MATERNAL MEDICINE Flashcards
Adverse outcomes of untreated hypothyroidism in pregnancy?
Miscarriage or stillbirth
Anaemia
SGA
Pre-eclampsia
Hypothyroidism in baby
What drug is used to manage hypothyroidism in pregnancy?
Levothyroxine - require an increased dose by up to 50% as early as 4-6 weeks of pregnancy but this dose will be titrated based on TSH level
Monitoring of hypothyroidism in pregnancy
Serum TSH is measured in each trimester and 6-8 weeks post-partum
Risks of untreated thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy?
Increased risk of miscarriage
Maternal HF
Premature labour
LBW
Abnormal development
Most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy?
Graves’ disease
Activation of TSH receptor by HCG may occur (transient gestational hyperthyroidism)
Drugs to manage thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy?
Propylthiouracil in first trimester
Carbimazole from the beginning of the second trimester
Normal changes to blood pressure in pregnancy>
Blood pressure falls in the first trimester and continues to fall until 20-24 weeks (particuarly diastolic!)
After this the bp will increase to pre-pregnancy levels by term
Definition of hypertension in pregnancy?
Systolic >140
Diastolic >90
(Or… an increase above booking readings of >30mmHg systolic or >15 diastolic)
How common is pre-existing hypertension in pregnancy?
3-5% of pregnancies
More common in older women
How can you distinguish pre-existing hypertension from gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia?
Starts before 20/40
No proteinuria or oedema like pre-eclampsia
Management of pre-existing hypertension in pregnancy?
advice on weight management, exercise, healthy eating and lowering salt in diet
Continue with existing Antihypertensive Tx if safe in pregnancy
Consider labetalol, nifedipine or methyldopa in this order if not on pre-existing Tx
Offer all women aspirin OD from 12 weeks
Which antihypertensives are unsafe in pregnancies?
ACEi
ARBs
Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics
Why may pregnancy worsen seizure control in women with epilepsy?
Alterations in medication regimes
Stress
Lack of sleep
Hormonal changes
Managing epilepsy in pregnancy?
Levetiracetam, lamotrigine and carbamazepine are the safer anti-epileptic medication in pregnancy
Aim for mono therapy!
All women considering becoming pregnant should be adsvsed totake folic acid 5mg per day before pregnancy to minimise the risk of neural tube defects
Sodium valproate in pregnancy?
Associated with neural tube defects
Phenytoin in pregnancy?
Can cause cleft palate
When are pregnant women screened for anaemia?
The booking visit
28 weeks
What cut offs do NICE use to determine whether a woman should recieve oral iron therapy?
First trimester <110
Second ans thirds trimester <105
Postpartum <100
Management of anemia in pregnancy?
Oral ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate - continue for 3 months after IDA is corrected to allow iron stores to be replenished
Impact of anaemia in pregnancy?
LBW
Premature birth
Stillbirth
Can cause fatigue, reduce milk production and is associated with post-natal depression.
Problems of cardiac disease in pregnancy?
Main risk is having a heart attack which is a rare but is a leading cause of death in pregnancy
There is a >40% increase in the blood circulating in the mother’s body so it can make cardiac conditions worse
Implications of pregnancy and diabetes?
Macrosomia which can increase risk of a diffiuclt birth e.g. labour induction/needing a C-section/prolonged labour, and increases risk of birth trauma (most worryingly shoulder dystocia!!)
Transient neonatal morbidity e.g. hypoglycaemia
Miscarriage
May increase risk of health problems shortly after birth, or developing obesity/diabetes later in life
Slightly higher chance of baby being born with birth defects - particuarly heart and nverous system abnormalities
Slightly higher chance of stillborn or perinatal death
Polyhydramnios as more urine output
Increased chance of pre-eclampsia
Women will then be at higher risk of developing T2DM after pregnancy
Reducing risks that diabetes carries in pregnancy?
Ensure diabetes is well controlled before you become pregnant - HbA1c should be <48 before you get pregnant and if its >65 its recommended not to get pregnant
Regular BM
5mg folic acid OD until 12 weeks to prevent neural tube defects
Intense antenatal care plan - will likely involve specialist nurses
Weight and other lifestyle measurements
You will be offered regular diabetic eye screening during pregnancy
Kidney function will be monitored also
Blood glucose will be monitored hourly during labour and birth and baby’s BG will be checked a few hours after birth
How common does gestational diabetes complicate pregnancy?
1 in 20!
Second most common medical disorder complicating pregnancy after hypertension
Affect 4% of pregnancies
Whats the breakdown of gestational diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in pregnancy? d
87.5% have gestational diabetes
7.5% have type 1 diabetes
5% have type 2 diabetes
What causes gestational diabetes?
Reduced insulin sensitivity during pregnancy
Risk factors for gestational diabetes?
BMI of > 30 kg/m²
previous macrosomic baby weighing 4.5 kg or above
previous gestational diabetes
first-degree relative with diabetes
family origin with a high prevalence of diabetes (South Asian, black Caribbean and Middle Eastern)
Others:
PCOS
Older maternal age
Polyydramniops
Screening for gestational diabetes?
For women who’ve previously had gestational diabetes: Oral glucose tolerance test as soon as possible after booking and at 24-28 weeks if first test is normal
Women with any other risk factors should be offered OGTT at 24-28 weeks