Childbirth Flashcards
What are the 3 main ways that the female pelvis differs from the male pelvis
- Female pelvis has a much wider sub pubic angle
- Female pelvis is oval shaped, so has a larger AP and transverse diameter
- Female pelvis has a shallow pelvic cavity
At the pelvic inlet the AP diameter is larger than the transverse diameter. True or false?
False
- transverse diameter is wider than the AP diameter
What is a fontanelle
Presence of soft spot on the baby’s head
Which diameter of the baby’s head is larger:
- occipito frontal diameter
- bi-parietal diameter
Occipito-frontal diameter
What shape is the anterior fontanelle?
Diamond shaped
What shape is the posterior fontanelle?
Triangle shaped
When the baby enters the mother’s pelvic cavity (at the pelvic inlet), what position should its head be in?
Transverse
At the pelvic outlet, which diameter is wider:
- AP diameter
- transverse diameter
AP diameter
During delivery, the foetal head should be in flexion or extension?
Extension
What is the “station”
The distance of the foetal head from the ischial spines
Station - what does a negative number mean?
The head is superior to the ischial spines
Station - what does a positive number mean
The head is inferior to the ischial spines
Maternal injuries during delivery - name 2
Incontinence
- urinary +/- faecal
- this is due to stretching
Common perennial nerve damage
- if legs in stirrups
Foetal nerve injury during delivery - name 3
Erb’s palsy
Kerlumpke’s palsy
Bell’s palsy
Foetal nerve injury during delivery - what is likely nerve injury due to forceps clamping around the baby’s head
Bell’s palsy
CNVII injury
