Transition Stage

Transition Stage - Quiz

Natural Childbirth Classes and Doula Services
Triangle Area, NC.


	HOME	How to Use these Quizzes Enjoy trying these quizzes. If you have questions after reading the answers you can ask your health care providers for more information. These topics are also covered in more detail in many of the books shown on the website. You can attend a childbirth class where many of these topics will also be discussed at length. Exercises Stage One Relaxation Transition Then/Now

Microwaveable Body Warmer
by The Happy Company

Labor is an athletic event. Using heat (and cold) is a great comfort measure during pregnancy and your labor. Once you heat up one of these pads they will stay warm for a long time and can provide relief for Mothers experiencing back labor ...read more

Birthing / Exercise Ball

Optimal fetal positioning can keep you comfortable late in pregnancy and during your labor. Sitting on a birthing ball keep the uterus forward and off your back. This keeps the baby's back to the front of the uterus. In this position, the baby will enter the birth canal with ...read more

The Birth Partner,
by Penny Simkin, PT.

Penny Simkin is well known for her books and videos on the subject of childbirth. This book will be helpful to anyone planning to support a woman in labor and birth. ...read more

Questions	What do you think?	Answer / Comments
1. List four things that Mom may experience during transition.	Euphoria/Hunger Sleep/Generosity Doubt feelings Longer-closer contractions Backache Hot/Cold flashes	This is the shortest, but often the most challenging part of labor. Many people can only identify it in 20-20 hindsight. Some women even get to skip over it all together. Feelings of doubt, longer/closer contractions, backache, hot/cold flashes and also nausea/vomiting can all be experienced.
2. What is the most important thing that Coach can do during transition ?	Encouragement "You're doing great" "You're almost finished"	All the options. Positive encouragement is the key during this time. Even if you think she is falling apart...tell her "Your doing great"! Reminders of the baby can be very helpful now too.
3. Can you be at 7 cms dilation and feel a strong urge to push ?	yes no	Yes, but mom will probably be instructed not to push for fear of swelling the cervix. This will be a challenging situation. The panting/blowing breathing techniques of Lamaze-fame can be helpful during this time...anything to help you relax and not bear down. Maybe Mom can get in the tub or shower at this point, lie down...positions that temporarily take the extra pressure of gravity off the cervix.
4. Can you be at 10 cms dilation and feel no urge to push at all ?	yes no	Yes...take advantage of the rest break. You don't need to ask to be checked until you are feeling a pretty strong urge.
5. What emotional signposts will Mom experience during second stage ?	Excitement Napping Anxiety	Mom will go through all the emotional stages again. At first you are excited to be doing something (pushing) and then you realize you have to WORK. Lastly at crowning, you might want to hold back. At this point mom is unlikely to be napping.
6. What can you do to slow down or stop pushing, if directed to by your birth team, when the baby's head is crowning ?	Read a novel Breathing techniques Knee/Chest position.	Breathe as if blowing out a candle, get into a knee/chest position to relieve pressure on cervix. During crowning it is important to work with your birth team. Dad needs to listen to the instructions so he can remind Mom of what to do. Most common things are to not push with a particular contraction or push more slowly. After you have been pushing for awhile it should be a bit easier to control the pushes.
7. What is one reason to wait until the umbilical cord stops pulsating to cut it ?	To deliver correct balance of blood to the baby Easier to cut	To deliver the correct balance of blood from the placenta to the baby. However, most providers think this is unnecessary. If you want them to wait to cut the cord...ask them to "humor you", unless there is a need to quickly check the baby.
8. What is one reason you may want to cut the cord soon after the birth ?	To move to better light for baby photos. Baby distressed/medical emergency If you have had medication.	If the baby is distressed or there is a medical emergency or if you have had medication. With an epidural or narcotic you want to cut off the flow of the drug asap since the baby will be exposed as long as they are connected to you.
9. What can be done to encourage the placenta to detach if it does not do so soon after the birth of the baby ?	Medication to help uterus contract and expel it. Have a large meal. Nursing the baby.	Often the birth attendant will "gently" tug on the cord. Nursing the baby will produce more oxytocin causing the uterus to contract and expel the placenta. A shot of pitocin, given in your leg, is more of a precaution against too much bleeding. There may be other medications they they can give you. In most cases they will give you about 45 minutes for the placenta to be delivered before further interventions are needed.
10. Why would your medical care providers want to give you a shot of pitocin following the birth ?	Reduce mom's blood loss. Use up left over medication. Practice administering injections.	To help the uterus contract and to reduce blood loss following the delivery of the placenta. This is a common precaution to prevent excess blood loss. Nursing the baby does the same thing (without the ouch in the leg). Check with your provider about their protocols.


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