Complicated Pregnancy: abnormal delivery and labour complications Flashcards
Breech, operative delivery and VBAC Multiple pregnancy Prematurity Prolonged labour Suspected fetal compromise Retained placenta PPH
At how many weeks is a baby considered premature?
<37 weeks
At how many weeks is a baby considered:
1) Extremely preterm
2) Very preterm
3) Moderate to late preterm?
1) Extremely preterm= <28 weeks
2) Very preterm = 28-32
3) Moderate to late preterm = 32-36+6
Why is baby being preterm a serious issue?
Single biggest cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in UK. Major long term consequence = neurodevelopmental disability
What are some neonatal complications form being born preterm?
Neonatal death
Respiratory distress syndrome
Chronic lung disease
Intraventricular haemorrhage
Necrotizing enterocolitis
sepsis
retinopathy of prematurity
What are some neonatal risk of prematurity specifically when delivered BEFORE 28 weeks? (extremely premature)
Physical disabilities
Learning difficulties
Behavioural problems
visual and hearing problems
How many pregnancies and pre-term births are affected by PPROM (preterm prelabour rupture of membranes)?
3% pregnancies
associated with 30-40% preterm births
What is the medium latency after PPROM? i.e. the number of days for delivery to start after a PPROM?
7 days
shortens as gestational age of baby increases
PPROM can result in neonatal morbidity and mortality…why? Please give examples of complications PPROM can lead to?
Prematurity
Sepsis and chorioamnionitis
Cord prolapse
Pulmonary hypolasia
If you are assessing a lady in MAU with suspected PPROM what details in the clinical history might suggest PPROM?
They may mention:
- Gush of fluid from vagina
- Leaking vaginal fluid
- Increased watery discharge
- Concern or uncertainty about urinary
incontinence
What examination and investigations to do for a pt with suspected PPROM?
Examination:
- DONT do a digital vaginal examination (increased risk of introducing microorganisms
- DO a sterile speculum examination
- pool of fluid in posterior vaginal vault = confirmed
-No fluid seen = test e.g. ActimPROM
Investigations:
- FBC
- CRP
- High vaginal swab
- What is ACTIM- PROM?
- Is it sensitive?
- When can you use it?
- What is ACTIM- PROM?
– insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1
– Produced by decidual cells
– Present in amniotic fluid in high amounts
– Not normally found in vagina - Is it sensitive?
- yes sensitive and specific as does no react with blood or other fluids - When can you use it?
at any gestational age
How do you manage a pt with PPROM?
What is preterm labour? PTL
Labour/regular contractions resulting in changes in
cervix (effacement and dilatation) before 37/40
– Threatened - up to 4cm
– Established - > 4cm
(active phase of stage 1 labour begins at 4 cm dilatation)
What are the epidemiological outcomes of preterm labour PLT?
- Leading cause of perinatal death and disability
- Psychosocial and emotional effects on the family
- Increased cost for health service
What are some maternal factors / conditions that might make preterm labour more likely?
Women with a history of which 4 things are at high risk of pre-term labour ?
Any previous hx of the following:
- Spontaneous preterm birth
- Mid-trimester loss (16+) - 24 weeks
- PPROM
- Cervical trauma
What increased monitoring will women we are worried about, need to prevent preterm labour?
- Trans vaginal USS - assess cervical length
- HVS looking for BV which is associated with poor outcomes
We are worried about a woman at risk of preterm labour. We note on TV USS that her cervix is shortening at a scan during week 16-24 of her pregnancy. What can you do to prevent a preterm labour?
- Prophylactic vaginal progesterone (pre-gestation!)
- Perform a cervical cerclage ( needs to removed before labour around week 36-37) which puts a suture around cervix to keep it closed.
You are assessing a woman in MAU for pre-term labour. What specific things do you need to ask her about that might indicate PLT?
- Menstrual-like cramping
- Mild, irregular contractions
- Low back ache
- Pressure sensation in the vagina or pelvis
- Vaginal discharge of mucus, which may be clear, pink, or slightly bloody (ie, mucus plug,
bloody show) - Spotting, light bleeding
When assessing a woman for preterm labour what to do you need to include and note when examining her?
- Abdomen:
– assess firmness, tenderness, fetal size, and fetal position - Contractions:
– Frequency, intensity, duration - Review fetal heart rate (if >26 weeks HR and uterine activity
- Speculum:
– Estimate cervical dilation
– Assess for blood or fluid
What investigations to do for a woman suspect of preterm labour?
