labor and delivery questions and answers Related

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How long is the expected length of the third stage of labor?

  • A. 60 minutes or less
  • B. 30 minutes or less
  • C. 1 hour for a multiparous person, 2 hours for a nulliparous person
  • D. 3 hours for a multiparous person, 4 hours for a nulliparous person
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 1 hour for a multiparous person, 2 hours for a nulliparous person. This is based on the typical duration of the third stage of labor, which involves the delivery of the placenta. In general, the third stage is expected to last around 5-30 minutes. However, for safety reasons and to allow for variations in individual cases, it is recommended to extend the time frame to 1 hour for multiparous individuals (those who have given birth before) and 2 hours for nulliparous individuals (those giving birth for the first time). This extended time frame ensures that healthcare providers have enough time to monitor and intervene if necessary without rushing the delivery of the placenta.

Other choices are incorrect because they provide either too short (A and B) or too long (D) timeframes for the third stage of labor, which could lead to inadequate monitoring or unnecessary interventions.