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Intrapartum Nursing Assessment: First Stage of Labor

Nursing assessment during the

intrapartum period centers on
evaluating maternal and fetal
response to the labor process. To
provide a basis for ongoing
assessments during the intrapartum
period, an admission assessment
must be completed. This includes a
physical assessment of all systems
including baseline vital signs, a
psychosociocultural assessment, and
a review of the prenatal history. An
assessment of the womans labor
status is also necessary. This will
include the status of the fetus, uterine
activity, and cervical dilation and
effacement.

Ongoing assessments will take place according to institutional policy and according
to whether the pregnancy is considered high-risk or low-risk. A high-risk pregnancy
would be one complicated by a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes, a
concurrent obstetric condition such as preeclampsia, a psychosocial issue such as
intimate partner violence, or an obstetric procedure such as labor induction.
Maternal/fetal assessments and documentation are recommended every 30 minutes
for low-risk pregnancies and every 15 minutes for those considered high-risk.

Maternal vital signs and pain assessment are integral parts of the maternal
response to labor. It is important for nurses to assess the effectiveness of the
mothers chosen method of anesthesia or analgesia