Antenatal health Flashcards
What are the 6 main aims of antenatal care
- The care must follow a definite plan
- The care must be problem oriented
- Risk factors from the previous pregnancies
- Common complications that can occur are each age (time that the person visits)
- Fetal condition must be continually assessed
- Health education must be provided
When will a pregnancy test test positive
By the time that the patient misses their first period
What are the characteristics of an intrauterine pregnancy
- Size of the uterus is appropriate for the duration of the pregnancy
- There is no lower abdominal pain or bleeding
How do you diagnose an extrauterine pregnancy
- The uterus is smaller than what is expected for the pregnancy duration
- There is a lot of lower abdominal pain and tenderness
When should a pregnant patient first present to the antenatal clinic
When they have missed 2 periods [i.e. 8 weeks pregnant]
What are the 5 main aims that should be achieved in the first antenatal visit
- Full history should be taken
- Physical exam must be done
- Duration of the pregnancy should be established
- Screening tests should be done
- High risk patients should be identified
What is the key information that should be taken on the patients history
- Previous obstetric history
- Present obstetric history
- Medical history
- HIV status
- History of medications and allergies
- Surgical history
- Family history
- Socioeconomic circumstances
What is important previous obstetric history that should be take
- Gravidity [no. of pregnancies]
- Parity [pregnancies that are viable]
- Miscarriages TOP and ectopics
What is meant by grande multiparity
This is when the patient has had multiple pregnancies that have reached a viable age
What is the possible cause of 3 consecutive first trimester pregnancies losses
Genetic abnormalities in the mother or the father
What are the possible causes of a second (mid) trimester loss
Incompetent internal cervical os
What does a baby larger than 4 kg suggest
Maternal diabetes
What could a previous pregnancy that is assisted with forceps or vacuum extraction suggest
It would suggest a degree of cephalopelvic distortion in the mother
What is the only type of c section incision that should be sent for a NVD
Transverse lower segment insision
What obstetric history on the current pregnancy should be taken
- When was the first day of the last known menstrual period
- Any problems since the start of the pregnancy
- Minor symptoms
- Is it a planned pregnancy
- If the patient is in the final trimester then attention should be given to the condition of the fetus
What are the considerations that should be taken in a patient when estimating the gestational age using the patients last known period
- The patients cycle must be regular
- If the last period was a normal period
Why is it significant if the last known period is different from normal periods and why can it not be used for the estimation of the gestational age
This is because this is an implantation bleed vs a normal period
Why is important to know the drugs that a patient is taking when they are pregnant
- Regular use of some medications will allow you to understand the cause
- Some drugs are teratogenic
- Some drugs are dangerous to the fetus if take closer to term e.g. Warfarin
- Allergies are important
What is significant on breast exam of a patient that is pregnant
- Inverted nipples should be diagnosed and treated to allow for breastfeeding
- Blood stained discharge should be checked for tumors
Who should have a pap smear
- All patients over the age of 30 who have not had a normal one
- Any patient that has had an abnormal pap smear
- All patients with HIV that have not had a pap smear in the last year
What are the 4 most common methods of determining pregnancy duration
- Last normal menstrual period
- Size of the uterus on bimanual palpation up to 18 weeks
- Height of the fundus at or after 18weeks
- US
What is the symphysis-fundus height measurement
The measurement from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus
After how many weeks is the symphysis-fundus height measurement and the number of weeks the same
After about 20 weeks the measures should line up, thus the number of weeks and the cm are the same