Labor and Delivery Complications Flashcards
What is considered preterm labor?
- prior to 37 wks
- MC cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in US
- regular uterine contractions assoc with cervical change
RFs for preterm labor?
- multiple gestation
- prior preterm birth
- preterm uterine contractions
- PROM
- low maternal prepregnancy wt
- smoking
- substance abuse
- short interpregnancy interval
- infection (UTI, genital tract, periodontal disease)
PP of preterm labor?
- activation of maternal or fetal HPA axis due to maternal or fetal stress - stress onset of physiologic initiators
- deciual-choioamniotic or systemic inflammation caused by infection: uterine or systemic infection and release of inflammatory cytokines
- decidual hemorrhage: abruption
- pathologic uterine distenstion: multiple preg, polyhydramnios, uterine abnormality
What are signs and sxs of preterm labor?
- menstrual like cramps
- low, dull backache
- abdominal pressure
- pelvic pressure
- abdominal cramping w/ or w//o diarrhea
- increase or change in vaginal d/c (mucous, water, light bloody d/c)
- uterine contractions (may be painless)
Pt eval for preterm labor?
- fetal monitoring
- UA, test for Group B strep, CBC
- US:
eval amt of amniotic fluid, est cervical length if less than 26 wks - amniocentesis:
not a routine test, can determine intramniotic infection, may be used to determine fetal lung maturity
Management of preterm labor?
- primary goal is to delay delivery until fetal maturity is attained
- detection and tx of disorder assoc with preterm labor
- therapy for preterm labor
What are the meds used in preterm labor?
- tocolytics: meds to stop preterm labor CCBs (nifedipine) NSAIDs (indocin) B-adrenergoc receptor agonists (terbutaline) Mg sulfate
CIs to tocolytics?
- advanced labor
- mature fetus
- severely abnormal fetus or fetal demise
- intrauterine infection
- significant vaginal bleeding
- severe preeclampsia or eclampsia
- placental abruption
- advanced cervical dilation
- fetal compromise
- placental insufficiency
When are corticosteroids used? Why are they used?
- from 24-34 wks
- corticosteroids given to mother to enhance fetal lung maturity
- max benefit if given w/in 7 days of delivery
- dosing over 48 hrs
- reduces:
fetal respiratory distress
intraventricular hemorrhage
necrotizing enterocolitis
What is group B strep? When is this screened for?
- genital tract colonization of 15-40% of preg. women
- universal screening for GBS b/t 35-36 wks gestation
- if positive administer abx prophylaxis in labor or with PROM
- or if preg mother has had prior infant with GBS infection
Meds for GBS abx prophylaxis?
- PCN G 5 mill U UV followed by 2.5-3 million U q 4 hrs until delivery
- best if given 4 hrs prior to delivery
- if PCN allergy then:
cefazolin (in no h/o anaphylaxis to PCN)
or clindamycin
or vancomycin
Why is tx GBS so impt?
- prevents group B sepsis of neonate
- in mother: prevents postpartum endometritis, sepsis and rare cases meningitis
- may have asx bacturia during pregnancy and that should be tx
What is dystocia?
- abnormal progression of labor or also referred to as failure to progress
- leading indication for c-section
- defined as lack of progressive cervical dilation of lack of descent of fetal head in birth canal or both
Eval of labor: why is there dystocia?
- is uterus contracting accurately (need internal monitor)
- what is fetal position?
- is there indication of cephalopelvic disproportion?
- what is fetal status? FHR
- is there concern for chorioamnionitis - fever, abdominal pain, or foul smelling amniotic fluid?
Normal progression of labor?
- cervix should dilate:
1 cm/hr in nulliparous
1.5 cm/hr in multiparous
fetus should descend at least 1 cm/hr:
- shouldn’t be longer than 3 hrs if regional anesthesia
- shouldn’t be longer than 2 hrs if no anesthesia
- 2nd stage arrest is no descent after 1 hr of pushing
Management of dystocia?
- observation
- augmentation: amniotomy, oxytocin (pitocin)
- c-section: maternal or fetal distress, or unstable condition of mother (fever, tachy, signs of infection)
What is amniotomy? Risks?
- manual rupture of membranes with a hook
- risks: FHR deceleration due to cord compression, increased incidence of chorioamnionitis
MOA of oxytocin? Risks?
- pitocin drip per protocol - with increasing amt
- increases uterine activity (contractions) which in turn should result in cervical change and descent
- risk: hypertonic uterus, avoid more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes as this can cause decreased blood flow (O2) to fetus
What are the indications for a c-section?
top 3:
- failure to progress during labor
- nonreassuring fetal status
- fetal malpresentation
- abnormal placentation
- maternal infection (HIV, HSV)
- multiple gestation
- fetal bleeding diathesis
- umbilical cord prolapse
- macrosomia
- obstruction of birth canal (fibroid, condyloma accuminata)
- uterine rupture
What is an assisted vaginal delivery?
- forceps or vacuum extraction (doesn’t allow baby to regress back into uterus)
indications: - when mother’s pushing and uterine contractions are insufficient to deliver the infant
- sudden onset of severe maternal or fetal compromise and mother is fully dilated and effaced
Complications of assisted delivery?
forceps:
- mother: perioneal trauma, hematoma, pelvic floor injury
- baby: injuries to brain or spine, MSK injury, corneal abrasian, shoulder dystocia in larger infants
vacuum:
- mother: less maternal trauma than forceps
- baby: Intracranial hemorrhage, subgaleal hematoma, scalp laceration, hyperbilirubinemia, retinal hemorrhage, cephalhematoma
What is umbilical cord prolapse (UCP)?
- rare, but serious condition
- umbilical cord is palpable on vaginal exam, it proceeds the presenting part
- pressure on the cord causes fetal bradycardia and can eventually cause fetal demise
Management of UCP?
prompt delivery usually by c-section
maneuvers to reduce cord pressure:
-examiner’s hand maintained in vagina to elevate presenting part off cord while arrangements are made for emergency c-section
- pt is placed in steep trendelenberg position
- filling bladder w/ 500-700 ml of NS
- giving a tocolytic such as terbutaline to stop contractions
How common is shoulder dystocia? PP? What can precipitate it?
- occurs in 1-3% of all births
- ob emergency
- defined as the need for additional obstetric maneuvers to effect delivery of the shoulders at the time of vaginal birth
- PP: if the fetal shoulders remain in an anterior-post position during descent or descend simultaneously the anterior shoulder can become impacted behind the PS
- fetal macrosomia can precipitate it