Question

A client who has been in active labor for 12 hours suddenly tells the nurse that she has a strong urge to have a bowel movement. What action should the nurse take?

Answer 1

The urge to have a bowel movement during labor often indicates that the client's baby is descending and putting pressure on the rectal area. The nurse should check for full cervical dilation before allowing the client to push. Pitocin is administered to progress labor when needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client in active labor feeling a strong urge to have a bowel movement can indicate that the baby’s head is descending and putting pressure on the rectal area. This sensation often signals that the second stage of labor, which involves the actual delivery of the baby, is approaching. The nurse should assess the client to determine if the cervix is fully dilated, which would indicate that it's time to begin pushing. If the client is not fully dilated, instructing her to avoid pushing can help prevent cervical trauma and other complications.

In Janine’s case, she was given Pitocin to augment her labor as her contractions were mild and her cervix minimally dilated. Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, a hormone that enhances uterine contractions to progress labor. For Devin, since her contractions were sporadic and her cervix was not dilated, and the mucus plug intact, she was experiencing false labor and therefore advised to return home until true labor began.