Bedside
- fetal fibronectin
- Actim partus
Transvaginal Ultrasound for cervical length ( Gold standard NICE)
- > 15 mm - unlikely PTL (discuss benefits and risk / going home / monitored in hospital)
- < 15 mm - confirmed PTL - offer treatment
Where do you swab when performing an actim-partus bedside test for preterm labour?
Endocervix
What does the actim- partus test looki for when investigating suspected preterm labour?
What interferes with the test? (i.e. don’t do it is blood is present)
What is the management for preterm labour?
What is the management for preterm labour?
What is prolonged labour or failure to progress?
when labour is not developing at a satisfactory rate.
- Adequate progress is 2cm dilatation per 4 hours of active labour
- slowing of progress in multiparous woman
(Remember the 1st stage of labour is divided into latent stage and active stage 3-10 cm dilatation).
What are the causes of poor progress of labour - The 3 Ps……
- Power (uterine contractions)
- Passenger (size, presentation and malposition of the baby)
- Passage (the shape and size of the pelvis and soft tissues)
Psyche can be a fourth P - support and antenatal preparation for labour and delivery.
Remind yourself of the phases of the first stage of labour…
(Z2F, passmed and oxford handbook slightly vary on details - here I have used passmed)
Stage 1 - from onset of true labour to when the cervix is fully dilated.
(primigravida: 10-16 hours)
- Latent phase = 0-3 cm dilation, normally takes 6 hours
- Active phase = 3-10 cm dilation, normally 1cm/hr
How are women monitored for their progress in 1st stage of labour?
Using a partogram
What is recorded on a partogram?
- Cervical dilatation (measured by a 4-hourly vaginal examination)
- Descent of the fetal head (in relation to the ischial spines)
- Maternal pulse, BP, temp and urine output
- Fetal HR
- Frequency of contractions
- Status of the membranes, ( liquor? blood or meconium in liquor?)
- Drugs / fluids that have been given
There are 2 lines on a partogram labelled “alert” and “action” which indicate if labour not progressing. (results are plotted taking into account dilation of cervix and time.)
what is indicated if
1) alert line
2) action line
is crossed?
- Alert line - amniotomy (artifical rupture of membranes) and repeat examination in 2 hours
- Action line - escalate care to obstetric led care for action
A woman’s 1st stage of labour is not progressing as planned. Management of amniotomy and re-examination in 2 hours is decided.
What else needs to be done?
Empty bladder with catheter if she is unable to
- full bladder can be injured during labour and can also stop descent of head and reduce frequency of contractions
a woman is delayed in first stage of labour but her membranes have already ruptured. What management should she be given?
Oxytocin infusion (to correct malposition or insufficient uterine activity)
- reassess in 4 hours (may need 8 hours of oxytocin before see big change)
- Start CTG continuous monitoring with infusion
Why do you need senior advice before giving a woman with delay in 1st stage of labour oxytocin infusion if she is
a) multiparous
b) has had a lower segment caesarean section
risk of uterine rupture
(oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions - but it can become overstimulated and strained -> lead to rupture)
A woman is having a delayed 1st stage of labour and there are fetal compromise concerns on CTG. What needs to be done?
Foetal blood sampling before oxytocin infusion
If a woman is having a delayed labour and amniotomy and oxytocin infusion have not helped. What are the remaining management options?
Instrumental delivery
Caesarean section (ox handbook just says CS)
Oxytocin is used to stimulate uterine contractions during labour. What number of contractions is the aim for?
The aim is for 4 – 5 contractions per 10 minutes.
Too few contractions will mean that labour does not progress.
What is the risk of too many contractions in labour?
fetal compromise - fetus does not have the opportunity to recover between contractions
What is the management of fetal compromise?
emergency caesarean section
When do we decide that the second stage of labour is delayed?
when the active second stage (when woman starts pushing) lasts over:
2 hours in a nulliparous woman
1 hour in a multiparous woman
What does the success of second stage rely on?
Again 3 ps:
power - uterine contractions
passenger - size / lie / presentation / attitude
Passage - size and shape of pelvis
What can cause a delay in 2nd stage of labour?
Same as for 1st stage (3 ps)
But here maternal exhaustion from pushing is also a factor
What are management options for delayed second stage of labour?
Changing positions
Encouragement
Analgesia
Oxytocin
Episiotomy
Instrumental delivery
Caesarean section
How is delay in 3rd stage of labour defined?
The third stage of labour is from delivery of the baby to delivery of the placenta.
> 30 minutes with active management
60 minutes with physiological management
What can be a cause of delayed 3rd stage of labour?
Retained placenta
What is the biggest danger of a retained placenta?
Haemorrhage