Obs Flashcards
Services requirements for the provision of intrapartum care
Timely access to - obstetric, midwifery, neonatal / paediatric, anaesthetic, operating theatre, resuscitation services, ICU consultation, haematology, blood bank
Birth centres ideally placed within (or immediately adjacent to) an appropriately resourced 24h obstetric facility
If by virtue of remote location, on-site services cannot be provided, women should be informed of the limitations of services available and implications for intrapartum and postpartum care
- Formal systems must be in place to ensure safe and timely transfer if required
% of women developing peripartum complications requiring transfer in low risk population
Amongst women selected for low obstetric risk, ~25% will develop peripartum complications necessitating transfer to an obstetrician led services
RANZCOG recommended routine labour cares
VE is indicated for women admitted in apparent labour unless there are contraindications - Should be done within 4h to diagnose and assess the progress of labour.
Care is optimised where there is a 1:1 midwifery support in labour in collaborative service
Involve woman and her support person in management decisions
WHO recommends maternal observations be graphically displayed on a partogram to facilitate review of progress
HR, BP, RR, temp, contraction frequency, duration, intensity, abdominal palpation, VE findings, liquor colour / presence, FHR
Labour positioning
Women should be encouraged to ambulate freely according to comfort, where it does not compromise maternal and fetal observations in labour
- Cochrane 2013 - first stage of labour may be approx 1h 20m shorter for women who are upright or walk around (Better studies needed to validate these results)
Fluids and oral intake in labour
Some evidence that inadequate hydration may increase the length of labour and need for oxytocin augmentation
Encourage clear fluids and light diet in active phase of labour to minimise risk of aspiration pneumonitis
Antibiotics in labour
For prevention of GBS
For women at risk of chorioamnionitis or where other bacterial infection is suspected - e.g. fever >38 on one occasion or >37.4 on two occasions
Women with cardiac lesions susceptible to infective endocarditis
Impact of ARM on labour
Evidence that routine ARM shortens labour is largely lacking (Cochrane review 2009)
Risk of infection increased following rupture of membranes
ARM provides useful information on fetal wellbeing (liquor volume and colour)
Relative contraindications of ARM
HBV, HCV, HSV and HIV infection
- In order to minimise the risks of ascending infection
- In developing countries where incidence of HIV is high, amniotomy is developed in labour to reduce vertical transmission rates
Presenting part high and mobile
Monitoring labour progress
Most trials do 2 hourly cervical assessments
- Enables dystocia to be diagnosed and correctly early
- But added maternal discomfort of more frequent exams and potential for introducing infection
Compromise: 4 hourly VE
If full dilatation not clinically apparent after a woman is 9cm, further VE beneficial to confirm full dilatation or allow diagnosis of FTP if not fully
Second stage
- Reassessment at 2h in primigravida and 1h in multigravida
Definition of failure to progress
1st stage
Before established labour
No upper limit to the length of the ‘latent phase’ can be defined
Not uncommon for labour to stop and start before finally established
Recurrent or prolonged episodes of spurious labour may contribute to a legitimate decision for IOL in some women
Definition of failure to progress
1st stage
In established labour
- primigravida
10th centile for progress of cervical dilatation in labour is 0.9 cm/hour (primigravida)
Threshold at which slow cervical dilatation merits a recommendation for oxytocin:
- Individualised with an informed discussion with the woman
- Commonly 1cm/hr for most women in spontaneous labour
- May be as high as 1cm / 2hr in women prioritising low intervention
Definition of failure to progress
1st stage
In established labour
- multigravida
10th centile for progress of cervical dilatation is 1.2cm/hr (multigravida)
Caution for augmentation as increased risk of uterine rupture compared to primigravida
Definition of failure to progress
2nd stage
Progress in includes flexion, rotation and descent
Normal for primigravida = up to 2 hours
Normal for multigravida = up to 1 hours
When to consider episiotomy
Episiotomy should be considered where there is a high likelihood of severe laceration
- Soft tissue dystocia
- Requirement to accelerate birth of a compromised fetus
- Need to facilitate operative vaginal birth
- History of FGM
When to recommend physiological third stage
“Expectant” or “physiological” management cannot be recommended on the basis of evidence and is associated with approximately a two-fold increase in the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage and an increased risk of blood transfusion when compared with active management
Associations of delayed cord clamping in preterm infants
reduced risk of requiring transfusion, infection, NEC, and intraventricular haemorrhage
Associations of delayed cord clamping in term infants
increased haematocrit and reduced iron deficiency at 3-6 months of age
However increased risk of polycythaemia and jaundice
No clear evidence to guide practitioners regarding DCC in term infants
Infants are most likely to benefit if maternal iron stores are low, or in infants who will be exclusively breast fed without iron supplementation
Positioning for delayed cord clamping
~75% of available placental blood for transfusion is achieved in the first minute
Transfer of blood from placenta to newborn is facilitated by the infant being held below the level of the in situ placenta
- If infant 10cm above or below the placenta, transfusion is complete within 3 mins
- If 40cm below, transfusion time is shortened to 1 min
Routine newborn care
- Assess immediately as to the need for resuscitation
- Skin-to-skin should be facilitated providing there are no maternal or neonatal complications
- Apgar scores at 1 and 5 mins of age
- Regular neonatal obs - RR, HR, colour, tone, reflex irritability
- Observe for signs of respiratory distress - grunting, nasal flaring, intercostal retraction, tachypnoea, cyanosis
- IM vitamin K recommended
Routine maternal postpartum care
Regular maternal obs (HR, BP, temp)
Palpation of the uterine fundus to exclude atony
Inspection of the perineum to exclude excessive PP blood loss or development of vulval haematoma
Debriefing opportunities should be provided following an adverse outcome or experience that did not meet the expectations of the woman or her partner
Reasons for GDM screening
Evidence suggests benefit of reduced perinatal mortality in screening and treating GDM
RANZCOG GDM screening recommendation
75g 2h OGTT at 26-28 weeks
Earlier if high risk, and repeat at 24-28/40 if negative
Fasting: >/= 5.1 mmol/l
1h: >/- 10.0 mmol/l
2h: >/= 8.5 mmol/l
Polycose not recommended
GDM risk factors
Pre-pregnancy BMI >30
Previous macrosomic baby (>4.5kg or >90th centile)
Previous GDM / hyperglycaemia in pregnancyFHx of diabetes (1st degree relative or sister with GDM)
Minority ethnic family origin with high prevalence of diabetes
- Asian, Indian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, Maori, Middle Eastern, non-white African
PCOS
Medications - corticosteroids, antipsychotics
Maternal age >40
ADIPS diabetes mellitus in pregnancy diagnosis
Fasting >/= 7.0 mmol/l
2h or random >/= 11.1mmol/l
BSL targets on treatment
Fasting: <5.0 mmol/L
2 hours after meals: <6.7 mmol/L
If >10% of readings above targets, then reassess treatment
Iodine supplementation recommendation
RDI if pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breast feeding: 150 micrograms/day
Definition of overt hypothyrodism
Overt hypothyroidism should be treated in pregnancy
- TSH >reference range with decreased T4, OR
- TSH >10mIU/L, irrespective of the level of FT4
RANZCOG recommendation for screening for hypothyroidism in pregnancy
No studies show thyroxine influences outcome
Routine screening and treatment not recommended
Test if symptoms of thyroid disease or personal Hx of thyroid disease