Meperidine (Demerol), 50 mg IV, has been ordered for a laboring patient. The patient is contracting ...

ANS: C
The suggested administration of IV Demerol is 25 mg/min and therefore will need to be administered over the course of two contractions. Opioid analgesics are given in small frequent doses by the IV route during labor to provide a rapid onset of analgesia and predictable duration of action. The woman will benefit from rapid pain control, with less likelihood of neonatal respiratory depression. Starting the injection at the beginning of the contraction, when blood flow to the placenta is normally reduced, limits transfer to the fetus. When placental blood flow resumes, more of the drug is in maternal tissues.

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