Diseases of Human Systems - pregnancy & perinatal health Flashcards
what factors affect fertility?
age
smoking & alcohol
BMI
folic acid
Describe the physical changes that occur in pregnancy
Increased weigtht from increase in tissue size, fluid and blood volume.
lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes = GORD
Type 2 diabetes (those who were prone/high risk to developing)
Compression of the bowel and bladder
Describe the hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy
Increased oestrogen
Increased progesterone
These act on the kidney to increase plasma volume by 45%
(increase salt and water retention)
Describe the haematological changes that occur in pregnancy
Increased blood volume - compensates from loss at birth and prevents hypovolaemia.
No increase in Hb its just diluted from the increased volume of blood = artificial anaemia
Describe the cardiovascular changes that occur in pregnancy
Increased HR by 25% - from the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle
Vascular compression of the vena cava and aorta beneath the uterus when lying supine
Describe the coagulation changes that occur in pregnancy
Increased turnover of clotting factors and fibrinolysis to allow the haemorrhagic changed during birth to be addresses rapidly = this increases the risk of DVT.
What foods should pregnant mothers avoid and why?
raw meat and fish - toxoplasmosis
non-pasteurised milk and cheese - listeria
raw eggs - salmonella
malin, tuna, shark = high mercury content
spicy foods/fried foods - worsens GORD
internal organs of slaughtered animals e.g. haggis
What is the placenta?
An interlinking mesh of blood vessels that allows the foetal circulation and maternal circulation to sit closely together and allow nutrients to diffuse but does not mix
What is the danger of the placenta?
Some toxins and infections can diffuse via the placental barrier (some can’t as the molecules are too big i.e. HIV )
If a mother has HIV how can we prevent the infection being passed to the child at birth?
as the foetal and maternal blood mixes during birth - we have to carry out a caesarean
Why is the umbilical chord clamped?
to allow the baby circulation to maintain its own oxygenation
What infectious diseases CAN be passed to babies at BIRTH?
HIV
HEP B
HEP C
what chronic diseases should the mother be screened for during pregnancy?
HT
Diabetes
what infectious diseases should the mother be screened for during pregnancy?
Rubella
Syphilis
HEP
HIV
What is amniocentesis?
taking a sample of amniotic fluid from around the foetus, removing cells from the fluid and examining the genetic sequence within these cells.