Female Health Flashcards
What is labour defined as?
Onset of regular and painful contractions associated with cervical dilation and descent of the presenting part
Signs of labour
- regular and painful uterine contractions
- a show (shedding of mucous plug)
- rupture of the membranes (not always)
- shortening and dilation of the cervix
Stages of labour
Stage 1: from the onset of true labour to when the cervix is fully dilated
Stage 2: from full dilation to delivery of the fetus
Stage 3: from delivery of fetus to when the placenta and membranes have been completely delivered
What do you monitor in labour?
- FHR monitored every 15min (or continuously via CTG)
- Contractions assessed every 30min
- Maternal pulse rate assessed every 60min
- Maternal BP and temp should be checked every 4 hours
- VE should be offered every 4 hours to check progression of labour
- Maternal urine should be checked for ketones and protein every 4 hours
What is the normal delivery position?
The head normally delivers in an occipito-anterior position
When is instrumental delivery indicated?
If longer than 1 hour (can be left longer if epidural) consider Ventouse extraction, forceps delivery or caesarean section
What is the indication for elective c-section?
Breech
>2 previous CS
maternal request
Indication for emergency c-section
- Foetal distress
- Failure to progress
- cord prolapse
- footling breech
Indications for induction of labour
- prolonged pregnancy, e.g. 1-2 weeks after the estimated date of delivery
- prelabour premature rupture of the membranes, where labour does not start
- diabetic mother > 38 weeks
- pre-eclampsia
- rhesus incompatibility
what score is used to induce labour?
Bishop score
Methods of induction of labour
- membrane sweep
- vaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)
- maternal oxytocin infusion
- amniotomy (‘breaking of waters’)
- cervical ripening balloon
Define HTN in pregnancy
systolic > 140 mmHg or diastolic > 90 mmHg
- -> No proteinuria, no oedema
- -> Resolves following birth (typically after one month).
Management of pregnancy induced HTN
- methyldopa, labetalol, nifedipine
- -> Severe HTN: IV hydralazine or labetalol
–> Contraindications: ACEi, ARB, Thiazide-like diuretic
- Aspirin 75mg od from 12 weeks until the birth of the baby for HIGH RISK GROUP
Who are at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia?
- hypertensive disease during previous pregnancies
- chronic kidney disease
- autoimmune disorders such as SLE or antiphospholipid syndrome
- type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
What is pre-eclampsia?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension in association with proteinuria
Classic signs of pre-eclampsia
- Proteinuria
- High BP
- Oedema
Other signs & symptoms of pre-eclampsia
- Headache and visual disturbance (floaters)
- RUQ pain (liver)
- Acute onset oedema
- Hyper-reflexia (brisk reflexes) & clonus
Management of pre-eclampsia
Control BP
- refer to maternity unit
Post-partum management of pre-eclampsia
- Remains at risk of eclampsia despite delivery (first 5 days)
- Continue antihypertensives for 1-2weeks –> GP weans off medications
What is eclampsia?
Grand mal seizures in a woman with preeclampsia
Management of eclampsia
emergency delivery of baby
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy
- Severe lower abdominal pain – usually unilateral
- PV bleeding
- Vomiting
Symptoms of ruptured ectopic pregnancy
- Shoulder tip pain
- Feeling faint/light-headed
- Collapse
Investigation for ectopic pregnancy
Diagnostic = Transvaginal USS
Management of ectopic pregnancy
- Medical – Methotrexate
- -> Stops development of pregnancy - Surgical – Salpingectomy
- -> Removal of fallopian tube containing the ectopic pregnancy
- -> Usually laparoscopic unless haemodynamically unstable
What is the most common cause of severe infection in neonates?
Group B Streptococcal disease (GBS)
What is gestational diabetes?
High blood sugars that develop during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery.
Screening for gestational diabetes
Oral glucose tolerance test
- fasting glucose is >= 5.6 mmol/L
- 2-hour glucose is >= 7.8 mmol/L
Management gestational diabetes
- plasma glucose < 7 mmol/l = trial of diet and exercise
- if target not met within 1-2 weeks = start metformin
- if targets still not met = start insulin with metformin + exercise
- plasma glucose > 7 mmol/l insulin
Targets for self monitoring
Fasting = 5.3 mmol/l
1 hour after meals = 7.8 mmol/l, or:
2 hour after meals = 6.4 mmol/l
Abortion time frame
<24 weeks – can be maternal choice
> 24 weeks if risk to maternal or foetal health
Medical TOP:
At how many weeks?
What medication?
Less than 9 weeks = mifepristone (an anti-progestogen) followed 48 hours later by prostaglandins to stimulate uterine contractions
Surgical TOP:
At how many weeks?
What method?
