The Birth Process Mamie Guidera, CNM, MSN Carol O’Donoghue, CNM, MSN, MPH Normal Labor and birth: Objectives Introductions Physiologic labor and birth: the basics Phases of labor Birth video The P’s: Power, passageway, passenger, etc. Briefs: American birth & (some of the) influences: Where births take place Cultural expectations of pain management A word on Fetal Monitoring Here’s the truth: Childbirth is not only a physiologic phenomenon, but a cultural/sociological experience. So before you walk onto the Labor Floor, ask yourself: o Where/how did you first learn about how a baby is born? What do you know about your own birth? o Who (family member, friends, healthcare provider) or what (your medical training, book, television show, movie) has influenced your perception of labor? What birth stories come to your mind first? o Is there such a thing as “good” pain? If you are an athlete, have you ever sought out physical discomfort? Why? o Have you ever been in pain? How did you deal with it? o What do you think is the role of the healthcare provider in birth? Birth in the United States Site of birth Hospital Birth Center Home Model of birth Medical Model Midwifery Model Stages of Labor First stage: early, active, transition Dilatation Second stage Pushing and birth Third stage Delivery of placenta Fourth stage Postpartum Birth Video Observe stages and phases of labor Observe Maternal Behaviors! What is “normal” labor? An introduction True vs False Labor: Williams Obstetrics (22nd edition) True Labor: Contractions occur at regular intervals Intensity gradually increases Discomfort is in the back and abdomen. Cervix dilates. Discomfort is not stopped by sedation Contractions are irregular Intensity remains the same No cervical dilatation Discomfort relieved by sedation Length of first stage labor in healthy nulliparous and multiparous childbearing women adapted from Albers L. (2007) bold = nullips, italics = multips Mean (hrs) 95th percentile (hrs) Friedman (1978) 4.1 8.5 Kilpatrick & Laros (1989) 8.1 16.6 Albers, Schiff & Gorwoda (1996) 7.7 19.4 Albers (1999) 7.7 17.5 Friedman (1978) 2.4 7.0 Kilpatrick & Laros (1989) 5.7 12.5 Albers (1996) 5.7 13.7 Albers (1999) 5.6 13.8 Physiological Preparation for Labor What are the signs and symptoms of impending labor? Bishop’s Score Position Consistency Effacement Dilatation Fetal station and part Importance of cervical status Initiation of Labor Theoretical Maternal factors Progesterone Estrogen Oxytocin Prostaglandin Psyche Fetal factors Fetal cortisol Artificial Cervical exam Stripping of membranes Prostaglandins Artificial rupture of membranes Sex Nipple Stimulation You tube!- dilatation and the cardinal movements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xath6 kOf0NE&feature=PlayList&p=6603A45DF8 1B89A9&index=38&playnext=2&playnext _from=PL • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Xath6kOf0NE&feature=PlayList&p =6603A45DF81B89A9&index=38& playnext=2&playnext_from=PL Early or Latent Phase, Active phase, Transition… Dilatation Effacement Cervix Station Contraction pattern Membranes Duration What are the characteristics of each? What are frequent maternal behaviors? Pain management? The Ps of Labor Woman/Fetus Power Passageway Passenger Position Psyche Providers/Support Persons: Patience Persistence Practice/ Pain Relief Psyche Power: Influences Uterine force Nutrition and fluids Rest/Fatigue Power: Contractions Passageway Soft tissues Cervix Vagina Perineum Cervical Examination: examining the passageway Dilatation Effacement Station Position Consistency Presenting part Status of membranes The Passage Pelvic Bones and Pelvimetry The Passage Pelvic Bones and Pelvimetry Passenger Size of passenger Number of passengers Position of passenger: Presentation Lie Passenger: Attitude Passenger: Presentation Passenger Descent Fetal head journey through the pelvis until Crowning Flexion Fetal head tucks into chest Important so that smallest diameter of head presents May depend on pelvic type/shape Passenger: Station Engagement AKA “dropping” or “lightening” At the level of ischial spines = 0 station Above ischial spines -5 to -1 -5 = unengaged Below ischial spines +1 to +5 +5 = crowning Passenger: Cardinal Movements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xath6 kOf0NE&feature=PlayList&p=6603A45DF8 1B89A9&index=38&playnext=2&playnext _from=PL Engagement – ischial spines Descent Flexion Internal rotation- OT to OA Extension Restitution- baby head realigns with body External rotation Expulsion – the body Passenger: Presentation The Passenger Fontanelles and Sutures Passenger Passenger: Lie Passenger: Position The relationship of a site of the presenting part to the location on maternal pelvis Examples: