Fetal Growth and Development Flashcards
1
Q
gestational age
A
- Dated from first day of last menstrual period (LMP)
- Precedes conception, which occurs approx 2 weeks later
- Gestation takes approx 280 days or 10 “lunar” months or 40 weeks
- Can quickly estimate using Nagle’s rule: +7 days to the LMP date, - 3 months = EDD
- Only 4% of women deliver on their due date
- Divided for convenience into trimesters
2
Q
first trimester
A
- The first 12 weeks from LMP (roughly 10 wks from conception)
- 4 weeks gestation
- CR length 4mm
- Heart starts beating, neural folds fusing
- Disc becomes cylindrical
- Buds of arms, ears, legs and facial/neck structures
- Otic pits form
- Week five
- Brain development, head large relative to truck
- Primitive mouth
- Week six
- Nose, mouth and palate, CR=1cm
- Week seven
- Neck, eyelids, genital tubercle (not differentiated yet
- Distinctly human form
- Week eight
- End of embryonic period, fetal period begins
- Has or male female characteristics
- By end of first trimester, fetus can make respiratory movements, urinate, swallow, move limbs, squint and frown and open mouth
- Beginnings of all structures present
3
Q
the first 2 weeks
A
- Ovulation
- Fertilization
- Formation of zygote (fusion of female and male pronuclei)
- Division of zygote into blastomere cells, then 12 cell morula
- Formation of blastocyst (fluid filled sphere)
- Trophoblastic cell secretes hCG to maintain corpus luteum, which secretes estrogen/progesterone to prevent menstruation
- Implantation – upper endometrial epithelium
- Embryonic laminar develop, start of amniotic cavity and yolk sac, the primitive respiratory/digestive system
- 2 flat layers of cells
- The first of 3 germ layers
4
Q
embryonic period
A
- Starts at third week – beginning of all major internal/external structures established
- Day 15: first missed day of expected period
- Trilaminar disc
- 3 germ layers
-
Ectoderm
- Skin of ext genitalia
- Lower 1/3 of anal canal
- Nervous system primitive streak->neural tube
-
Mesoderm
- Epithelium of gonads, ureters, reproductive ducts
- Most muscle tissue, all connective tissue
- Lymph tissue, spleen, blood cells
- Dermis of skin, teeth (except enamel)
-
Endoderm
- GI tract, epithelium
- Urinary bladder, anorectal canal
- Male urethra, prostate gland
- Female urethra, vaginal epithelium, vestibule
5
Q
second trimester
A
- Weeks 13 through 27
- 13-15 weeks: rapid fetal growth, nails, limb movements, scalp hair pattern, head erect, eyes in position on face
- 20-25 weeks: lanugo, eyebrows, hair, fetus hears sounds, REM, substantial weight gain, by 25 weeks, lean but well proportioned fetus. Weight 600g at 24 weeks
- 16-18 weeks: CRL 4.5-6 inches, skeleton ossifying, 200cc amniotic fluid, brown fat forms, vernix caseosa covers skin, uterus/primordial ovarian follicles, testes beginning to descend
- 22-24 weeks: Blink/startle responses, lungs secrete surfactant
- Viability is reached by end of 24th week with approx. 50% survival
6
Q
third trimester
A
- Weeks 28 through 40
- 26-29 weeks: eyelashes, descent of testes, weight 1050g, 37cm, lungs capable of breathing but surfactant low, survival 90% at 28 weeks.
- 30-34 weeks: pupils respond to light, skin smooth and pink. 1700g at 32 weeks
- 35-38 weeks: fetus orients to light, and has a firm grasp. 36 weeks – lungs mature, skin loses wrinkled appearance, head/abdomen circumferences equal, fetus start to get “plump”
- 40 weeks – “Term” fetus averages 50 cm and 3200-3500g. Chest is prominent, breast tissue protrudes slightly. BPD 9.5 cm (hence the need for cervical dilation to 10 cm) Full term considered 37-42 weeks.
