OB Flashcards
Means before birth
Antepartum
Means difficult labor
Dystocia
Means twins, triplets, etc
Multiple gestation
Means during the act of birth
Intrapartum
Means has had multiple gestations
Multiparous
Normal labor
38-40 weeks
Never completed a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks
Nulliparous
Another name for pregnant patient
Parturient
Means after birth
Postpartum
Preterm labor
<37 weeks
Means first pregnancy
Primapara (primip)
Age of viability
~24 weeks
When should you consider immediate intubation after birth?
If <28 weeks and not pink and active
What does gravida mean?
Total number of pregnancies, regardless of the outcome
What does parity mean?
The number of live births OR number of completed pregnancies that lasted more than 20 weeks
A woman is pregnant for the first time and is 12 weeks along. What is her GP status?
G1 P0
A woman is currently pregnant and 25 weeks along. She has had 6 miscarriages and only 1 live birth. What is her GP status?
G8 P1
A women is pregnant for the second time and delivered twin stillbirths in her first pregnancy at 19 weeks. What is her GP status?
G2 P0
What do oxytocic (uterotonic) drugs do?
Promote uterine contraction
Drugs that decrease uterine bleeding after delivery and induce labor in pregnant patients
Oxytocic drugs
- Pitocin
- Hemabate
- Methergine
- Cytotec
Examples of oxytocic drugs
- Pitocin
- Hemabate
- Methergine
- Cytotec
Effects of pitocin
- Stimulates uterine contraction
2. Induce labor
When is pitocin dosed in c-sections and why?
AFTER the baby and placenta are delivered because a contracted uterus does not bleed as much
Most common side effect of pitocin
Hypotension
Side effects of pitocin
- Hypotension
- N/V
- Chest pain
- EKG changes/arrhythmias
- SOB
- Myocardial ischemia
- Pulmonary edema
- Death
What is important to remember about pitocin?
It should be dosed slowly due to the side effects
How is pitocin dosed?
IV, slowly
What is the traditional protocol for dosing pitocin?
- 20-40 units in the IV bag after delivery of the baby and placenta
- 20 units in each subsequent liter of IV fluid
What is the ED90 of Pitocin for c-sections?
0.35 units for non-laboring patients
3 units for laboring patients
What is the newer Pitocin dosing protocol?
“The rule of threes”
- Give 3 units over 30 seconds
- If there is no response to Pitocin after 3 doses of 3 units (over 9 minutes), move to another uterotonic
- Give 3 units/hr for maintenance
What happens if your 3 units over 30 seconds of pitocin does not work?
Repeat the dose twice, with 3 minutes between each dose
Why should you move to another uterotonic if Pitocin does not work after 3 doses of 3 units?
It could cause more side effects but not uterine tone
Popular uterotonic if pitocin is ineffective
Hemabate
Dose of
Carboprost (Hemabate)
1 mL IM (250mcg)
When is Carboprost contraindicated?
In asthmatics
When is methylergonovine (Methergine) contraindicated?
Hypertension (preeclampsia)
When is Methergine used?
If Pitocin is ineffective
Dose of Methylergonovine
1 mL IM (200 mcg)
When is Misoprostol (Cytotec) used?
If there is persistent uterine bleeding despite Pitocin, Methergine and Hemabate administration
How is Cytotec administered?
Rectally (200mcg)
Drugs that promote uterine relaxation
Tocolytic drugs
- Magnesium
- Beta 2 agonists (terbutaline)
- Calcium channel blockers (Nicardipine, Nifedipine)
- Volatile agents
- Nitroglycerin
Effects of tocolytic drugs
- Uterine relaxation to prevent labor
2. Promote uterine bleeding
When does Nitroglycerin cause significant drops in blood pressure?
To treat HTN or relieve angina in patients with CAD at smaller doses (<50 mcg)
Why does NTG have less of an effect on blood pressure in pregnant patients?
- OB patients have increased circulating blood volume
2. Vessels are already dilated in well hydrated patients
Doses of NTG for uterine relaxation
250-500 mcg, even up to 1000 mcg
Normal fetal heart rate
120-160 bpm
Bradycardic fetal HR
<120 bpm
Tachycardic fetal HR
> 160 bpm
Why is fetal HR variability considered normal?
It is associated with fetal movement
What can cause absence of variability in a fetal HR?
- Fetal distress
2. General anesthesia
Variability that occurs every heart beat
Short term variability
Variability anywhere from a difference in 6-25 bpm
Long term variability
Common causes of fetal tachycardia
- Lack of nourishing blood supply
2. Resultant effects of some drugs
Drop in fetal heart rate
deceleration
Decrease in HR occurs at the onset of uterine contraction and pretty much returns to baseline by the end of the contraction
Early (Type I) deceleration
The decrease in HR occurs after the onset of the contraction
Late (Type II) decelerations