LOA, ROP, RMT, LSA, etc. Asyncliticism: lateral deflection of the head with regards to the sagittal suture Anterior or posterior Position: Fetal and Maternal Most common position for labor and birth? Best position for labor and birth? Worst position for labor and birth? …..think mother and baby Psyche Woman giving birth Knowledge Fear Support Trust Self Provider Beliefs, values, culture Health care provider Support person(s) Family Friend Doula …let’s talk about this… Second Stage of Labor From 10 cm to birth of baby Pushing or expulsion Contraction pattern Duration Birth Perineal management (keep your hands off Mirror Ask mother to feel the baby’s head Stay focused on woman, not tasks Third Stage of Labor Birth of the placenta 5 to 30 minutes….or more Signs of placental separation Inspection A word on Active Management of Third Stage Pitocin and prevention of postpartum hemorrhage Two Methods of Third Stage Management Physiologic (“expectant”) management Oxytocics are not used Placenta is delivered by gravity and maternal effort Cord is clamped after delivery of the placenta Active Management Oxytocic is given [Cord is clamped] Placenta delivered by controlled cord traction (CCT) with counter-traction on the fundus Fundal massage after delivery of placenta Part II: Reality & modern hospital birth: pain management, monitoring, interference with physiologic birth Physiology of labor pain: First stage o Uterine contractions: o Myometrial ischemia Causes release of potassium, bradykinin, histamin, serotonin o Distention of lower uterine segments and cervix o Stimulates mechanorecoptors Impulses follow sensory-nerve fibers from paracervical and hypogastric plexus to lumbar sympathetic chain Enter dorsal horn of spinal cord at T10-12, L1 Pain pathways during labor: Late first and Second stage o Transition associated with greater nocioceptive input related to increased somatic pain from vaginal distention o Distention of vagina, perineum, pelvic floor, stretching of pelvic ligaments o Pain signal transmitted to spinal cord via S2-S4 (includes pudendal nerve) Pain Management in Active Labor Walking/Movement Hydrotherapy Back Rubs Birth Ball, toilet Maternal Preference Analgesia/ Anesthesia Others? hydrotherapy One-on-One Labor Support: the evidence If a doula was a drug, it would be considered unethical not to give it.” John Kennell, MD Continuous Labor Support o Non-medical care by a trained person o Different definitions/criteria depending on studies: o “minimum of 80%” presence o presence “without interruption, except for toileting” o Various terms: doula, labor assistant, birth companion, monitrice o May refer to husband or untrained female companion Kennell J, Klaus M, McGrath S, Robertson S, Hinkley C. Continuous Emotional Support During Labor in a US Hospital: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA, May 1991; 265: 2197 - 2201. •616 women •Three arms: supported (doula), observed, control groups •Outcomes studied: epidural use, duration of labor, oxytocin use, prolonged infant hospitalization and maternal fever all significantly less with supported group •More spontaneous birth with supported group Hodnett, ED et al (2007). Continuous support for women during childbirth (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art No.: CD 003766. 16 trials, all RCTS o 13,391 women o Women with CLS were: o o o o Less likely to have regional anesthesia Less likely to have any analgesia/anesthesia Less likely to have an operative delivery Less likely to report dissatisfaction and low leves of control with the CB experience o Less likely to use EFM o …and were more likely to have a shorter labor length and a spontaneous vaginal birth. Continuous Labor Support: Mechanism of Action from Hodnett (2007) Positive impact of companionship on mom Mitigates potentially harsh environment Negative experiences may impede labor Negative experiences may impede adjustment to motherhood Physiologic impact of continuous labor support Mobility encouraged by support person Support person decreases anxiety of mom fetopelvic relationship is enhanced stress hormones (epinephrine) may be reduced woman uses gravity & position changes fewer abnormal FHR patterns preserves uterine contractility ways of Placement of Anesthetics for Labor Pain Eltzschig H et al. N Engl J Med 2003;348:319-332 Epidurals: how do they contribute to prolonged labor or dx of labor dystocia, if at all? Length of labor First stage labor not impacted Studies do not uniformly look at or control for confounding factors such as rate of dilation or rates of spontaneous labor Length of second stage longer General agreement Malpresentation 3 RCTs, 2 observational studies: significant findings, significant crossover