Obstetrics for NursesReed, Charles B. (Charles Bert)
Science
Obstetrics for Nurses
Reed, Charles B. (Charles Bert)
Maternity nursing
Twenty-five per cent die as a rule under best conditions.
Fifty per cent when left to nature.
_Treatment of Cephalic Presentation._—
Extraction of child or reposition of cord, depending upon the
degree of dilatation.
If cervix is small, replace and fill cervix with Vorhees bag.
When cervix admits hand, either replace or do version and
extraction.
With head engaged, reposition or version is not possible.
Child living:—Rapid delivery with forceps.
Child dead:—Craniotomy or leave to nature.
Prolapse of one or both hands may take place. If the head is
engaged, no interference should be attempted. If not,
replacement or version may be done.
The soft parts may also complicate the labor process.
No time need be spent here on the rarer forms of obstruction due to
uterine or ovarian tumors.
=Rigidity of the cervix, or os= is not uncommon.
This may be due to a dense, almost cartilaginous consistence of that
tissue, to premature rupture of the bag of waters, to weak, inefficient
contractions in the first stage, or to a steel-spring-like contraction
of the muscular fibers of the os.
In all cases the first stage of labor is greatly prolonged, but so long
as the membranes are intact, the child is in no danger.
Two kinds of cases are met with, those in which the pains are violent,
and those in which they are weak and shallow. In the first class, as
soon as the condition is recognized, a dose of morphine sulphate, ⅙ gr.
and scopolamine hydrobromide 1/150 gr. should be given, hypodermically.
The rigid ring relaxes under the influence of the narcotic, and labor
proceeds rapidly and almost painlessly. Chloroform may be substituted if
the morphine and scopolamine are not at hand. If the cervix is effaced
and only the rigid ring of the os prevents the completion of the labor,
or if the above methods fail, then the patient may be anæsthetized and
the rigidity overcome by the fingers. This is an emergency that should
not be attempted until all else has failed and some danger arises that
makes it necessary to hasten the delivery. (See Minor Operations, p.
211).
Where the constriction is due to unusual density of the cervix or to
cicatricial tissue, it is sometimes necessary to make incisions under
aseptic precautions so that the rigid ring may expand.
Weak and inefficient contractions can sometimes be stimulated
satisfactorily by the introduction of a Vorhees bag.
=Rigidity of the pelvic floor= may be due to inadequate elasticity of
the tissues as in old primiparas or in young women who have ridden
horseback for many years in the cross-saddle position.
The head may come down to the pelvic floor but will not advance further.
If the tissues of the vulva do not, or can not yield sufficiently after
appropriate time has been allowed, episiotomy may be done. (See Minor
Operations, p. 211.)
The uterus itself may functionate abnormally.
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