Maternal observations Flashcards
What is the unit of measurement for heart rate
Beats per minute (BPM)
What is tachycardia
when heart rate is greater than 100 bpm in an adult
What are the common causes of tachycardia
anxiety, increased body temperature, infection, pain
What is bradycardia
When the heart rate is less than 60 bpm in an adult
What are the common causes of bradycardia
Low body temp, effects of some medication, high level of fitness
Name the 6 different sites to take a pulse
Radial
Temporal
Carotid
Brachial
Popliteal pulse
Femoral
Describe the process of taking a pulse
Gently press the artery against the bone, making sure to use fingers NOT thumb, count for one full minute, note the rate, rhythm and strength.
What could a weak or ‘bounding’ pulse indicate
Illness, poor circulation or raised BP
What is blood pressure
The force exerted on the wall of a blood vessel as blood is pumped around the body
What is blood pressure measured in
Millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
What 4 things does blood pressure depend on
- cardiac output
- peripheral vascular resistance
- blood volume
- blood viscosity
What is peripheral vascular resistance
A resistance to the flow of blood determined by the tone of the vascular musculature and the diameter of the blood vessels
How does physiological changes in pregnancy affect cardiac output
increases cardiac output and circulating blood volume
How does physiological changes in pregnancy affect peripheral resistance
Progesterone works on smooth muscle to relax blood vessels reducing peripheral resistance
What can a high blood pressure lead to
Stroke, heart attack, kidney disease
What are pregnant women with high blood pressure more likely to suffer from
preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal death
what can severe hypertension cause
seizures (eclampsia), brain damage and death
What is the systolic blood pressure
The peak pressure when blood is pumped into the aorta as the left ventricle contracts
What is the diastolic blood pressure
The minimum pressure when the aortic valve closes (when the heart relaxes)
What does a blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg suggest
hypertension
What does a blood pressure of less then 90/40 mmHg suggest
hypotension
What are the potential causes of hypertension (6)
Exercise
stress
stimulants e.g. alcohol, caffeine
Obesity
Family history
pre-eclampsia
What is a normal temperature
Between 36.5 - 37.5 degrees celcius
What temperature is classed as pyrexia
Above 38
What temperature is classed as hypothermia
Less than 36.5
What is the normal core temperature
37
What are the 3 sights for taking temperature
- oral
- axilla
- tympanic
What is the normal rate of respiration in an adult
12-20 breaths per minute
What should you monitor with respiratory rate
Rate, rhythm and depth
What is bradypnoea
Low respiratory rate
What is tachypnoea
fast respiratory rate
What affects respirations (8)
- physiological effects of pregnancy and childbirth
- exercise
- fear
- anxiety
- pain
- infection
- medication
- blood loss
What is oxygen saturation
A measure of the amount of oxygen carrying haemoglobin in the blood against the non-oxygen carrying haemoglobin
How is oxygen saturation measured
Using a pulse oximeter placed on finger or toe/foot
What unit is oxygen saturation measured in
%
What is a healthy SpO2
Above or equal to 95%
What does MEOWS stand for
Modified Early Obstetric Warning System
How is a MEOWS chart useful
- improves detection and response to clinical deterioration in women
- early detection of problems
