A woman is experiencing back labor and complains of intense pain ...

[dakota nelson]

A woman is experiencing back labor and complains of intense pain in her lower back. An effective relief measure would be to use:
 
  a. Counterpressure against the sacrum.
  b. Pant-blow (breaths and puffs) breathing techniques.
  c. Effleurage.
  d. Conscious relaxation or guided imagery.

Question 2

If an opioid antagonist is administered to a laboring woman, she should be told that:
 
  a. Her pain will decrease.
  b. Her pain will return.
  c. She will feel less anxious.
  d. She will no longer feel the urge to push.

[k2629]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Counterpressure is steady pressure applied by a support person to the sacral area with the fist or heel of the hand. This technique helps the woman cope with the sensations of internal pressure and pain in the lower back. The pain management techniques of pant-blow, effleurage, and conscious relaxation or guided imagery are usually helpful for contractions per the gate-control theory.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The woman should be told that the pain that was relieved by the opioid analgesic will return with administration of the opioid antagonist. Opioid antagonists, such as Narcan, promptly reverse the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioids. In addition, the antagonist counters the effect of the stress-induced levels of endorphins. An opioid antagonist is especially valuable if labor is more rapid than expected and birth is anticipated when the opioid is at its peak effect.

[dakota nelson]

Excellent

[bdobbins]

TYSM