Large for Dates Flashcards
What does it mean if a foetus is considered “large for date”?
Symphyseal-fundal height >2cm for Gestational age
What are the possible reasons for a baby being large for date?
- Wrong dates
- Fetal Macrosomia
- Polydramnios
- Diabetes
- Multiple Pregnancy
Why may a patient have wrong dates which contribute to healthcare professionals thinking the baby is large for dates?
- Late Booker
- Concealed pregnancy (undiagnosed)
- Vulnerable women (e.g. children already in social care => not engaging with healthcare during pregnancy)
- Transfer of Care: Booked abroad
How is foetal macrosomia diagnosed?
Ultrasound Scan
- Estimated Foetal Weight >90th centile
- plotted on population based charts OR customised growth charts
How are growth charts “customised” to the mother?
Take into account:
- ethnicity (caucasian population = largest babies > african >asian)
- BMI
- parity (previous children and their birth weights)
What are the risks of foetal macrosomia?
- Labour dystocia (difficulty to progress)
- Shoulder dystocia (shoulder gets stuck - more common with diabetes)
- Post Partum Haemorrhage
How should foetal macrosomia be managed?
- Exclude diabetes
- Reassure
- Plan for Conservative Mx vs Induction of Labour vs C-Section delivery
What name is given to a condition of excess amniotic fluid which can cause a baby to be large for date?
Polyhydramnios
How is Polyhydramnios diagnosed?
Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI >25cm)
Deepest Pool >8cm
experienced clinicians may be able to diagnose this clinically
What is the most common maternal cause of polyhydramnios?
Diabetes
After diabetes, what is the next most common cause of polyhydramnios?
Idiopathic
=> no cause identified
What causes of polyhydramnios are usually due to the foetus?
- Anomaly- GI atresia, cardiac, tumours
- Monochorionic twin pregnancy
- Hydrops fetalis (abnormal fluid in>2 fetal compartment => ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, oedema)
- Viral infection (erythrovirus B19, Toxoplasmosis, CMV)
What symptoms of polyhydramnios does the mother often present with?
- Abdominal discomfort
- Pre-labour rupture of membranes
- Preterm labour
- Cord prolapse through cervix
What signs of polyhydramnios may be present on clinical examination?
- Large for date
- Malpresentation
- tense shiny abdomen
- inability to feel foetal parts on examination
How is polyhydramnios investigated?
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
- Viral Serology
- Antibody Screen
- USS – fetal survey- lips, stomach
How is polhydramnios managed?
- Serial USS for growth, presentation
- Induction of Labour by 40 weeks
What complications should you warn the patient about before labour?
- Risk malpresentation
- Risk of cord prolapse
- Risk of Preterm Labour
- Risk of Post Partum Haemorrhage
What is the incidence of spontaneous twins and triplets?
Spontaneous twins 1:80
Spontaneous triplets 1:10,000
What can increase a woman’s risk of multiple pregnancy?
- Assisted conception (less common now as only one embryo is transferred)
- Race - African
- Geography (Africa > Europe > Asia)
- Family History
- Increased maternal age
- Increased Parity (no. of children born)
- Tall women> short women
What is the difference between Gravidity and Parity?
Gravidity - number of times a woman has been pregnant
Parity - number of times a woman has given birth to a foetus with gestational age of >24 weeks
(regardless of whether born alive or still born)
What is the difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins?
Monozygotic : splitting of a single fertilised egg (30%)
Dizygotic: fertilisation of 2 ova by 2 spermatozoa(70%)
Describe the potential chorionicity of monozygotic and dizygotic twins
Chorionicity = ONE or TWO placentas (i.e. do they share)
Dizygous
- always DCDA
- Dichorionic (2 placentas), Diamniotic (2 amniotic sacs)
Monozygous-
DCDA = Dichorionic, Diamniotic (2 placentas and 2 amniotic sacs)
MCDA = Monochorionic, Diamniotic (1 placenta, 2 amniotic sacs)
MCMA = Monochorionic, Monoamioniotic (shared placenta and amniotic sac)
Conjoined
What factor can change the chorionicity of monozygotic twins?
Depends on time of splitting of fertilised ovum
- later splitting = sharing of more structures (up to conjoinment)