Antepartum and intrapartum emergencies Flashcards
List the signs of pregnancy.
- Breast tenderness
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
- Nausea
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Increased lethargy
- Mood swings
- Dizziness
- Increased sensitivity to smell
What can be used to confirm pregnancy?
- Urine dipstick (bHCG) from 6 days; increased levels indicate pregnancy
- Blood test (bhCG)
- Ultrasound (dating scan)
Describe the public model of routine antenatal care.
- Midwifery led care
- Obstetrician overseen
- Birth centre
Describe the private model of routine antenatal care.
- Private obstetrician consultations
- Private midwife
- Birth at home
- Visiting rights at birth centre
List the most common scans and tests associated with antenatal care.
- Dating scan (confirmation of pregnancy 4-11 weeks)
- Nuchal translucency (12-14 weeks) and bloods
- Morphology scan (18-20 weeks)
- Developmental anomalies and placental position
- 28 weeks GTT (2hr blood test series)
- 34 weeks rescan for placenta (if high risk)
- 36 weeks growth scan (if high risk)
Name four tests for foetal chromosomal anomalies during pregnancy.
- Nuchal translucency scan and pathology
- NIPT (non-invasive pregnancy testing) - blood test that gives sex
- Chorionic Villus sampling - samples placenta and gives full genetic breakdown
- Amniocentesis
What chromosomal abnormalities can nuchal translucency detect?
- Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome, incompatible with life)
- Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome, incompatible with life)
- Trisomy 21 (Downs syndrome)
Chorionic Villus sampling has an increased risk of what, and why is the risk generally accepted?
MC; sometimes still accepted as termination can still be performed if chromosomal abnormalities incompatible with life are detected.
Amniocentesis has an increased risk of what?
MC
What is the definition of spontaneous abortion?
The complete loss of the products of conception prior to the 24th week of pregnancy.
____% to ____% of diagnosed pregnancies are lost before 20 weeks.
10-15%
Most pregnancies lost before 20 weeks are lost before what physiological event?
Implantation.
How many pregnancies lost before 20 weeks are clinically recognised as an MC?
~a quarter.
True or false: the incidence of loss is higher in IVF and AMA pregnancies.
What is the definition of early MC?
MC occurring prior to 12-13 weeks gestation.
____% of MC are early MC (before 12-13 weeks gestation).
80%
What is the presentation of early MC?
- Painful or painless PV bleeding (usually not significant volume but can alarm mothers)
- Often associated with lower central abdominal cramping
- Often anxiety and distress
Describe the mx of early MC.
- Rest and reassurance
- Analgesia (morphine - won’t hurt infant at this point)
- Monitor VSS and PV loss
- Ascertain intrauterine scans if available
- Tx to hosp
What is the definition of late MC?
MC which happens from 13-24 weeks gestation.
What is the presentation and mx of late MC?
- Often painful lower abdo cramps or contraction pains
- Often PV fluid or blood loss
- Birth en-caul is common (remove this)
- Birth foetus
- Will be small yet well formed
- May show signs of life
- Breathing, movement, heart beat
- Same basic post-natal cares as for term birth
- Very emotive
- Rx like a baby
- ROLE not required
What are the limits of viability?
- The gestation at which resuscitation is not commenced following preterm birth
- 22 weeks in hospital is viable for resuscitation
- Is mostly futile
- Significant sequelae
- Can be commenced at maternal request from 20K
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
When a fertilised ovum implants itself outside the uterine cavity.
What is the most common site of implantation of an ectopic pregnancy?
Fallopian tube (95% of cases)
Ectopic pregnancy is commonly dx between ____ and ____ weeks gestation.
6 and 10
Though rare, in what other sites might an ectopic pregnancy implant?
- Abdominal cavity
- Ovary
- Cervical canal
What is the presentation of ectopic pregnancy?
- LIF/RIF pain (L and R iliac fossa)
- +/- PV loss
- Hx sexual activity
- Hx of amenorrhoea
- Hx of +Ve urine dipstick
What are the signs of ruptured ectopic pregnancy?
- RIF or LIF pain
- Shock/collapse (unknown origin)
- Pale
- Sweaty
- Tachycardic
- Hypotensive
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- +Ve urine pregnancy test
- +/- intrauterine scan, +/- blood test
- Hx of amenorrhoea and other signs of early pregnancy
- PV bleeding
- Shoulder tip pain (Kehr’s sign)
- Note: it is possible to have an ectopic pregnancy and an intrauterine pregnancy; evidence of an intrauterine scan does not rule out ectopic.
True or false: suspect ruptured ectopic pregnancy for any female of childbearing age with abdominal pain
Describe the mx of ectopic pregnancy.
