During delivery, placental expulsion comes under?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The process of labor is divided into four distinct stages.
Stage III, also known as the placental stage, commences immediately following the birth of the fetus.
The defining event of this stage is the separation and expulsion of the placenta and its membranes from the uterus.
This stage typically concludes within 5 to 30 minutes of the baby's birth.

Option B: Stage IV is the immediate postpartum period, lasting 1-4 hours after placental delivery. The focus during this stage is on monitoring the mother for complications, primarily postpartum hemorrhage, and initiating maternal-infant bonding.
Option C: Stage I is the dilation stage. It begins with the onset of regular, painful uterine contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated to 10 cm.
Option D: Stage II is the expulsion stage. It starts with full cervical dilation (10 cm) and ends with the birth of the baby.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Stages of Labor as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper management of the third stage of labor is critical for preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality.
Nurses play a key role in active management of the third stage, which includes administering a uterotonic agent (like oxytocin) immediately after the baby's birth, performing controlled cord traction, and assessing for signs of placental separation.
What if? If the placenta is not expelled within 30 minutes (retained placenta), it is a medical emergency. The nurse must notify the provider immediately, as manual removal may be necessary to prevent severe hemorrhage and infection.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of the obstetric process.
First, identify the key event in the question stem: 'placental expulsion'.
Next, recall the four stages of labor and the primary event that defines each stage.
Match the event 'placental expulsion' to its corresponding stage.
Stage I is cervical dilation.
Stage II is the baby's birth.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QtQuvHKfWkkElbvyMtZT0G

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 67-69

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 9-26

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 49-57

Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.