Maternal and fetal wellbeing Flashcards
What is the difference between gravidity and parity?
Gravidity is the total number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome
Parity is the total number of pregnancies carried over the threshold of viability (24 weeks)
What is FGR/IUGR?
Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) or Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
Occurs when a fetus is unable to achieve its genetically determined potential size.
What are fetal causes of FGR/IUGR?
Chromosomal disorders - trisomies 13 and 18
Malformations
Congenital infections such as rubella, HIV
Multifetal pregnancy
What are maternal causes of FGR/IUGR?
Smoking (active or passive)
Alcohol (cross placental barrier)
Drugs e.g cocaine (causes vasoconstriction and affects maternal circulation)
Chronic morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, obesity
Severe anaemia
Low pregnancy weight
What are placental causes of FGR/IUGR?
Abnormal placental implantation
Placental infarcts (interrupted blood supply to a part of placenta)
Single umbilical artery (an umbilical abnormality)
Placenta abruption (separation of placenta from the walls of the uterus - partial or completely)
What is the average weight of boys and girls when born? What is classed as large weight/small weight?
Average weight Girls 3.2 kg (7Ib 2oz) (50th centile) Boys 3.3 kg (7Ib 6oz) (50th centile) Large weight Over 4.5 kg (9Ib 14oz) Small weight Under 2.5 kg (5Ib .5oz)
What are the different categories of prematurity?
Extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks) Very preterm (28 to 32 weeks) Moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks)
What are the risks of prematurity? (e.g. hypothermia - little fat, babies unable to shiver, homeostasis)
Hypoglycaemia/Hypocalcaemia Respiratory distress syndrome - fetus produces surfactant around 24-28 weeks Neonatal jaundice Necrotising enteritis Brain haemorrhage Inc risk of cerebral palsy
What can we do if there is a risk of prematurity?
Steroids (Betamethasome)
Stimulates synthesis of surfactant and Prevent brain haemorrhage
Magnesium Sulphate as a neuroprotectant
reduce the risk of cerebral palsy
What type of tests can determine fetal growth and wellbeing?
Fetal growth - Biometric
Fetal wellbeing - Biophysical
What are the Biometric parameters?
1st trimester: Crown rump length 2nd trimester onwards: Biparietal diameter (BPD) Head circumference (HC) Abdominal Circumference (AC) Femur Length (FL)
What 5 assessments make up the biophysical profiling?
Amniotic fluid volume Fetal breathing movements Fetal tone Gross body movements Reactive fetal heart rate
What makes up the amniotic fluid? What does it contain?
Firstly, it consists of water from the maternal body
Later (20/40 weeks) it is made up of the fetus’s urine, as the fetus swallows and excretes fluid
Nutrients
Hormones
Antibodies
Fetal urine
What are the functions of the amniotic fluid?
Protecting the fetus Temperature control Infection control Lung and digestive system development Muscle and bone development Lubrication Umbilical cord support
What are Oligohydramnios and Polyhydramnios?
Oligohydramnios – too little amniotic fluid
Polyhydramnios – too much amniotic fluid