URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

San Vicente West, Urdaneta City, Philippines-2428

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

Name: Bernaldo M. Antenor Jr. Course and Year: BSN 2

Date: December 20, 2020 Block: Blk. 1
Subject: Care of Mother, Child, Adolescents Code: N001

Monitoring and Evaluating of Important Aspects- Uterine Contractions

Labor contractions begin at a pacemaker point located in the myometrium near one of the uterotubal
junctions. Each contraction begins at the point and then sweeps down over the uterus as a wave. After a
short rest period, another contraction is initiated and the downward sweep begins again. In evaluating
uterine contractions- fingers should be spread lightly over the fundus.

Discuss each aspect of uterine contractions:

1. Duration - Duration is timed from when you first feel a contraction until it is over. This time is usually
measured in seconds. Mild to moderate and last about 30 to 45 seconds. You can keep talking during
these contractions. May be irregular, about 5 to 20 minutes apart, and may even stop for a while.
2. Interval - The time between contractions includes the length or duration of the contraction and the
minutes in between the contractions (called the interval). Mild contractions generally begin 15 to 20 minutes
apart and last 60 to 90 seconds. The contractions become more regular until they are less than 5 minutes
apart.
3. Frequency - Frequency is timed from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. It includes
the contraction as well as the rest period until the next contraction begins. The frequency of uterine
contractions will be 3-5 times in every 10-minute period. Each contraction lasts 40–60 seconds
4. Intensity - The intensity of the contractions can be estimated by touching the uterus. The relaxed or
mildly contracted uterus usually feels about as firm as a cheek, a moderately contracted uterus feels as firm
as the end of the nose, and a strongly contracted uterus is as firm as the forehead.

What are the Health Teachings to be given during the First Stage of Labor?
1.  Bladder care
Encourage the woman to urinate at least once every 2 hours. If her bladder is full, her contractions may get
weaker and her labor longer. A full bladder can also cause pain, problems with pushing out the placenta,
and bleeding after childbirth. Remind the mother to urinate – she may not remember.
2.  Position and mobility
Several considerations govern the choice of position during the first stage of labor. Of these the most
important is that of maternal preference — how she prefers to give birth. But some women need your
encouragement to try different positions.
Help the woman move during labor. She can squat, sit, kneel or take other positions. All of these positions
are good. Changing positions helps the cervix open more evenly.
3.  Helping the mother to manage her contractions
In early labor she may be able to sleep. Many women feel very tired when their contractions are strong.
They may fear they will not have the strength to push the baby out. But feeling tired is the body’s way of
making the mother rest and relax. If everything is all right, she will have the strength to give birth when the
time comes.
To save her strength, the mother should rest between contractions, even when labor first begins. This
means that when she is not having a contraction, she should let her body relax, take deep breaths, and
sometimes sit or lie down.
4. Drinking fluids during labor
A woman in labor uses up the water in her body quickly and she also uses up a lot of energy. During the
first stage of labor, she should drink at least 1 cup every hour of a high calorie fluid such as tea, soft drinks,
soup, or fruit juice. If she does not drink enough, she may get dehydrated (not enough water in the body).
This can make her labor much longer and harder. Dehydration can also make a woman feel exhausted.