in RCTs Lieberman & O’Donoghue, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002, 186(5):S31-S68. Leighton& Halpern Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002, 186(5):S69-77. Monitoring for fetal well-being: the evidence Monitoring FHR: a short history 1600s: Marsac of France describes the sound of FHTs Marsac’s colleague Phillipe LeGaust mentions FHTS in a poem Kilian proposes that FHTs be used to dx fetal distress and when a clinician should intervene 1800s: 1818: auscultation via maternal abdomen helps dx fetal viability and fetal lie 1893: VonWinckel defines criteria for fetal distress that remained unchanged until the 1960s Gabbe (2002), 4th Ed. Monitoring FHR: a short history 1958 American Edward Hon (“father of EFM”) reports on instantaneous FHR recording Hon collaborated with Calderyo-Barcia (Uruguay) and Hammacher (Germany) to describe patterns that would diagnose fetal distress 1968: Benson et al: review of 24,000 cases of auscultation and outcomes; determined that “there was no reliable indicator of fetal distress in terms of FHR save in extreme degree.” Late 1960s: first commercially available electronic FHR monitor available By late 1970s EFM used in most American labor and delivery units By 1978, 66% of women EFM used during their labors In 2002, 85% of labors included EFM Gabbe (2002), 4th Edition; Williams (2005), 22nd Edition Original Assumptions of EFM Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring provided accurate information The information was of value in diagnosing fetal distress It would be possible to intervene to prevent fetal death or morbidity Continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was superior to intermittent methods Williams Obstetrics (2005), 22nd Edition Monitoring FHR: the evidence 1968: Benson et al: review of 24,000 cases of auscultation and outcomes; determined that “there was no reliable indicator of fetal distress in terms of FHR save in extreme degree.” Thacker et al (2005) reported in the Cochrane Database (18,561 pregnancies): Prevention of neonatal seizures No prevention of cerebral palsy Abnormal neurological outcomes not higher in infants managed by intermittent auscultation vs. continuous EFM (CEFM) Monitoring FHR: a short history Thacker’s report now replaced by Alfirevic (2006; >37,000 women): Seizures decreased; rare outcome 1/500 births No increase in cerebral palsy, infant mortality “or other standard measures of neonatal well-being” Increase in cesarean section and instrumental deliveries Limits movement of women during labor CEFM may also mean that “some resources tend to be focused on the needs of the CTG rather than the women in labour.” Gabbe (2002), 4th Ed.; Williams (2005), 22nd Edition Actual Outcomes of Widespread EFM Use By 1994, Symonds writes that 70% of obstetrical litigation related to fetal brain damage is related to purported abnormalities on the EFM tracing Significant interobserver and intraobserver variability Studies published prior to NICHD and after guidelines (1982-2003) Increase rate of Cesarean Section delivery Increase use of Vacuum and Forceps No reduction in perinatal mortality Incidence of neonatal seizures significantly decreased No reduction in cerebral palsy ACOG Practice Bulletin 70 (2005); Williams (2005), 22nd Ed. EFM vs Intermittent Auscultation (IA) Research does not support one modality over the other Most studies comparing the two were only conducted in low risk patients; Alfirecvic (2006) did include patients receiving oxytocin ACOG Practice Bulletin 70 (2005) states: “Those with high-risk conditions (eg, suspected fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and type 1 diabetes should be monitored continuously).” Current USPSTF Guideline (1996 to present): Routine intrapartum EFM not recommended Insufficient evidence regarding its routine use in high risk pregnancies http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsiefm.htm Accessed 6/30/08 Oxytocin Augmentation Clark SL, Simpson KR, Knox GE, Garite T. Oxytocin: new perspectives on an old drug. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:35.e1-35.e6 . We know of no other area of medicine in which a potentially dangerous drug is administered to hasten the completion of a physiologic process that would, if left to its own devices, usually complete itself without incurring the risk of drug administration. Yet the administration of oxytocin is often undertaken under precisely these circumstances when labor is electively induced or Braxton-Hicks contractions are electively augmented.” Medicalization of labor: Parkland, Texas The challenge is, can you provide vigilance without intervention…. Don’t just stand there. Do nothing!” Questions & Comments?