Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology

Labor and Delivery

Labor	Contractions	Electronic Fetal Monitors
Latent Phase Labor	Fetal Heart Rate	Pain Relief
Active Phase Labor	Urine	Second Stage Labor
Progress of Labor	Estimated Fetal Weight	Preparing for Delivery
Delivery of the Baby	Dilatation and Effacement	Managing the Delivery
Delivery of the Placenta	Fetal Orientation	Episiotomy
Managing Labor and Delivery	Leopold's Maneuvers	Anesthesia
Initial Evaluation	Fetal Membranes	Clamp the Cord
History	Blood Count	The Placenta
Risk Factors	Early Labor	Uterine Massage
Vital Signs	Monitor the Fetal Heart	Post Partum Care

Uterine Massage

After delivery of the placenta, the uterus normally contracts firmly, closing off the open blood vessels which previously supplied the placenta. Without this contraction, rapid blood loss would likely prove very problematic or worse.

To encourage the uterus to firmly contract, oxytocin 10 mIU IM can be given after delivery. Alternatively, oxytocin 10 or 20 units in a liter of IV fluids can be run briskly (150 cc/hour) into a vein. Breast feeding the baby or providing nipple stimulation (rolling the nipple between thumb and forefinger) will cause the mother's pituitary gland to release oxytocin internally, causing similar, but usually milder effects.

A simple way to encourage firm uterine contraction is with uterine massage. The fundus of the uterus (top portion) is vigorously massaged to keep it the consistency of a tightened thigh muscle. If it is flabby, the patient will likely continue to bleed.

Home ╖ Introduction ╖ Medical Support of Women in Field Environments ╖ The Prisoner of War Experience ╖ Routine Care ╖ Pap Smears ╖ Human Papilloma Virus ╖ Contraception ╖ Birth Control Pills ╖ Vulvar Disease ╖ Vaginal Discharge ╖ Abnormal Bleeding ╖ Menstrual Problems ╖ Abdominal Pain ╖ Urination Problems ╖ Menopause ╖ Breast Problems ╖ Sexual Assault ╖ Normal Pregnancy ╖ Abnormal Pregnancy ╖ Normal Labor and Delivery ╖ Problems During Labor and Delivery ╖ Care of the Newborn

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology - 2nd Edition
The Health Care of Women in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C
January 1, 2000

This web version of Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division. It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense. All material in this version is unclassified.

Advertise on this Site