Final answer:
Janine is given pitocin due to inadequate labor progression at 41 weeks of pregnancy, with only 2 cm cervical dilation. Pitocin assists with progressing labor, facilitating cervical dilation. Newborns' first breath changes their circulatory pattern, and their higher proportion of body water and metabolic rate puts them at greater risk of dehydration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Precipitous Delivery: Assessment and Management
Assessment of precipitous delivery outside of a hospital often involves the consideration of factors such as frequent prenatal check-ups, the progression of labor, as well as the potential for rapid labor and birth. In the case of Janine, who is 41 weeks pregnant, an IV infusion of pitocin is started because her labor is not progressing adequately—she has been experiencing labor 'for days' with mild contractions and limited cervical dilation of 2cm. Pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, is used to restart and maintain labor, promoting cervical dilation and progression to the next stages of labor.
Newborns' circulatory patterns are significantly altered with their first breath. Upon taking the first breath, the blood flow through the heart changes, leading to the closure of fetal circulatory shunts and establishment of independent pulmonary circulation. As for the increased risk of dehydration in newborns, it is because they have a higher proportion of body water and increased metabolic rate, making them more susceptible to fluid losses.