Antenatal Care and Screening Flashcards
How many women get morning sickness?
85%
When is morning sickness worse and what do we call the extreme form?
Worse when Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin is high e.g. in twins or molar pregnancies
Can progress to Hyperemesis Gravidarum (XS nausea and vomiting)
After how many weeks does morning sickness tend to improve?
Much better by 16 weeks
Why does pregnancy increase Cardiac Output?
Normal pregnancy raises CO from 30-50% due to HR rising from 70-90BPM (CO = SV x HR)
This is to maintain a high blood flow to the foetus.
This can present as palpitations.
What is the require rate of blood flow to the uterus during term?
Over 1L/min
How does blood pressure change physiologically during pregnancy and why?
Drops during the 2nd trimester
A mixture of effects: • Uteroplacental circulation expands • Systemic vascular resistance drops • Blood viscosity drops • Angiotensin sensitivity drops
In which trimester does blood pressure usually return to normal?
3rd
Why does urine output increase in pregnancy?
- Renal plasma flow increase by 25-50%
- GFR increases by 50%
- Serum Urea and Creatinine also decrease
What does serum urea and creatinine decrease during pregnancy?
Partly due to increased GFR but partly due to dilutional effect of increased plasma volume
Why are pregnant women more at risk of UTIs?
Urinary stasis increases –> Hydronephrosis (swollen kidney due to build up) is physiological in the 3rd trimester.
This makesUTIs and pyelonephritis very common
What is the major danger of a UTI to a pregnant woman?
Preterm labour.
So very important to treat them.
Why are pregnant women at risk of anaemia?
Because plasma volume increases by 50% but RBC mass only goes up by 25%
This lowers Haemoglobin by dilution from 133-121g/L.
So a lower Haemoglobin is normal in pregnancy but you still want to ensure it doesn’t drop too low.
How does pregnancy affect blood cell counts?
- WBC increases slightly 9000-12000/uL
* Platelet count falls (due to rise in blood volume not loss of platelets - dilution)
How do iron requirements change during pregnancy and how are they addressed?
Increased by 1g
Give Iron supplements if Hb is <110 or <100 on routine testing at 28weeks
How does pregnancy affect the lungs?
Progesterone acts to reduce CO2 by:
• Increasing tidal volume
• Increased Resp rate
• Increases plasma pH
This increases O2 consumption by 20% but plasma PO2 is unchanged
You also get hyperaemia of the resp mucous membranes
What GI/resp problems are common during pregnancy?
- Nose bleeds
- SOB
- GORD
- Runny nose
- Heartburn
- Constipation
What is the drug can you give for heartburn during pregnancy?
Ranitidine
What drug is given during pregnancy that can cause heartburn?
Aspirin
What hormones cause GI motility to be decreased in pregnancy?
- Increased Progesterone
* Decreased Motilin