6: Preterm infants Flashcards
Before which point in gestation is a birth pre-term?
37 weeks
Birth before ___ weeks is incompatible with life.
22 weeks
Fatal birth before 22 weeks is also known as what?
Foetal loss
or Miscarriage
At which point in gestation is a birth at term?
38 - 42 weeks
Pre-term babies are more likely to have a (high / low) birth weight.
low birth weight
Which lifestyle choice has an effect on the rates of pre-term delivery?
Smoking
Smoking ban saw a 10% decrease in pre-term births
What is a neonatal death?
Death within the first four weeks of life
Which type of pregnancy is associated with pre-term birth?
Multiple pregnancy
Ferguson reflex - increased distension of uterine walls
The majority of pre-term births are ___ in origin.
idiopathic
nobody knows why
Having more than one baby in the womb is a common cause of ___ delivery.
pre-term
A history of ___ delivery increases a woman’s risk of pre-term delivery.
pre-term delivery
cumulative effect
Pre-term babies are more vulnerable to ___ stress, have less developed ___ and are more likely to be (hyper/hypo)glycaemic.
vulnerable to cold stress - less brown fat
less developed lung - less surfactant
hypoglycaemic - less glycogen reserves
What is the purpose of delayed cord clamping?
Allows maximum volume of blood to transfer from mother to baby
–> reduce chances of anaemia, hypovolaemia
What does cold stress lead to in premature babies?
Hypothermia
How does hypothermia cause hypoglycaemia in babies?
Increased non-shivering thermogenesis
Which uses glycogen stores
When glycogen is depleted, free circulating glucose is used up
> Hypoglycaemia
