Maternal Health Flashcards
What normally happens to blood pressure in pregnancy?
Fall during first trimester - lowest at 20wks
Increase again to pre-pregnancy levels by term
How can hypertension in pregnancy be categorised?
Pre-existing - >140/90 before 20wks
Gestational - >140/90 after 20wks or >30/15 rise in booking BP
Pre-eclampsia - hypertension + proteinurea (+- oedema)
What complications are associated with hypertension in pregnancy?
Pre-eclampsia Placental abruption IUGR Intrauterine death Prematurity DIC Cardiovascular disease later in life
How should pre-existing hypertension be managed?
What BP should be aimed for?
!! Labetalol (Can continue normal BP meds if not ACE-i or ARB)
!! 75mg aspirin daily - 12 weeks to birth
Urine dip at each antenatal visit
Assess for pre-eclampsia
Obstetrician review - give lifestyle advice
Aim for <150/100
When should a patient with gestational hypertension be urgently admitted for obstetric review?
Signs of pre-eclampsia
BP >160/110
How should patients with gestational hypertension be managed?
Regular BP and urine dip monitoring
!! Labetalol
!! Aspirin 75mg daily from week 12
Foetal growth and amniotic fluid volume measured
Monitor postnatally and stop antihypertensives as appropriate
What medication can be used in the management of hypertension in pregnancy?
Labetalol
Nifedipine
Methyldopa
Hydralazine
What class of drug is labetalol? What are the CI’s and SE’s?
Beta-blocker
CI - asthma and cardiogenic shock
SE - Postural hypo , fatigue, headache, N&V, epigastric pain
What class of drug is nifedipine? What are the CI’s and SE’s?
Calcium channel blocker
CI - angina and aortic stenosis
SE - Peripheral oedema, flushing, headache, constipation
What class of drug is methyldopa? What are the CI’s and SE’s?
Alpha-agonist
CI - depression
SE - drowsiness, headache, oedema, GI disturbance, dry mouth, postural hypo, bradycardia, hepatotoxicity
What class of drug is hydralazine? What are the CI’s and SE’s?
Vasodilator
CI - Heart failure and cor pulmonale
SE - Angina, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache
How is pre-eclampsia defined?
Seen after 20 weeks
Pregnancy induced hypertension
Proteinurea (>0.3g in 24hrs
Oedema)
What is the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia?
Inadequate remodelling of spiral arteries
Constrictive muscular walls of spiral arteries maintained - high resistance, low flow
Maternal inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction - leaky vessels
What women are at high risk of pre-eclampsia?
Hypertension/pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in past pregnancy
Chronic hypertension
CKD
Autoimmune disease - SLE/antiphospholipid
T1/T2 Diabetes Mellitus
How should women at high risk of pre-eclampsia be managed?
75mg aspirin daily from 12 weeks
What symptoms are associated with pre-eclampsia?
Often asymptomatic
Severe headache - frontal
Visual problems - blurring/flashing before eyes (papilledema)
Severe epigastric pain - hepatic capsule distention
Vomiting
Swelling - hands, face or feet
Hypereflexic
What could bloods reveal in patients with pre-eclampsia?
Falling platelet count <100
Raised ALT/AST
HELLP syndrome
What would place a patient at moderate risk of pre-eclampsia?
First pregnancy Multiple pregnancy >10yr since last pregnancy Age >40 BMI >35 Family Hx of pre-eclampsia
How would patients at moderate risk of pre-eclampsia be managed?
75mg aspirin daily from 12 weeks
What are the risks of pre-eclampsia?
Fetal
- IUGR
- Premature birth
- Hypoxia = neurological damage
Maternal
- Eclampsia
- Placental abruption
- AKI
- DIC
- Cerebrovascular haemorrhage
- Multi-organ failure
How should patients with pre-eclampsia be managed postnatally?
Should resolve following delivery of placenta
Monitor for 24hr - risk of seizure
Day 5 - considered safe
How is pre-eclampsia managed?
Monitoring - BP, urinalysis, blood tests, fetal growth, CTG
Aspirin - 75mg daily from 12 weeks
Antihypertensives - Labetalol (Nifedipine/methyldopa)
VTE prophylaxis - LMWH
Delivery - cure for pre-eclampsia, balance risks and benefits. If <34 weeks, IM steroids
What is eclampsia?
Seizures in association with pre-eclampsia
Tonic-clonic normally
When do eclamptic convulsions occur?
