Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

CHAPTER 14 Women’s Health^523

HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Bloody show which is the mucous plug, expelled from the vagina


• Rupture of membranes, which releases amniotic fluid (commonly referred to
  as water breaking)

INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS

• CBC to assess any anemia.


• Blood typing.


• Rh factor.


• Urinalysis to look for protein and glucose.

TREATMENTS

• Some medications may be administered to stimulate uterine contractions:
  
  
  • oxytocin
  
  
  • prostaglandins
  
  
  
  


• Pain medications may be administered, but always with the safety of the fetus
  in mind. The risk versus the benefit must be weighed.


• Analgesia and sedation:
  
  
  • stadol
  
  
  • butorphanol
  
  
  • meperidine
  
  
  • fentanyl
  
  
  • nalbuphine
  
  
  
  


• General anesthesia:
  
  
  • nitrous Oxide inhalation
  
  
  
  


• Regional anesthesia:
  
  
  • pudendal block
  
  
  • paracervical block
  
  
  • spinal block