contraction. Intensity – strength of contraction. Experienced
nurse can estimate by palpating the fundus (top) during the contraction. Mild: the uterine wall can be indented;
strong, it cannot be indented. Intensity can be measured directly with
an intrauterine probe.
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Look at Figure 15-10, p 317
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