- Basic cares
- Rest and reassurance
- Analgesia
- Mx shocked pt
- Tx without delay to appropriate facility (obstetric and surgical)
- Note: same mx as for ectopic with added shock care.
How common is morning sickness?
80-85% experience morning sickness; 50% V.
Most have morning sickness symptoms by ____ weeks.
8 weeks.
When does morning sickness resolve?
- By 12-14 weeks for majority
- By 16-20 for 90%
True or false: morning sickness is not confined to mornings in 90% of cases.
Morning sickness is associated with raised levels of ____.
bhCG
What is hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)?
A.K.A. excessive morning sickness, causing severe N+V and possibly leading to faint/dizziness, weight loss, and dehydration, and has marked social, emotional, and psychological impact. Can require hospitalisation.
How common is HG?
1% of women will develop HG.
What is used to rx HG?
- Metaclopramide
- Ondansetron
- Herbal remedies
True or false: UTIs don’t occur in pregnant women.
What is a consequence of urinary stasis in pregnant women?
Increased incidence of UTI
UTIs in pregnancy are often atypical or asymptomatic; what are some other signs of UTI?
- No burning or stinging
- Onset of incontinence
- Increased frequency
True or false: UTI’s can cause ascending infections.
List some possible complications of ascending infections from UTI’s
- Pyelonephritis (12-13% of women)
- Severe flank pain
- Sepsis
- Renal failure
- Premature labour
What is the definition of gestational diabetes mellitus?
Carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.
When is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) usually dx?
Around 26-28 weeks gestation when the placenta manufactures hormones (growth hormone and cortisol) that inhibit insulin metabolism.
What is the maternal mx of GDM?
- Diet
- Metformin
- Insulin
Describe the paramedic mx of GDM
- Same as all diabetic presentations
- Hypoglycaemic events
- Food, gel, glucose
- Hyperglycaemic events
- Fluids, tx for insulin
- Consider hx taking
What are the implications of GDM for labour and birth?
- Macrosomic baby (>4.2kg; more likely if poorly mx, less likely if well mx)
- Increased incidence of shoulder dystocia
- Consider best position for birth
- Increased incidence of prolonged labour
- Increased incidence of obstructed labour
- Increased incidence of shoulder dystocia
- If women is antenatal (not in labour/imminent delivery):
- Consider presentation
- Consider pt’s self mx
- If woman is GCS15, not symptomatic, and not imminent birth - taking BGL is not a priority.
What are the maternal implications of GDM after labour and birth?
Insulin requirements fall rapidly; more at risk of hypoglycaemia.
What are the neonatal implications of GDM after labour and birth?
- Breastfeeding/artificial feeding baby within 1 hour is recommended
- Not necessary to take neonatal BGL unless symptomatic
- Normal BGL of neonate is >/= 2.6mmol/L (this low is physiological - drives instinct to feed)
- Feeding is more important - 30mL of formula if not breastfeeding
Describe how blood pressure is measured in pregnancy.
- Seated with feet flat on the floor
- R) arm (preductal [‘preload arm’] so it’s more accurate)
- Arm supported horizontally at level of the heart
- Rest momentarily before measurement
- Use a manual sphygmamonometer and stethoscope
- Palpate brachial pulse
- Measure both arms
- Use correct cuff size and positioning
- Record arm and position of the BP reading if significant result
What is pre-eclampsia?
Pregnancy induced hypertension dx after 20 weeks gestation affecting two or more organ systems. May lead to eclamptic seizures.
List the risk factors of pre-eclampsia
- Primipara
- Multigravida pregnant by a different partner
- Previous pre-eclampsia in a pregnancy by the same partner
- Family hx
- Multiple pregnancy
- Obsesity
- Renal disease, diabetes, SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome, essential HTN
Describe the mx of pre-eclampsia.
- Basic cares
- Analgesia (morphine)
- Antiemetics
- Consider tx
- Dark, quiet environment
- Loud noises/bright environments/sudden movements can instigate seizure activity in unstable pre-eclamptic women
- Note: at risk of spontaneous placental abruption
What are the signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
- Hypertension (systolic >140, diastolic >90 - one or both readings are sufficient)
- Oedema
- Hx of HTN (often medicated with BB)
- Gestation >20 weeks
What are the signs of imminent eclampsia?
- Frontal headache
- Visual disturbance
- Vomiting
- Epigastric pain
- Oliguria
- Hyperreflexia
True or false: eclampsia is a common condition with moderate impacts on mother and baby.
It is a rare condition associated with severe morbidity for mother and baby.