OB lecture 3: Complications of Labor

Question 1

How many weeks gestation is considered a “term” pregnancy?

Answer 1

for a singleton prenancy: 37-40 weeks

The mean duration of pregnancy is 40 weeks from first day of LMP.

Question 2

Preterm Labor is defined as:

Answer 2

regular uterine contractions occurring at least q10 min resulting in cervical change (dilation) prior to 37 weeks.

Question 3

preterm birth = ___-___% of deliveries in the USA and accounts for >80% of perinatal morbidity and mortality

Answer 3

7-12%

Question 4

Low birth weight (LBW) is considered:

Answer 4

any infant less than 2,500g at birth. (5.5 lbs)

very low birth weight (VLBW) is considered ANY INFANT < 1500g

Question 5

Mortality rate approaches 90% for infants born less than ___ weeks.

Answer 5

24

Question 6

Survival exceeds 90% when greater than ___ weeks and is greater than 98% by ___ weeks

Answer 6

30

34

Survival can increase by about 5% each day between 25-26 weeks.

Question 7

Preterm Labor is associated with genital tract colonization with ______, ______, and _______.

Answer 7

Group B Strep

Gonorrhea

Bacterial Vaginosis

Question 8

Risks to infant associated with PreTerm Labor:

Answer 8

• Respiratory distress syndrome (most infants less than 27 weeks)
• sepsis
• necrotizing enterocolitis
• Ischemia cerebral damage (cerebral palsy)
• intracranial hemorrhage (uncontrolled delivery/neonatal HTN)
• Immature metabolism (prolonged drug effects)
• hyperbilirubinemia

Question 9

Tocolytic therapy aims to do what?

Answer 9

Attempts to stop or slow contractions to avoid preterm delivery.

Question 10

Tocolytic therapy has not been proven to prolong gestation or reduce neonatal morbidity in long-term therapy. Tocolytic therapy is used as a short term therapy for less than ___ hours to permit ____ treatment to aid fetal lung maturation.

Answer 10

<48 hours

Corticosteroid treatment

Question 11

_____Inhibits the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin.

Answer 11

Ethanol