Final answer:
Janine was administered pitocin to induce labor since she is 41 weeks pregnant and her labor was not progressing naturally, which made it necessary to manage the potential risks of post-term pregnancy. When a newborn takes its first breath, the circulatory pattern changes dramatically, closing the fetal cardiac shunt and redirecting blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Janine is 41 weeks pregnant and has been experiencing prolonged labor without significant cervical dilation. Given that full-term pregnancy is typically 40 weeks, and that labor has not been progressing naturally, pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, is administered to induce labor. This medication stimulates uterine contractions to help progress labor and reduce the potential risks associated with post-term pregnancy, such as fetal distress or increased chances of a cesarean section. Oxytocin is the body's natural hormone responsible for signaling contractions, and the use of pitocin can mimic these signals to help manage labor more effectively.
When a newborn takes their first breaths, there is a significant alteration in the circulatory pattern. The expansion of the lungs decreases resistance to blood flow in the pulmonary arteries, allowing more blood to flow into the lungs where it gets oxygenated. Concurrently, the pressure changes cause the foramen ovale, a fetal cardiac shunt, to close, which changes the way blood circulates through the heart, now routing it through the lungs for oxygenation, which is critical for the baby's survival outside of the womb.
Devin, at 35 weeks, was advised to return home because she was likely experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, which do not indicate the onset of actual labor as there was no cervical dilation or loss of the mucus plug. For Janine, medical intervention was deemed necessary due to her being post-term and the stagnation of labor progression.