Final answer:
In a postterm pregnancy at 41 weeks, close monitoring and possibly induction of labor with medications like pitocin might be necessary to reduce complications. Pitocin can help progress labor if contractions are insufficient. The newborn's first breath after birth is essential for the transition to independent circulation, changing the pattern of blood flow from fetal to normal neonatal circulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Management of Postterm Pregnancy at 41 Weeks
A student asked what should be done beginning at 41 weeks for a Postterm pregnancy. Typically, pregnancy is expected to last around 40 weeks, and anything beyond that is considered postterm. Janine is an example of someone experiencing a postterm pregnancy at 41 weeks. In such cases, close monitoring of the mother and fetus is necessary due to increased risks. Often, labor may be induced to reduce potential complications. Induction might involve administering a medication such as pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin, to stimulate contractions and advance labor. In Janine's case, she has been experiencing contractions, but they were not strong enough to continue progressing her labor, and with her cervix only 2 cm dilated, an IV infusion of pitocin was started to aid in labor progression.
With regard to the newborn's first breath, it is a crucial moment that alters the circulatory pattern. Prior to birth, a fetus's lungs are not used for oxygen exchange, and blood bypasses the lungs through the fetal circulatory shunts. After the first breath, these shunts close, and the newborn's lungs expand and fill with air, which allows for oxygen exchange and a proper transition to independent blood circulation.