Final answer:
If narcotic analgesia is given to a woman in labor and the infant is delivered shortly afterward, the newborn may experience respiratory depression. Healthcare professionals should be prepared to use opiate antagonists like naloxone to counteract these effects. The team must review the recovery and care plan for both the mother and newborn.
Step-by-step explanation:
Narcotic analgesia, when administered during labor, can lead to various effects on the newborn, depending on the timing and the amount given. It has been noted that narcotics such as morphine, when given in higher doses, can induce drowsiness or even loss of consciousness. If a laboring client receives narcotic analgesia at 10:00 a.m. and the infant is delivered at 12:30 p.m., the nurse would anticipate that the newborn may exhibit some degree of respiratory depression due to the effects of the narcotic still present in the newborn's system.
Fortunately, there are interventions available to counteract these effects. Opiate antagonists such as naloxone can reverse the effects of narcotics. Naloxone works by antagonizing the actions of morphine at all its receptors and is commonly used to reverse respiratory depression in newborns whose mothers have received narcotics during labor. However, its use must be carefully administered, as it has a short duration of action and must be given parenterally.
Thus, it is essential for healthcare professionals to be prepared in the event that administering a narcotic analgesic close to the time of delivery leads to respiratory depression in the newborn. The recovery and care of the patient, including the newborn, must be reviewed and necessary precautions taken, including the availability of naloxone for the reversal of any potential narcotic-induced respiratory depression.