Abnormal Labour And Post Partum Care Flashcards
Induction of labour
- Approx 1 in 5 pregnancies induced
- Less efficient, more painful
- Need foetal monitoring
- Risk of uterine “hyperstimulation” with prostaglandin/oxytocin induction
Indications for induction (IOL)
- Diabetes (usually before due date)
- Post dates – Term + 7 days
- Maternal health problem that necessitates planning of delivery e.g. on treatment for DVT
- Foetal reasons e.g. growth concerns, oligohydramnios
- You may also see IOL for - social / maternal request / pelvic pain / “big” babies
Process of induction of labour
- If cervix not dilated and effaced (lower Bishop’s score), then vaginal prostaglandin pessaries / Cook Balloon can be used to ripen the cervix
- Once cervix has dilated and effaced, an amniotomy can be performed
- Once amniotomy performed, IV oxytocin can be used to achieve adequate contractions – aim for 4-5 contractions in 10 minutes
What ‘Bishop score’ is considered favourable for amniotomy?
7
What is an amniotomy?
Amniotomy is the artificial rupture of the foetal membranes usually using a sharp device e.g. amniohook
Reasons for inadequate progress of labour
- Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)
- Malposition
- Malpresentation
- Inadequate uterine activity
- Other reasons for obstruction (e.g. ovarian cyst or fibroid)
How is progression in labour evaluated?
A combination or abdominal and vaginal examinations to determine:
- Cervical effacement
- Cervical dilatation
- Descent of the foetal head through the maternal pelvis
In the active first stage of labour suboptimal progress is defined as cervical dilatation:
- less than 0.5cm per hour for primigravid women
- less than 1cm per hour for parous women
Consequences of inadequate uterine activity
If contractions are inadequate the fetal head will not descend and exert force on the cervix and the cervix will not dilate.
How is inadequate uterine activity managed?
- It is possible to increase the strength and duration of the contractions by giving a synthetic IV oxytocin to the mother
- It is important to exclude an obstructed labour in these circumstances as stimulation of an obstructed labour could result in a ruptured uterus
Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)
- Genuine CPD is relatively rare
- It means that the fetal head is in the correct position for labour but is too large to negotiate the maternal pelvis and be born - caput and moulding develop
Malposition
- Much more common than cephalopelvic disproportion
- Involves the foetal head being in an incorrect position for labour and ‘relative’ CPD occurs
- Occipito-posterior & Occipito-transverse
Foetal blood sampling
- Used when abnormal CTG
- Provides a direct measurement from baby
- We can measure pH and base excess
- pH gives a measure of likely hypoxaemia
Situations advise not to labour
- Obstruction to birth canal
- Major placenta praevia, masses
- Malpresentations
- Transverse, shoulder, hand, breech
- Medical conditions where labour would not be safe for woman
- Specific previous labour complications
- Previous uterine rupture
- Foetal conditions
Instrumental delivery
- Accounts for around 15% of births
- Forceps and vacuum extraction