Labour and delivery Flashcards
how is postpartum haemorrhage defined and classified
-500ml after vaginal delivery
-1000ml after c section
-Minor PPH : <1000ml
-Major : >1000ml
-Moderate PPH : 1000-2000ml
-Severe : >2000ml
what are 4 causes of postpartum haemorrhage (4 T’s)
T : Tone : uterine atony (most common)
T : Trauma (e.g. perianal tear)
T : Tissue (retained placenta)
T : Thrombin (bleeding disorder)
what are the mechanical management options of PPH
- Fundal massage to stimulate uterine contractions.
- Catheterisation
what are the medical management options of PPH
- IV oxytocin : slow injection then continuous infusion.
- Ergometrine (IV or IM)
- Carboprost IM
- Misoprostol (sublingual)
- Tranexamic acid (IV)
what are the surgical management options of PPH
- Intrauterine balloon tamponade
- B-lynch suture around uterus
- Uterine artery ligation
- Hysterectomy
what is secondary postpartum haemorrhage and what investigations and management is involved
Bleeding from 24 hrs to 12 wks
Usually caused by RPOC or infection
Ix : USS + endocervical and high vaginal swabs
Mx : surgical evaluation of retained products of conception, Abx for infection.
when is ergometrine CI in management of PPH
-> HTN
when is carboprost CI in the management of PPH
-> Asthma
What are the 3 stages of delivery
-1st : true contractions until 10cm cervical dilation
-2nd : 10cm cervical dilation until delivery
-3rd : from delivery until delivery of placenta
What are the 3 stages of the 1st stage of pregnancy ?
-latent : 0 to 3cm dilation. Irregular contractions
-Active : 3cm to 7cm dilation. Regular contractions
-Transition : 7cm to 10cm. Strong, regular contractions
What are braxton-hicks contractions
Occasional irregular contractions of the uterus during the second and third trimester
What are 4 signs of the onset of labour
Show (mucus plug from cervix)
Rupture of membranes
Regular, painful contractions
Dilating cervix on examination
give the 5 definitions referring to the rupture of membranes in pregnancy
-> ROM : amniotic sac rupture
-> SROM : rupture spontaneously
-> PROM - prelabour rupture: rupture before onset of labour
-> P-PROM (preterm, prelabour) : ruptured before onset of labour & before 37 weeks gestation (preterm)
-PROM - prolonged rupture : ruptures >18 hrs before delivery
what 2 things can be done if a woman has a cervical length of <25mm between 16 and 24 wks for prohpylaxis of preterm labour
- Vaginal progesterone (oral or pessary)
-Cervical cerclage : putting a stitch in the cervix (done if previous premature birth or cervical trauma)
What is done in preterm prelabour rupture of membranes
- Amniotic sac ruptures before onset of labour and before 37 wks
- Diagnosed : if not with speculum, check IGFBP-a on vaginal fluid
- Prophylactic erythromycin 250mg 4x daily for 10 days to prevent chorioamnionitis
- Induction of labour may be offered from 34 wks to initiate onset of labour
What are 5 options for managing preterm labour with intact membranes to improve outcomes
-Fetal monitoring
-Tocolysis with nifedipine : CCB that suppresses labour.
-Maternal corticosteroids : before 35 wks, reduce neonatal morbidity
-IV magnesium sulphate : before 34wks to protect brain
-Delayed cord clamping or cord milking : increases circulating blood volume and Hb in the baby
What is tocolysis
-Medications to stop uterine contractions in labour with intact membranes
-CCB : nifedipine
Can be used between 24 and 33+6 wks gestation in preterm to delay delivery
What maternal steroids are used in suspected preterm labour of babies <36 wks
2 doses of IM betamethasone 24 hrs apart
When is IV magnesium sulphate given in preterm babies
within 24 hrs of delivery of babies <34 wks gestation
reduces risk and severity of cerebral palsy
what are 3 key signs of magnesium toxicity in the mother?
reduced resp rate
reduced blood pressure
absent reflexes
What scoring is used to determine whether to induce labour?
Bishop
Fetal station
Cervical position, dilation, effecement and consistency
8 or more = successful induction of labour
what are the 4 options for inducing labour and when is it offered
- membrane sweep
- vaginal prostaglandin E2
- cervical ripening balloon
- artificial rupture of membranes with oxytocin infusion
Offered between 41 and 42 wks gestation
What 2 ways are women monitored in the induction of labour
-cardiotocography (CTG) : fetal HR and uterine contractions
-Bishop score
what is the main complication of labour induction with vaginal prostaglandins
uterine hyperstimulation -> prolonged and frequent uterine contractions causing fetal distress and compromise
What are the risks of uterine hyperstimulation
fetal hypoxia and acidosis
emergency c section
uterine rupture
how is uterine hyperstimulation managed
remove vaginal prostaglandins
tocolysis with terbutaline
what is CTG used for
to measure fetal heart rate and uterine contraction
what are accelerations, decelerations and variability on a CTG?
- > accelerations : periods where fetal heart spikes & is generally normal
-> decelerations : where fetal heart drops in response to hypoxia
-> variability : how the fetal HR goes up and down around the baseline
what baseline fetal HR is reassuring on a CTG
110-160
what baseline fetal HR on a CTG is non-reassuring and abnormal
- Non reassuring : 100-109 or 161-180
- Abnormal : below 100 or above 180
what variability in fetal HR on CTG is reassuring
5-25
what variability in fetal HR on CTG is non reassuring and abnormal
- Non reassuring : <5 for 30-50 mins or >25 for 15-25 mins
- Abnormal : <5 for over 50 mins
or >25 for over 25 mins
what are the 4 types of decelerations on a CTG
Early
Late
Variable
Prolonged
what are early decelerations on CTG
- Gradual dips and recoveries in HR corresponding with uterine contractions
- Normal !
- Lowest point of deceleration = peak of contraction
- Uterus compresses fetal head -> vagus stimulation -> slowing of HR
what are late decelerations on a CTG
- Falls in HR that start ATFER the uterine contraction has began
- Lowest point of deceleration = after the peak of contraction
- More concerning as caused by hypoxia in the fetus
- Can be caused by : excessive uterine contractions, maternal hypotension or maternal hypoxia
what are variable decelerations
- Fall in the HR of >15bpm from the baseline
- Last <2 mins
- Caused my intermittent compression of umbilical cord causing hypoxia
- Brief accelerations before and after these decelerations = shoulders = reassuring
what are prolonged decelerations
- Last between 2 and 10 mins
- Drop of 15bpm from the baseline
- Indicates compression on umbilical cord causing fetal hypoxia
abnormal and concerning
what would a reassuring CTG be
no decelerations
early decelerations
or less than 90 mins variable decelerations with no concerning featues
what are the rules for fetal bradycardia
rule of 3’s
3 min - call for help
6 min - move to theatre
9 min - prepare for delivery
12 min - delivery (by 15 min)
what CTG would suggest severe fetal compromise
sinusoidal CTG
what is oxytocin and why are infusions given in pregnancy
-Hormone that stimulates cervical ripening and uterine contractions
-Role in lactation in breastfeeding
-Given to induce or progress labour, improve/frequency & strength of uterine contractions and prevent or treate postpartum haemorrhage
where is oxytocin produced
Hypothalamus
Secreted by the posterior pituitary gland
what is ergometrine and when is it used
-AFTER delivery in the third stage of labour
-Helps with delivery of the placenta and to prevent and treat postpartum haemorrhage
-Stimulates smooth muscle contraction
why are prostaglandins given in pregnancy ?
stimulate uterine contractions
example : dinoprostone (prostaglandin E2)