Antenatal Care pt 2 Flashcards
How do you give antenatal steroids?
· 2x 12mg IM Betamethasone (given 24hrs apart)
· Optimal benefit is seen 24 hours after initiation of therapy and lasts for about 7 days
· Alternative: 4 doses of 6 mg IM dexamethasone 12 hours apart
What is a partogram?
It is a pictorial assessment of the progress of labour -> allows rapid identification of slow/obstructed labour
Who needs a partogram?
o All women in active labour (> 4 cm dilated, contracting > 3 in 10)
o All women on syntocinon
o Threatened premature labour with the use of atosiban (inhibits oxytocin and vasopressin)
What are the components of a partogram?
Maternal HR – every 30 mins
BP and temperature – every 4 hours
Contractions – every 30 mins
Colour of liquor – every 30 mins
Cervicograph
Abdominal descent
Cervical dilatation – every 4 hours
Nulliparous – 0.5 cm/hour
Parous – 0.5-1 cm/hour
What are the components of a partogram?
Maternal HR – every 30 mins
BP and temperature – every 4 hours
Contractions – every 30 mins
Colour of liquor – every 30 mins
Cervicograph
Abdominal descent
Cervical dilatation – every 4 hours
Nulliparous – 0.5 cm/hour
Parous – 0.5-1 cm/hour
What is the alert line?
ALERT line is at 0.5 cm/hour
If the plotted dilatation moves to the right of the alert line, this may suggest prolonged labour
What is the action line?
ACTION line is 4 hours right of the alert line and if the cervical dilatation crosses this, urgent obstetric review is needed
Why may slow progress happen?
o May be due to malposition
o Epidural analgesia can slow progress
What is the management of slow progress?
o ARM (perform VE 2 hours later)
o Syntocinon if there are inadequate contractions
o Instruments -> may be used in some women if you don’t want them to push (e.g. because of hypertension)
§ Ventouse – same diameter for the mum, but can be distressing for the baby
§ Forceps – increases the diameter of the baby’s head but doesn’t upset the baby
What is postnatal care after a vaginal delivery?
Stitches
Toilet use needs monitoring
Haemorrhoid care
Lochia advice
Breast advice
What advice do you give for using a toilet?
inform the midwife if you are struggling to pee/unpleasant smell/painful. Drink plenty of water (dilutes the urine) and eat a healthy balanced diet (not pooing for a few days is normal)
· A small amount of leaking urine is normal (try pelvic floor exercises)
What advice do you give about haemorrhoids?
very common after birth but disappear within a few days, avoid straining on the toilet
What advice do you give for lochia?
usually quite heavy at first so may need highly absorbent sanitary pads (avoid tampons until 6 weeks postnatal check because of infection risk), this may carry on for a few weeks, but it will eventually become brown and stop à USS if persistent past 6 weeks
· Normal lochia process: Rubra (red) -> serosa (yellow) -> alba (white)
· Infection = any offensive smell, or greenish colour
What advice do you give about breasts?
initially produces yellowish liquid (colostrum), breasts may feel tight and tender initially, breastfeeding may cause a cramping sensation as it makes the uterus contract
What advice do you give post C section?
§ Average stay is about 3-4 days (regular painkillers, encourage baby contact, encourage mobilisation)
§ Wound: gently clean and dry every day, wear loose cotton clothing, take painkillers, watch out for signs of infection, non-dissolvable stitches are taken out by midwife after 5-7 days
§ Scar fades with time
§ Stay mobile and return to normal activities
§ Caution should be taken with certain activities including driving, exercising, heavy lifting, sex
· These activities should be delayed until 6 weeks after delivery
If you have a 6 week pregnant woman with PV bleeding and abdominal pain, what are the key aspects of the history you need?
§ PC – PV bleeding and abdominal pain
§ Quantify bleeding and SOCRATES the pain
§ Ensure you get a sexual hx, smear hx and identify any ectopic risk factors
If you have a 6 week pregnant woman with PV bleeding and abdominal pain, what are the Ddx?
Ectopic pregnancy
PID
Miscarriage
Ectropion
Cancer
Cervical polyp
Ectopic -> pain (may or may not have bleeding)
Miscarriage -> bleeding (may or may not have pain)
If you have a 6 week pregnant woman with PV bleeding and abdominal pain, what exams would you do?
Sequence of exams: abdominal exam -> speculum exam -> bimanual exam
§ N.B. bimanual exam contraindicated in placenta praevia
How does bHCG change in pregnancy?
§ Normally doubles every 48 hours
§ Ectopic -> doubles, but at a rate less than double every 48 hours
If there is a woman who is 32 weeks pregnant with PV bleeding and abdominal pain, what are your differentials?
Low-lying placenta (-> placenta praevia (non painful) after 32 weeks)
Placenta accreta
Placental abruption (painful)
Uterine rupture (painful)
Vasa praevia (non painful) (placental vein blocks os and baby breaks it)
Preterm labour
What is the classifications of placenta praevia?
Type I- low lying
Type II- marginal placenta
Type III- partial praevia
Type IV- complete praevia
What is placenta praevia?
the placenta can implant on the anterior, posterior or fundus
What is the difference between low lying and placenta praevia?
If the placenta adheres to the Lower Uterine Segment (LUS), then it is preferred to as a “Low Lying Placenta”. If the placenta remains there until week 32, then it becomes placenta praevia
· See image below for types and the location of the LUS
What is the management of placenta praevia?
depends upon severity and foetal wellbeing
· Caesarean section if emergency
What is pre term labour?
painful, regular contractions with cervical change (effacement and dilatation) before 37 weeks of pregnancy
If you don’t have these things, this could just be normal Braxton-Hicks contractions
What is the most common cause of pre term labour?
Infection