Obstetrics Flashcards
Shoulder dystocia management includes:
- Apply downward suprapubic pressure
2. McRobert’s manoeuvre, woman is supine and the legs are hyperflexed towards the abdomen
Following artificial rupture of the membranes, fetal bradycardia is noted on the cardiotocograph (CTG). This prompts the midwife to perform a vaginal examination, during which the umbilical cord is found to be palpable just below the presenting part.
Umbilical cord prolapse noticed management:
- Call for senior help
- Push the presenting part into the uterus during contractions to prevent compression of the umbilical cord (if the cord is past the level of the introitus, there should be minimal handling and it should be kept warm and moist to avoid vasospasm)
- ‘all fours’ (i.e. on the floor on hands and knees) and adopt the knee-to-chest position (bringing the knees towards the chest and raising the bottom in the air so that it is higher than the head).
- Catheterization of the bladder is performed during umbilical cord prolapse, the purpose of this is to fill the bladder with 500-750mL of saline by attaching the catheter to an intravenous giving set. This helps to elevate the presenting part, preventing compression of the cord.
- Consider delivery of the baby (caesarian section is the usual first-line method of delivery, an instrumental vaginal delivery is possible if the cervix is fully dilated and the head is low).
- tocolytics may be used to reduce uterine contractions
Risk factors for cord prolapse include:
- prematurity
- multiparity
- polyhydramnios
- twin pregnancy
- cephalopelvic disproportion
- abnormal presentations e.g. Breech, transverse lie
If after 28/40 weeks, if a woman reports (Physical examination is unremarkable, and observations are stable) reduced fetal movements and kicking has reduced with no complications throughout the pregnancy and no fetal heart is detected with handheld Doppler then what the next step in management:
An immediate ultrasound should be offered
Note if a heartbeat was detected, then a CTG should be used for at least 20 mins to monitor the heart rate
Reduced fetal movements can represent:
fetal distress, as a method of fetal compensation to reduce oxygen consumption as a response to chronic hypoxia in utero.
This is concerning, as it reflects risk of stillbirth and fetal growth restriction.
It is believed that there may also be a link between reduced fetal movements and placental insufficiency.
What is the first onset of recognised fetal movement which occurs between 18-20 weeks gestation is known as
quickening
Fetal movements start and increase till what weeks:
18-20 weeks gestation and increase until 32 weeks gestation at which point the frequency of movement tends to plateau
Multiparous women will usually experience fetal movements sooner, true or false:
True, they experience it at 16-18 weeks gestation (towards the end of pregnancy, fetal movements should not reduce)
Normally it occurs between 18-20 weeks and increase between until 32 weeks gestation at which point the frequency of movement tends to plateau
According to the RCOG what is considered for fetal movements indication for further assessment:
Considers less than 10 movements within 2 hours ((in pregnancies past 28 weeks gestation) an indication for further assessment).
If the mother is past 28 weeks gestation, and there’s a heart rate present confirmed via a handheld doppler and then a CTG is used for at least 20 mins which can assist in excluding fetal compromise, but concerns remain, what should be done next:
ultrasound assessment should include abdominal circumference or estimated fetal weight (to exclude SGA), and amniotic fluid volume measurement
Gravida number refers to what:
the TOTAL number of pregnancies, including the present one (twin pregnancy counts as one pregnancy) but since two children past 24 wks then para 2
Parity refers to:
the number of children delivered whether alive or dead after 24 weeks, twins count as Para 2 but grava 1 (cos one pregnancy)
What are the stages of labour:
Labour may be divided in to three stages
stage 1: from the onset of true labour to when the cervix is fully dilated
stage 2: from full dilation to delivery of the fetus
stage 3: from delivery of fetus to when the placenta and membranes have been completely delivered
primigravida woman have stage 1 labour lasting typically:
10-16 hrs
stage 1 has the latent phase = 0-3 cm dilation, normally takes 6 hours
active phase = 3-10 cm dilation, normally 1cm/hr
When you give birth, your baby usually comes out headfirst with 90% of this, this is also called:
vertex position
Stage 1 refers to the onset of what….