- less than 13 weeks: surgical dilation and suction of uterine contents
- more than 15 weeks: surgical dilation and evacuation of uterine contents or late medical abortion (induces ‘mini-labour’)
Define abruptio placenta
Separation of a normally sited placenta from the uterine wall
–> resulting in maternal haemorrhage into the intervening space
Clinical features of abruptio placenta
- pain constant + PVB *
- shock out of keeping with visible loss
- tender, tense uterus
- normal lie and presentation
- foetal heart: absent/distressed
- coagulation problems
- beware pre-eclampsia, DIC, anuria
Investigations in abruptio placenta
FBC + USS
Management of abruptio placenta
- Urgent referral
- Foetus alive and < 36 weeks
- foetal distress: immediate caesarean
- no foetal distress: observe closely, steroids, no tocolysis, threshold to deliver depends on gestation - Foetus alive and > 36 weeks
- foetal distress: immediate caesarean
- no foetal distress: deliver vaginally - Foetus dead
- induce vaginal delivery
Maternal complications of abruptio placenta
- shock
- DIC
- renal failure
- PPH
Foetal complications of abruptio placenta
Hypoxia
Death
Define placenta praevia
placenta lying wholly or partly in the lower uterine segment
Clinical features of placenta praevia
- shock in proportion to
- visible loss
- no pain
- uterus not tender
- lie and presentation may be abnormal
- fetal heart usually normal
- small bleeds before large
Investigations for placenta praevia
Usually picked up on 20- week USS
–> transvaginal USS (improves accuracy on placental localisation)
Management of low-lying placenta at 20 week scan
- Rescan at 34 weeks
- if placenta praevia at 34 weeks, scan every 2 weels
- final USS at 36-37 week to determine method of delivery
- grades III/IV = elective c-section between 37-38 weeks
- if grade I = vaginal delivery
- if in labour prior to elective c-section, then emergency c-section due to risk of PPH
Management of placenta praevia with bleeding
- Admit
- ABC approach to stabilise the woman
- if not able to stabilise → emergency caesarean section
- if in labour or term reached → emergency caesarean section
Define Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)
blood loss of > 500mls
Types of PPH
Primary: occurs within 24 hours
Secondary:
occurs between 24 hours - 12 weeks
Symptom of PPH
Uncontrolled PV bleeding
Causes of PPH
- Tone - Uterine atony (failure of uterus to contract down post delivery) (primary)
- Trauma - perineal trauma (primary)
- Tissue - retained placenta (secondary)
- Thrombosis- clotting disorder (primary)
Management of PPH
- ABC including two peripheral cannulae, 14 gauge
- IV syntocinon (oxytocin) 10 units or IV ergometrine 500 micrograms
- IM carboprost
- if medical options fail to control the bleeding then surgical options
- intrauterine balloon tamponade (1st line ) = uterine atony
- other options include: B-Lynch suture, ligation of the uterine arteries or internal iliac arteries
- if severe, uncontrolled haemorrhage then a hysterectomy is sometimes performed as a life-saving procedure
Define premature rupture of membranes
Rupture of the amniotic sac prior to the commencement of labour.
Investigation for PROM
Speculum examination
Pelvic USS
Management of PROM
- Admission
- regular observations to ensure chorioamnionitis is not developing
- oral erythromycin should be given for 10 days
- antenatal corticosteroids should be administered to reduce the risk of respiratory distress syndrome
- delivery should be considered at 34 weeks of gestation
What is Rh incompatability?
Rhesus sensitisation
- When a mothers Rh-ve blood mixes with foetal Rh+ve blood
- Mothers immune system develops antibodies against Rh+ve RBCs
This may lead to haemolytic disease of the new-born in future pregnancies:
- -> If in their next pregnancy the foetus is Rh+ve
- -> Antibodies attack RBCs -> haemolytic anaemia & neonatal jaundice
What tests need to be carried out in rh incompatability?
- all babies born to Rh -ve mother should have cord blood taken at delivery for FBC, blood group & direct Coombs test
- Coombs test: direct antiglobulin, will demonstrate antibodies on RBCs of baby
Management of rh incompatability
Prophylactic anti-D at 28 & 34/40 + if any bleeding antenatally
Features for rh incompatibility in affected foetus
- oedematous (hydrops fetalis, as liver devoted to RBC production albumin falls)
- jaundice, anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly
- heart failure
What is shoulder dystocia?
- complication of vaginal cephalic delivery.
2. inability to deliver the body of the foetus using gentle traction, the head having already been delivered.
Risk factors for shoulder dystocia
- Previous shoulder dystocia
- Diabetes
- BMI >30
- Macrosomia (large baby)
Management of shoulder dystocia
- Senior help should be called as soon as shoulder dystocia is identified
- McRoberts’ manoeuvre should be performed:
this manoeuvre entails flexion and abduction of the maternal hips, bringing the mother’s thighs towards her abdomen - An episiotomy will not relieve the bony obstruction but is sometimes used to allow better access for internal manoeuvres.
- C-section
Complications of shoulder dystocia
maternal
- postpartum haemorrhage
- perineal tears
fetal
- brachial plexus injury
- neonatal death
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?
- Family hx of BRCA1/2 gene mutation
- many ovulations: early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity
Clinical features of ovarian cancer
Usually vague:
- abdo distension + bloating
- abdo + pelvic pain
- urinary symptoms (urgency)
- early satiety
- diarrhoea
Investigations for ovarian cancer
- CA125 test
- -> raised: urgent USS of abdo + pelvis
- -> usually raised in endometriosis, menstruation, ovarian cysts - Diagnostic laparotomy
Management of ovarian cancer
Combo of surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy
What is breast abscess?
localized collection of pus within the breast
- more common in lactating women
Features of breast abscess
- Red, hot tender swelling
2. O/E : tender fluctuant mass
Diagnosis of breast abscess
USS
Treatment for breast absecess
Abx + USS guided aspiration
What are breast fibroadenoma?
- Breast tissues are arranged into lobules which are milk secreting glands
- Fibroadenomas occur due to increase in size of these milk secreting glands.
- Fibroadenomas are benign breast tumours that are thought to occur due to hormonal fluctuations.
Features of breast fibroadenoma
Mobile, firm, smooth, non-tender breast lump - a ‘breast mouse’
Management of breast fibroadenoma
- Referral to breast clinic
- Usually self-limiting
> 3cm = surgical excision
Investigations for breast fibroadenoma
USS if pt < 40, mammogram & needle biopsy
Features of fibrocystic disease
- ‘Lumpy’ breasts which may be painful.
- Symptoms may worsen prior to menstruation
Investigations for fibrocystic disease
USS/ mammogram if suspecting breast cancer
Management for fibrocystic disease
Conservative : Pain relief
What is mastitis?
Mastitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the breast.
–> usually occurs in lactating women