Postnatal - 44%
Antepartum - 38%
Intrapartum - 18%
What investigations would you request for eclampsia?
Look for complications:
FBC - DIC
CTG - fetal distress
etc.
How is eclampsia managed?
ABCDE - resus in left lateral position
- Magnesium sulphate -continue for 24hr after delivery or last seizure
- IV antihypertensives
- Delivery of baby - only when mother stable
- Fluid restrict
What are the signs of hypermagnesaemia?
How is hypermagnesemia reversed?
Hyper-reflexia
Respiratory depression
Calcium gluconate
What is HELLP syndrome?
Haemolysis
Elevated Liver enzymes
Low Platelet count
How does HELLP syndrome present?
RUQ pain - liver distention
Tiredness
N&V
+/- headache and vision problems
How is HELLP syndrome managed?
Delivery of baby
Blood transfusion
Antihypertensives
What are the complications of HELLP syndrome?
DIC
Liver rupture
Placental abruption
How many pregnancies does HELLP syndrome affect?
0.1-0.6% of all pregnancies
15% of pre-eclampsia
What general advice is given for women with diabetes in pregnancy?
Role of diet, body weight and exercise - individualised
BMI >27 - lose weight
Risks of hypoglycaemia and to be aware of it
Effect of vomiting on blood glucose
Assess diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy
Possibility of temporary health problems in baby in neonatal period
Risk of poor glycemic control
What are the maternal complications of diabetes in pregnancy?
Hypertension and pre-eclampsia
Injury from delivering large baby
Worsening retinopathy and nephropathy
CVS risks
What are the foetal complications of diabetes in pregnancy?
Hyperinsulinaemia Miscarriage or still birth Pre-term labour Birth adaptions - hypoglycaemia, jaundice Obesity and diabetes later in life Transient tachypnoea of newborn
What can foetal hyperinsulinaemia cause?
Macrosomia and shoulder dystocia
Polyhydramnios
Cardiomegaly
Erythropoiesis causing polycythaemia
Why does foetal hyperinsulinaemia cause problems?
Glucose can cross placenta but insulin can’t
Maternal hyperglycaemia = fetal hyperglycaemia = fetal increase in insulin levels
Insulin similar structure to growth promoters
Insulin cause reduced pulmonary phospholipids = reduced surfactant = transient tachypnoea of newborn
What is the capillary glucose target for pregnant women?
Fasting <5.3mmol/L
1hr after meal <7.8mmol/L
2hr after meal <6.4mmol/L
What fetal monitoring is done for pregnant women with diabetes?
20 week scan - structural abnormalities
Amniotic fluid volume assessment - 28 weeks
How should delivery be planned for pregnant women with diabetes?
Induction of labour or C-Section between 37 and 38+6 weeks
If macrosomia diagnosed - advice on risks and benefits of vaginal delivery
For a mother with diabetes, how should the newborn baby be cared for?
Feeding within 30 mins
Test blood glucose 2-4hr post birth unless signs of hypo - test immediately
What are the signs of hypoglycaemia in a newborn and how is it managed?
Abnormal muscle tone
Apnoea
Fits
Loss of consciousness
IV dextrose
What is the postnatal care plan for mothers with diabetes?
Reduce insulin immediately - monitor carefully
Risk of hypo while breastfeeding so advise to snack during feeding
What medication can be used for a breastfeeding mother with diabetes?
Metformin and Glibenclamide
Other hypoglycaemic agents should be avoided
What are the pre-conception glucose targets for a woman with pre-existing diabetes?
Capillary glucose normal
HbA1C <48 (6.5%)
Strongly advise against pregnancy if HbA1C >10% (86)
What medication (diabetes related and other) is used for women with pre-existing diabetes?
Stop all oral hypoglycaemics except Metformin
Commence insulin - isophane insulin
Commence 75mg aspirin daily from week 12
Folic acid 5mg until 12 weeks
What is gestational diabetes and how common is it?
Any degree of glucose intolerance beginning in pregnancy
2-5% of pregnancies
What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?
BMI>30 Previous gestational diabetes Previous macrosomic baby >4.5kg Family Hx of diabetes (1st degree relative) PCOS Asian
How is gestational diabetes screened? When is screening done?
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test - fasting, 75g glucose drink, test again 2hr later
If previous GD - booking and 24-28 weeks
If risk factor - 24-28 weeks