7
Q
normal growth
A
- Reflects the interaction of the fetus’ genetically predetermined growth potential and it’s modulation by the health of the fetus, placenta and mother
- 3 phases
- Cellular hyperplasia (first 16 weeks)
- Concomitant hyperplasia and hypertrophy (weeks 16-32)
- Cellular hypertrophy (32 weeks to term)
8
Q
factors influencing growth rate
A
- Poverty
- Maternal age
- Substances – drugs, EtoH, nicotine
- Maternal nutrition
- Disease
- Psychological effects on pregnancy
- Environmental toxins
9
Q
evaluating fetal growth
A
- Establish GA as early as possible
- Using hx, LMP, early US (CRL more accurate than gestational sac diameter, yolk sac visible at 5 weeks)
- Cardiac activity establishes GA of 5.5-6 weeks
- Head circumference, femur length, abd circumference
- Use of multiple markers for gestational age most accurate
- Biometric images MOST useful for obtaining EDD in FIRST 20 weeks of pregnancy
- After 20 weeks:
- Monitor weight gain
- Measure uterine size/fundal height at each visit
- Serial US as needed
10
Q
size-dates discrepancy
A
- S>D
- Inaccurate dating
- Large for gestational age (LGA)
- Multiple gestation
- Polyhydramnios
- Molar pregnancy (1st tri)
- Uterine anomaly (fibroid)
- Congenital anomaly
- S<d>
<li>Inaccurate dating</li>
<li>Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)</li>
<li>Oligohydramnios</li>
<li>Congenital anomaly</li>
<li>Chronic maternal disease</li>
<li>Viral infection</li>
</d>
11
Q
large for gestational age (LGA)
A
- Birth weight >90th percentile, over 4000g (8lbs 13oz) (usually above 97th percentile, reflecting infants with greatest risk of perinatal morbity/mortality. ACOG suggests >4500g
- Macrosomia – grades 1-3 (birth weight >4000g)
- Incidence – about 7% American babies (2008)
- Risk factors
- Mothers who were LGA/obese/excessive wt gain
- GDM
- Postdates
- H/o large babies/previous macrosomic infant
- Male sex
- Race (Hispanic/African American)
- Genetic abnormalities/syndromes (Beckwith-Wiedemann)
12
Q
LGA complications
A
- Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)
- Labor dystocia/prolonged labor
- Shoulder dystocia, birth injuries
- Maternal soft tissue damage/lacerations
- Increased C/S
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Stillbirth, esp with grade 3 macrosomia (5000g)
- Neonatal complications
- Low Apgar, need for mechanical ventilation, RDS
- Hypoglycemia, perinatal asphyxia
- Hematologic abnormalities/polycythemia
13
Q
prenatal managment and prognosis of LGA
A
- Prenatal Management
- Screen for GDM if not already done
- US to r/o polyhydramnios, molar pregnancy, fibroids
- Serial US to monitor growth
- Anticipate cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) and sequelae
- Anticipate shoulder dystocia
- Anticipate postpartum hemorrhage
- Offer delivery at 38 wks if possible macrosomia
- Offer elective C/S
- Alert peds at delivery
- Prognosis
- Risk of subsequent LGA baby
- Increased risk of diabetes eventually in child
- Neonatal complications and sequelae
- Increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, CV disease? in child
14
Q
IUGR
A
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction/FGR (Fetal Growth Restriction)
- Impaired or restricted intrauterine growth
- Significant because there is an inverse relationship between fetal/neonatal weight percentile and perinatal mortality
- Not to be confused with small-for-gestational age (SGA)
-
Neonatal diagnosis of size below the 10th percentile
- Usually genetic or due to inadequate nutrition
-
Neonatal diagnosis of size below the 10th percentile
15
Q
IUGR risk factors
A
- Poor nutrition/weight gain
- Vascular disease/HTN
- Renal disease
- Infection
- Genetic abnormality
- Multiple gestation
- Placental problems
- Pregestational diabetic
- Drug use/smoking/EtoH
- Hypoxemia/anemia
- Late onset prenatal care
- Low SES
- Prothrombotic disorders
- ART
16
Q
IUGR: symmetrical, asymmetrical, complications
A
-
Symmetrical (20-25%) “global growth restriction”
- Compromised growth in length, head circumference and weight
- More likely to have permanent neuro sequelae
- TORCH infections
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Substance abuse
-
Asymmetrical (70%)
- Decreased length and weight, but normal head circumference aka head-sparing (lack of fat, normal growth first 2 trimesters)
- HTN, malnutrition, Pre-eclampsia
-
Complications
- Increased risk fetal distress
- Meconium staining
- Increased perinatal morbidity and mortality