Question

When a woman is admitted to the labor and delivery unit, she tells the nurse that she is anxious about delivery, the welfare of her infant, and how quickly she will recover. How can anxiety affect labor?

a. By decreasing a woman's pain sensitivity
b. By reducing blood flow to the uterus
c. By increasing the ability to tolerate pain
d. By enhancing maternal pushing through greater muscle tension

Answer 1

Anxiety during labor primarily affects it by reducing blood flow to the uterus, which can decrease the efficiency of labor contractions and potentially affect the fetus's oxygen supply.

Step-by-step explanation:

Anxiety can affect labor by reducing blood flow to the uterus, which may potentially lead to decreased oxygen for the fetus and less efficient labor contractions. When a woman experiences anxiety, her body is likely to release stress hormones like adrenaline, which can interfere with the production and effectiveness of oxytocin, the hormone primarily responsible for coordinating muscle contractions during labor. Additionally, high levels of anxiety can increase muscle tension, which paradoxically may impede the natural progression of labor and make pain more difficult to tolerate, rather than enhancing the maternal pushing ability or decreasing pain sensitivity.