A client has been admitted to the labor and delivery unit in active labor. After assessing her, the RN notes that the client’s fetus position is left occipital posterior.
Which of the following statements best describes what this means to the labor process:
A . Decreases the overall time of the labor process
B . Prolongs the client’s first stage of labor
C . Decreases the time of the client’s first stage of labor
D . Prolongs the client’s third stage of labor
Answer: B
Explanation:
(A) Posterior position causes a larger diameter of the fetal head to enter the pelvis than an anterior position. Pressure on the sacral nerves is increased, and it takes the fetus a longer time to enter the pelvic inlet.
(B) This position will prolong the first stage of labor. When the larger diameter of the fetal head enters the pelvis first, it will have a more difficult time accommodating to the pelvis; therefore, it will take a longer time for the fetus to move through the pelvis.
(C) It will increase the time of labor because the larger diameter of the fetal head will have a more difficult time accommodating to the pelvic inlet and thus will move through the pelvis slower.
(D) In the third stage of labor the placenta is delivered; therefore, the infant has been delivered.