Labour & perinatal Flashcards
What is the fetus’s role in labour induction?
ACTH production
-> Cortisol
-> Androgens
Stimulates placenta
What is the placenta’s role in labour induction?
Decreased progesterone synthesis stimulate uterus
Increased oestrogen
Increased prostaglandins simulate mother
What happens in the mother in the induction of labour?
Less progesterone-> increased sensitivity to uterine stretching
Prostaglandins -> uterine contractions, increased uterine sensitivity to oxytocin, softened cervix
What does stretching of the cervix initiate?
Oxytocin-> uterine contractions and labour
How is labour artificially induced?
Prostaglandins
Artificial rupture of membranes
When is Induction of labour indicated?
PROM but no spontaneous labour
Maternal diabetes
Post-term
Name some good positions for women in labour
Birthing ball Walking up stairs Leaning against a wall Standing Sitting backwards on a chair In birthing pool
What are the 3 Ps of labour
Passage
Passenger
Power
What is meant by passage in 4P’s of labour?
Maternal position
Cervical dilation
Pelvic laxity
What is meant by passenger in 4P’s of labour?
Fetal size, presentation, position, malformations
What is meant by power in 4P’s of labour?
Uterine contractions and voluntary bearing down
3 layers of uterus (outer longitudinal, inner circular, thick middle spiral)
What cephalic presentations are there?
Fully flexed (vertex)-> deflexed (brow)-> extended (face) Then described by occiput position (left occiput transverse/posterior/anterior)
What is the best rate for contractions
3-4 regular contractions every 10 mins
What types of breach presentation are there?
Frank breech (extended) Full breech (flexed) Footling breech
What happens if there is a delay in the 1st stage of labour
- Come to labour ward
- Rupture the membrane (amniotomy)
- Reassess after 2 hrs
- Consider oxytocin infusion
- C section if no advance
What happens in the 2nd stage of labour?
• Passive (full dilation, absence of involuntary expulsive contractions)
• Active (baby is visible, expulsive contractions)
• Active maternal effort once confirmed full cervical dilation
Birth of baby
What counts as delayed 2nd stage?
2hrs of active 2nd stage in nulliparous, 1hr multiparous
3hr nulli w/epidural, 2hrs multip w/epidural
30mins of active 2nd stage if severe cardiac disease, hypertensive crisis, myasthenia gravis, spinal cord injury
Management of delayed 2nd stage?
ARM (artificial rupture of membranes)
Instrumental delivery?
C-section
What is the 3rd stage of labour?
Birth of placenta
What is the normal time frame from birth of baby until birth of placenta
10-15mins
Explain difference between physiological 3rd stage and active 3rd stage
Physiological: no uterotonics, clamp once cord stopped pulsating, delivery by maternal effort
Active: Uterotonics, clamp cord early, controlled cord traction with guarding of the uterus
What is usually used as a uterotonic in active 3rd stage?
IM sintocin, ergometrin
What is done if placenta isn’t delivered within 30 mins of baby?
Uterotonic administration
Manual removal of placenta
How are perineal tears classified?
Into degrees:
• 1st degree: injury to perineal skin
• 2nd degree: injury inclused perineal muscles but not to anal sphincter
• 3rd degree: anal sphincter affected
• 4th degree: injury to perineum involving anal sphincter complex and anal epithelium
Define epesiotomy
Deliberate right medio-lateral perineal incision involving perineal muscles
What does CTG stand for?
CardioTocoGraph
Options for analgesia during labour?
• Breathing, relaxing and massage • Labouring in water • TENS (trans electrical nerve stimulation) • Entonox (O2, nitrous oxide) • Opioids (pethidine, remifentanyl) • Epidural Spinal (into subarachnoid space) Perineal infiltration Pudendal block
Define lochia
Lochia: postpartum vaginal discharge (blood, mucus, uterine tissue) can be for up to 8 weeks
Define perinatal mortality
Number of stillbirths plus the number of early neonatal deaths/1000 births
The pregnancy has to be more than 24 weeks.
Early neonatal is within 7 days after birth.
Risk factors for neonatal deaths
- Twins
- Black/black British
- Asian/Asian British
- Mothers living in poverty
- Teenage mothers
6 causes of still births (in order of magnitude)
- 46% unknown
- 22% placental problems
- 6% congenital anomalies
- 11% complications before or during labour
- 4% umbilical cord
- 3% infections
What are the main infections causing neonatal mortality?
- TORCH
- Toxoplasmosis
- Rubella
- CMV
- Chlamydia
- Zika