LEC 6: Health Challenges in Labour and Birth Flashcards
1
Q
Preterm Labour and Preterm Birth
A
- Leading cause of mortality and morbidity (around 75% to 85%)
- Rate of PTB is 7% in SK
- Incidence in USA is worse
- Rate of PTB is increasing
2
Q
What is the rate of PTB increasing?
A
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART)
- Increasing role of infectionin PTL/ PTB
3
Q
What causes preterm labour?
A
- Race
- Age extremes (<17 or >35)
- Smoking, alcohol, drugs
- Infection, inflamamtation, toxicology
- Stress
- Prenatal care, nutrition, and oral health
- Cervical surgery or abnormalities
- Placental problems (previa, abruption)
- Genetics
- Previous PTB (Most common cause)
- Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy
4
Q
Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Labour and Birth
A
- African-American race
- More than double the risk
- Maternal age extremes
- Less than 16 years and more than 40 years old
- Low socioeconimic status
- Alcohol or other drug use, especially cocaine
- Poor maternal nutrition
- Maternal periodontal disease
- Cigaretter smoking
- History or prior preterm birth
- Triples the risk
- Uterine abnormalities
- Preexisting diabetes or hypertension
- Multiple gestation
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Late or no prenatal care
- Short cervical length
- Sexually transmitted infections: gonorrhea, Chlamydia, trichomoniasis
- Bacterial vaginosis
- 50% increased risk
- Chorioamnionitis
- Hydramnios
- Hypertensive disorders or pregnancy
- Cervical insufficiency
- Short interpregnancy interval: less than 1 year between births
- Placental problems, sucha s placenta previa and placental abruption
- Maternal anemia
- UTIs
- Intimate partner violence
- Stress, acute and chronic
5
Q
Common Symptoms of Preterm Labour
A
- Low abdominal pain, cramps, backache
- Common symptoms
- Bleeding, spotting, show, ROM
- Pelvic pressure
- Baby pushing down
- Increased amount/ changes in vaginal discharge
- Contractions every 10 minutes or more often
- Thorough assessment and diagnosis is key
- Signs and symptoms of PTL are often subtle
6
Q
A
7
Q
Fetal Fibronectin ( ƒFN)
A
- Glycoprotein released into cervical/ vaginal fluid in response to inflammation or separationof amniotic membranes
- Normal in cervico-vaginal secretions until 22 weeks gestation and again near the time of labour
- Negative = lacck of ƒFN = pregnancy is likely to continue for at least another two weeks (98%)
- Positive ƒFN = present 24 through 34 weeks getationindicates increase risk of preterm delivery
- Absence is a better prodictor
- Not done on everyone- if they think its pre-term labour, then it is done
8
Q
Managment of Pre-Term Labour (PTL)
A
- Need to ask- Should labour be stopped?
- Is mom bleeding?
- What is the gestational age of baby?
- Assess and monitor VS, contractions, fetus
- Avoid stimulation
- Vaginal exams, also increase risk for infection
- Sexual intercourse
- Nipple stimulation
- Keep bladder empty
- Bedrest
- Hydration- IV
- Magnesium sulfate
- Sedation
9
Q
Managment of PTL: Tocolytics
A
- Indomathacin
- Anti-prostaglandin inhibits uterine activity
- Effective in delaying delivery x 48 hours
- Not recommended for long term use- PDA
- Calcium Channel Blockers- Nifedipine (Adalat)
- Blocks the passage of calcium which relaxes the uterine muscles
- Progesterone (in trials)
- May prevent and reduce incidence of PTB if previous history of PTB
10
Q
Cervical Insufficiency (Incompetent Cervix)
A
- Premature painless dilation of cervix
- 20 to 28 weeks
- 2nd trimester abortions
- Anomalies of cervix
- DES, 2nd trimester abortions, invasive cervical biopsy
- Infections
- Multiple gestation, polyhydramnios
- Anomalies of cervix
- Diagnosis
- Heaviness in pelvic area
- Preterm Preamture Rupture of Membrane (PPROM)
- Ultrasound
11
Q
A
12
Q
Cervical Insufficiency Treatment
A
- Bedrest, pelvic rest, avoid heavy lifting
- Cervical cerclage (suture)
- Infection, blood loss, PPROM, preterm labour
- Damage to the cervix
- Not appropriate if vaginal bleeding, infection, uterine contractions, membranes have ruptured
- Depending on style C-section or suture removed
13
Q
Corticostroids in Preterm Labour
A
- All pregnant women between 24 and 34 weeks gestation, who are at risk of preterm delivery within 7 days should be considered candidates for antenatal treatment with a single course of corticosteroids
- A single course of corticosteroids reduces perinatal mortality, respiratory distress syndrom (RDS) and intraventricular hemorrhage
-
Batamethasone 12mg IM q24h x 2 doses or Dexamethasone 6mg IM q12h x4 doses
- Most effective if given at least 24 hours before delivery
14
Q
Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) for Fetal Neuroprotection
A
- New evidence that antenatal MgSO4 is neuro protective
- Whem women present with imminent preterm birth at <31 +6 weeks
- Active labor with >4cm dilation with or without PROM
- Planned preterm borth for fetal or maternal indications
- 4g IV loading dose over 30 mins then 1g/hour maintenance until delivery
- NOT to stop the labour BUT for fetal neuro protection
15
Q
Bleeding in Pregnancy
A
- Spontaneous abrotion (miscarriage)
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Placenta previa
- Abruption placentae
- Uterine rupture