Abnormal Labour Flashcards
List factors that determine labour as abnormal
Too early (preterm <37w) Too late (induction >42w) Too painful (anaesthetic input) Too long (failure to progress) Too quick (hyperstimulation) Foetal distress (hypoxia/ sepsis) Wrong part presentation
What is a normal presentation of the fetus during pregnancy?
Vertex presentation, where the occiput is the leading part (the part that first enters the birth canal)
List types of non vertex or malpresentations of the fetus during pregnancy
Breech Transverse Shoulder/arm Face Brow
Define the three main types of breech presentation
Complete breech (legs folded with feet at level of baby's bottom) Footling breech (one or both feet point down so the legs would emerge first) Frank breech (legs point up to the baby's head, so the bottom emerges first)
What causes transient hypoxia in a baby during labour?
Uterine contractions (interrupt placental blood supply)
List options for providing analgesia during labour
Support, massage/relaxation techniques Paracetamol Entonox (inhalation) TENS Water immersion IM diamorphine IV remifentanil Epidural anaesthesia
Epidural anaesthesia impairs uterine activity. True/False?
False
May inhibit progress during stage 2 labour, however
What vertebral level is the epidural anaesthetic injected into?
L3/L4 space
List complications of epidural anesthesia
HYPOTENSION Dural puncture Headache Backache Atonic bladder
List aetiology of of obstructed labour
Sepsis Uterine rupture Obstructed AKI PPH Fistula formation Fetal asphyxia Neonatal sepsis
How is progress assessed in labour?
Cervical dilatation
Descent of presenting part (station)
Signs of obstruction (moulding, caput, anuria, haematuria. vulval oedema)
What counts as delay in stage 1 labour?
Nulliparous woman: less than 2cm dilation in 4 hours
Parous woman: less than 2cm dilation in 4 hours OR slowing in progress
What are the 3 P’s that affect progression of labour?
Power (inadequate contractions, frequency/strength)
Passage (shape/state of pelvis, short stature, trauma)
Passenger (big baby, malposition)
Going down the pelvis, the transverse diameter increases/decreases and the anteroposterior diameter increases/decreases
Going down the pelvis, the transverse diameter decreases and the anteroposterior diameter increases
What is assessed on a partogram?
Foetal heart rate Amniotic fluid Cervical dilation Descent Contractions Obstruction (moulding/caput) Maternal vital signs
How is the fetus assessed during labour?
Doppler auscultation of fetal heart
Cardiotocograph
Colour of amniotic fluid (clear, red, brown)
How often is the foetal heart auscultated during labour?
Stage 1: during + after a contraction/every 15 mins
Stage 2: every 5-10 mins
Meconium (foetal stool) can be a sign of what?
Foetal distress
List risk factors for fetal hypoxia
Small fetus Preterm/ post dates APH Hypertension/ PET Diabetes, sepsis Induction of labour, epidural anaesthesia Meconium Vaginal birth after c-section, preterm delivery
List acute causes of fetal hypoxia
Abruption Vasa praevia Cord prolapse Uterine rupture Feto-maternal rupture Uterine hyperstimulation Regional anaesthesia