Question

The nurse care for a woman in labor. Which method should the nurse use to measure the frequency of a uterine contraction?

a. timing the contractions from end of one contraction to the end of the next contraction.
b. Timing the contraction from beginning of one to end of same contraction
c. Timing the contraction from peak of one to the beginning of next
d. Timing the contraction from beginning of one to beginning of next

Answer 1

To measure uterine contraction frequency during labor, a nurse should time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. This method tracks the duration between contractions, key for labor progression assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct method for a nurse to measure the frequency of uterine contractions is by timing the contraction from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. This method allows the nurse to accurately determine the duration between contractions, which is critical for assessing the progression of labor. As true labor progresses, uterine contractions become more frequent and powerful due to a positive feedback loop involving cervical stretching, dilation, oxytocin secretion, and increasing uterine contractions.

When labor begins, contractions can be relatively far apart, sometimes only every 3-30 minutes, but as labor progresses into its more active stages, contractions can occur as often as every 1.5-2 minutes. When Pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, is administered, it is typically done to restart or maintain labor, ensuring that contractions continue effectively to support cervical dilation and the eventual delivery of the baby.