COMPLICATIONS of PREGNANCY and DELIVERY Flashcards
Week 2
What are 7 risk factors that affect pregnancy?
- Being older than 35
- Being younger than 20
- Smoking cigarettes/drinking alcohol
- Being pregnant with twin, triplets, or more
- Having a hx. of miscarriage
- Having obesity
- Having anorexia
What are some things that you would do/assess to determine a problem in an OB patient?
- Assess the abdomen
- Vital signs
- Contractions
- Fluid colors
- Listen when the patient says “something feels wrong”
- Watch for potential seizures
What are 7 health conditions that can complicate pregnancy?
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- High blood pressure (HTN)
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Kidney problems
- Epilepsy
- Anemia
What are the 3 main 1st trimester complications?
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Hyperemesis
What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
A condition where the fertilized egg implants outside your uterus (usually in your fallopian tube 90% of the time)
When is an Ectopic Pregnancy usually diagnosed? When does it most often occur?
An ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed before 12 weeks and it occurs most often around 6 weeks
What are 5 causes of an Ectopic Pregnancy?
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Intrauterine device
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Advanced maternal age
- Tobacco use
Regarding and Ectopic Pregnancy, what is the “Classic Clinical Triad” of symptom presentation?
- Pain
- Amenorrhea
- Vaginal Bleeding
When ruptured, an Ectopic Pregnancy patient will present with hypotension and shock…What affect does this potentially have on the Cardiac System?
Bradycardia or a lack of Tachycardia in the hypovolemic patient
What is a Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion)?
A loss of pregnancy that occurs naturally before 20 weeks
What is the most common cause of a Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion)? How common are they?
- Chromosomal problems/abnormalities
- They are common in about 1 in 4 pregnancies
How does a patient experiencing a Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion) usually present?
- Potentially shows signs of hypovolemic shock (low blood pressure, pale, bradycardia…etc..)
- Vaginal bleeding (light or with clots, tissue, and/or cramping that occurs for approx. 1 week)
- Massive bleeding with hypovolemia
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
It is a condition where a pregnant patient experiences severe nausea and vomiting
What are 4 things that Hyperemesis Gravidarum can cause?
- Dehydration
- Vertigo
- Weight loss
- Preterm labor
What causes Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
High levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
What are five 2cd and 3rd trimester complications?
- Pre-eclampsia
- Eclampsia
- Gestational Diabetes
- Placenta Previa
- Abruptio Placenta
What is Pre-eclampsia? When does it occur?
A hypertensive disorder, characterized by HBP & signs of damage to another organ system (kidney/liver) that occurs after 20 weeks but, it can also develop up to 10 weeks after delivery
What are some signs and symptoms of Pre-eclampsia?
- BP > 140/90
- Severe headache
- Blurred vision
- Upper abdominal pain
- Nausea/vomiting
- Edema
- SOB
- Decreased urine output
What are 6 risk factors for Pre-eclampsia?
- Hx. of Pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy or family hx.
- First pregnancy (primigravida)
- Significant health hx. before pregnancy (diabetes, lupus, HBP, kidney disease, etc..)
- Obese (BMI > 30)
- Having more than 1 baby (twins, triplets, etc..)
- Age (young < 18 or advanced > 35)
What is Eclampsia?
It is the onset of seizures in a pregnant patient with Pre-eclampsia; when a pregnant patient suffering from HBP experiences 1 or more convulsions
What are 4 signs and symptoms of Eclampsia?
- SEIZURES!!!
- HBP
- CONVULSIONS!!!
- Blurred vision
How would you treat a patient with Eclampsia?
- Recognize the signs/symptoms
- Treat the underlying symptoms
- Provide supportive care
What is Gestational Diabetes?
It is diabetes that is caused by pregnancy due to carbohydrate metabolism
When a pregnant person has Gestational Diabetes, how does it affect the production and use of insulin?
It causes the pregnant patient to not be able to produce and use all the insulin that is needed
Why is it that pregnant patients that have Gestational Diabetes commonly give birth to “larger” babies?
Because the excess glucose form the lack of insulin production/usage is transferred to the fetus and stored as fat
What are some signs and symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Frequent bladder and skin infections
- Yeast infections
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
What is Placenta Previa?
It is when the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix
When does Placenta Previa occur?
It can occur when blastocyst implants too close to the cervix
What color is bleeding with Placenta Previa?
Painless, bright red bleeding
What are 9 Risk Factors for Placenta Previa?
- Previously had a baby
- Had a previous C-Section Delivery
- Scars on uterus from a previous surgery or procedure
- Had placenta previa with previous pregnancy
- IVF treatment
- Carrying more than one fetus
- Age 35 or older
- Smoke cigarettes
- Use cocaine
What are some signs and symptoms of Placenta Previa?
It is typically asymptomatic but can often produce bright red bleeding
What is Abruptio Placenta?
Partial/full detachment of the placenta at 20 weeks
When does Abruptio Placenta occur?
When vascular structures are torn away from the uterine lining
What does a patient experiencing Abruptio Placenta usually complain of?
Severe, sometimes tearing, abdominal pain …. bleeding can sometimes be a complaint but not always
What are 6 risk factors for Abruptio Placenta/
- Trauma
- Multiple fetuses
- Short umbilical cord
- Previous c-section(s)
- Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
- Age of 35 years or older
What are 3 signs/symptoms of Abruptio Placenta?
- +/- Vaginal bleeding
- Contractions do not relax
- Abdominal pain
How do you as a Paramedic treat Abruptio Placenta?
You treat the underling symptoms and rapidly transport the patient
What is an Amniotic Fluid Embolism?
It is when amniotic fluid, fetal cells, hair, or other debris enters into the maternal pulmonary circulation, causing cardiovascular collapse
True or False: an Amniotic Fluid Embolism is uncommon and catastrophic and typically occurs in labor or 30 minutes after delivery
True
How can a patient experiencing an Amniotic Fluid Embolism present (Signs and Symptoms)?
Much like a massive PE with dyspnea
1. Increased WOB
2. Hypoxia
3. Hypotension
4. Possibly cardiac arrest (PEA rhythm)
5. Chills/vomiting
6. Sudden SOB
What are 10 risk factors for an Amniotic Fluid Embolism?
- Older than 35 years of age
- Experiencing a multiple fetus pregnancy
- Fetal distress
- Issues with the placenta (like placental abruption)
- Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
- Polyhydramnios
- Labor induction, medications or procedures
- Having a c-section delivery
- Cervical tears
- Operative assisted deliveries (forceps delivery, vacuum extraction)
What is Vertex Presentation?
It is when the fetus is facing head down (face to butt)
With regards to the delivery of twins, post-partum hemorrhage is a possibility. This can cause overdistention of the uterus and may result in uterine atony. What medication can you as a Paramedic give to help with this complication?
Oxytocin
When you are delivering twins, what is the appropriate time to clamp the cord?
After the delivery of the 1st twin
What are the 2 types of twins?
- Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
- Identical (monozygotic) twins
What are 3 complications of being pregnant with twins?
- Smaller than anticipated birth weight
- Fundal height remains high
- Fetal parts may be able to be palpated through the abdomen
What is considered a Premature Birth?
A birth that is pre-37 weeks gestation
Why does a pre-mature birth baby usually have poor lung compliance (hard to squeeze BVM)?
Because their lungs lack surfactant (alveoli are not fully formed)