Physiological Integrity Q 38
A client is admitted to the labor and delivery unit. The nurse performs a vaginal exam and determines that the client’s cervix is 5 cm dilated with 75% effacement. Based on the nurse’s assessment the client is in which phase of labor?
A. Active
B. Latent
C. Transition
D. Early
Correct Answer: A. Active
The active phase of labor occurs when the client is dilated 4–7cm. Active labor with more rapid cervical dilation generally starts around 6 centimeters of dilation. During the active phase, the cervix typically dilates at a rate of 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters per hour. Multiparas, or women with a history of prior vaginal delivery, tend to demonstrate more rapid cervical dilation. The absence of cervical change for greater than 4 hours in the presence of adequate contractions or six hours with inadequate contractions is considered the arrest of labor and may warrant clinical intervention.
Option B: The latent phase is commonly defined as the 0 to 6 cm, while the active phase commences from 6 cm to full cervical dilation. The presenting fetal part also begins the process of engagement into the pelvis during the first stage. Throughout the first stage of labor, serial cervical exams are done to determine the position of the fetus, cervical dilation, and cervical effacement.
Option C: The transition phase of labor is 8–10cm in dilation. The second stage of labor commences with complete cervical dilation to 10 centimeters and ends with the delivery of the neonate. This was also defined as the pelvic division phase by Friedman. After cervical dilation is complete, the fetus descends into the vaginal canal with or without maternal pushing efforts.
Option D: The latent or early phase of labor is from 1cm to 3cm in dilation. During the latent phase, the cervix dilates slowly to approximately 6 centimeters. The latent phase is generally considerably longer and less predictable with regard to the rate of cervical change than is observed in the active phase. A normal latent phase can last up to 20 hours and 14 hours in nulliparous and multiparous women respectively, without being considered prolonged.