Labor Complications Flashcards
is an emergency situation that can occur at the end of labor. It happens when the infant’s head is delivered and the shoulder gets stuck behind the pubic bone of the mother. It is typically associated with large for gestational age infants and maternal obesity.
Shoulder dystopia
Risks of shoulder dystopia
Infants born with shoulder dystocia are at risk for:
-Brachial plexus injury and nerve damage
-Fractured clavicles
-Fractured humerus
-Birth injuries (e.g., contusions, lacerations)
-Birth asphyxia
When a portion of the umbilical cord falls past the fetal head during labor the cord becomes compressed. A compressed cord reduces the blood and oxygen flow to the fetus, causing a medical emergency in which delivery is the only intervention.
Umbilical cord prolapse
Umbilical cord prolapse risks
Infants with a prolapsed umbilical cord are at risk for:
Fetal distress
Hypoxia
Asphyxia
Death
is described as any fetal presentation other than vertex (top of the head down). Malpresentation can lead to prolonged labor, alterations in fetal heart rate, birth injury and cesarean delivery.
Fetal mal presentation
Fetal mal presentation
Fetal Malpresentation risks
Premature birth
Birth trauma
Asphyxia
Death
Risks of prolonged labor
Fetal distress
Asphyxia related events
Meconium passage in utero
Death
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) affects the infant’s central nervous system and the infant of a mother who received MgSO4 should be monitored closely
for respiratory distress, hypotonia, lethargy and low blood pressure.
Infants born to a mother with uncontrolled asthma may be at increased risk for:
Premature birth
Low birth weight/small for gestation age (SGA)
Respiratory distress
Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)
Infants who are born to mothers that were treated with chemotherapy may be at increased risk for:
Low birth weight/SGA
Premature birth
Cardiac problems
Infants born to a mother with uncontrolled blood sugars may be at risk for:
Prematurity
Large for gestational age (LGA)
Birth defects
Neonatal hypoglycemia
Neonatal hypoglycemia may present in the infant as
jitteriness, irritability, weak cry, poor feeding, decreased tone/lethargy, apnea or low body temperature.
Infants born to a mother with epilepsy may be at risk of:
Fetal heart rate decelerations
Fetal injury
Premature birth
Drug-related conditions
Infants born to a mother with heart disease may be at risk of:
Premature birth
Fetal growth restriction
Respiratory distress syndrome
Congenital heart disease
Neonatal death
Drug-related conditions
Infants born to a mother with lupus may be at increased risk for:
Premature birth
Low birth weight
Neonatal lupus with congenital heart block
Hydrops fetalis (fetal hydrops)
Infant risk if mom has hyperthyroidism
Fetal growth restriction
Premature birth
Thyroid conditions
Los birth weight
Infant risk for hypothyroidism
Fetal growth restriction
Intellectual disability
Low birth weight
SSRI use during pregnancy may place the infant at risk for
Birth defects
Premature birth
Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)
Lower Apgar scores
Respiratory distress
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in life
Developmental delays
Infants born to a mother with gestational diabetes may be at risk for:
Large for gestational age
Birth injuries (e.g., shoulder dystocia, head trauma from use of vacuum/forceps)
Neonatal hypoglycemia
Respiratory distress
Polycythemia
Hyperbilirubinemia/jaundice
Feeding difficulties
Infants delivered to a mother with gestational hypertension may have:
Premature birth
Low birth weight/fetal growth restriction
Respiratory distress
Preeclampsia can place the newborn at risk for:
Low birth weight
Premature birth
Respiratory distress
Low blood sugar
Stillbirth
HELLP SYNDROME
H: Hemolysis
EL: elevated liver enzymes
LP: low platelet count
Infants delivered to a mother with HELLP syndrome may have:
Premature birth
Low birth weight/fetal growth restriction
Low white blood cell counts
Low platelet counts
