Complications in Pregnancy

Question 1

what are the common symptoms which occur during pregnancy?

Answer 1

headaches
heartburn
tiredness
nausea
urgency

Question 2

what symptoms of pregnancy are caused by pregnancy?

Answer 2

joint pain - loosening of the joints
heat intolerance - increased basal temprature
constipation - smooth muscle relaxation of he uterus - causes colon relaxation also

Question 3

at what point is nausea and vomitting abnormal in pregnancy? what is this called?

Answer 3

hyperemisis gravidium

when it effects well being and causes ketoacidosis

Question 4

why do UTIs occur during pregnancy? what is the effect of this?

Answer 4

immunosuppressive effect of the pregnancy

can lead to preterm delivery

Question 5

what is gestational diabetes?

Answer 5

glucose increase greater than normal - after 20 weeks - usually due to increase in hPL

Question 6

what is the difference between gestational diabetes and preexisting diabetes?

Answer 6

gustational diabetes occurs after 20 weeks

Question 7

when is diabetes screened for during pregnancy?

Answer 7

booking- for at risk groups

28-40weeks

Question 8

why is it important to control preexisting diabetes prior to becoming pregnancy?

Answer 8

congenital malformation more likely if there is hyperglycamia in the early weeks - sacral angiogenesis and neural tube defects

Question 9

what changes occur to diabetic mothers during pregnancy?

Answer 9

insulin resistance so increased insulin requireement

poor placental function can lead to foetal distress

Question 10

what is anaemia in pregnancy? what can cause it?

Answer 10

iron level of below 10.5g/dL

• • iron deficiency
• • thalasemia
• • circle cell
• • vitamin B12 deficiency
• • folate deficiency

Question 11

how is anaemia monitored and treated in pregnancy?

Answer 11

check iron levels at booking. 28 and 36 weeks

give ferrous sulphate if low

give transfusion if below 7g/dL and symptomatic

Question 12

what is preeclampsia?

Answer 12

rise in blood pressure by more than 30 systolic/20diastolic, or overall blood pressure of greater than 140/90 by 20w

associated with protieuria

Question 13

what causes preeclampsia and how can it be treated?

Answer 13

disorder of the placenta
high blood pressure causes vasospasm, which causes an increase in TPR
can be caused by increased NO, TNF and free radicals

only way to treat is by delivery and thus removal of the offending placenta

Question 14

what is the weight guidelines for IUGR and macrosomy?

Answer 14

IUGR - less than 2500g

macosomia - greater than 4500g

Question 15

at what gestation is labour classed as premature?

Answer 15

37 w