the onset of true labour to when the cervix if fully dilated
Stage 2 of labours refers to:
from full dilation to delivery of the fetus
Stage 3 of labour refers to:
from delivery of fetus to when the placenta and membranes have been completely delivered
When the head of the baby enters the pelvis in the occipito-lateral position, the head normally delivers:
in an occipito-anterior position
In stage 1 labour, the first stage of it, latent phase, the dilation is how many cm and takes how long:
0-3 cm dilation, normally takes 6 hrs
In stage 1 labour, the second stage of it, active phase, the dilation is how many cm and at what rate:
3-10 cm dilation, normally 1cm/hr
The birth of the foetus refers to which stage of labour:
second stage
The delivery of the placenta refers to which stage of labour:
3rd stage
Stage 1 labour involves which features:
- Onset of regular contractions
- Gradual dilation of the cervix
- It ends once at 10cm cervical dilation when the cervix is considered fully effaced (shortening and thinning of the cervix)
How does cervix effacement happens and what stage:
Occurs during stage 1 of labour
Fetus’s head drops into the pelvis, pushing it against the cervix. This process stretches the cervix, causing it to thin and shorten
10 cm dilation
A pregnant woman has pre-eclampsia, but they can’t give the first line treatment oral labetalol cos she is asthmatic, what should be given instead:
Nifedipine (e.g. if asthmatic) and hydralazine may also be used
A mother at 37 weeks pregnant with preterm-PROM triad of maternal pyrexia, maternal tachycardia, and fetal tachycardia points to:
chorioamnionitis
chorioamnionitis, a medical emergency, has what treatment for mother at 37 weeks for example:
- IV antibiotics
- Immediate cesarean section
A pregnant has preterm premature rupture of membranes, but now presents with a fever, what is most likely?
Chorioamnionitis (which can affect up to 5% of all pregnancies) is a potentially life-threatening condition to both mother and foetus
Considered a medical emergency
It is usually the result of an ascending bacterial infection of the amniotic fluid / membranes / placenta
The major risk factor in this scenario is the preterm premature rupture of membranes (however, it can still occur when the membranes are still intact) which expose the normally sterile environment of the uterus to potential pathogens
Prompt delivery of the foetus (via c- section if necessary) and administration of intravenous antibiotics is widely considered the mainstay of initial treatment for this condition.
A pregnant woman is at 37 weeks, but prior 3 weeks ago had urinary incontinence with some discharge after, but now presents with a fever, what does it suggest?
chorioamnionitis
What is the triad for a woman with
chorioamnionitis with preterm-PROM?
- Maternal Pyrexia
- Maternal tachycardia
- Fetal tachycardia
What is the screening test for gestational diabetes:
oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
Screening for gestational diabetes for a mother with previous GD, should be screened at how many weeks?
- Offered ASAP after booking
Screening for gestational diabetes for a mother with previous GD, with a normal first test should be screened at how many weeks?
At 24-28 weeks
NICE recommend what test as an alternative to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT):
Early self-monitoring of blood glucose is an alternative to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
According to NICE, what is the diagnostic thresholds values for gestational diabetes:
NICE, gestational diabetes is diagnosed if either:
fasting glucose is >= 5.6 mmol/L
2-hour glucose is >= 7.8 mmol/L
What is the 6 steps management plan of pre-existing diabetes:
- weight loss for women with BMI of > 27 kg/m^2
- stop oral hypoglycaemic agents, apart from metformin, and commence insulin
- folic acid 5 mg/day from pre-conception to 12 weeks gestation
- detailed anomaly scan at 20 weeks including four-chamber view of the heart and outflow tracts
- tight glycaemic control reduces complication rates
- treat retinopathy as can worsen during pregnancy
When should glibenclamide be offered in gestational diabetes:
For women who cannot tolerate metformin or those who fail to meet the glucose targets with metformin but decline insulin treatment
When should Metformin used for gestational diabetes:
when the fasting glucose level is below 7mmol/L AND glucose targets are still not being met despite lifestyle changes for 1-2 weeks
If patient’s blood glucose level is well above 7mmol/L, therefore, offering metformin would not be correct (give insulin instead)
If pregnant woman with gestational diabetes declines insulin, what should be given instead:
Glibenclamide
Sulfonylureas such as Glibenclamide should only be offered for women who cannot tolerate metformin or those who fail to meet the glucose targets with metformin but decline insulin treatment
Can Empagliflozin be given in gestational diabetes?
No as SGLT-2-inhibitors have no role in the management of gestational diabetes
If a pt has a fasting blood glucose above 7, will advising to maintain a healthy diet and exercise be enough to avoid the complications?
Nope, a fasting glucose above 7 requires medication (insulin)
Whilst the patient can be advised to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, this must be done in conjunction with medication.
Simply eating healthy and exercising will not be enough to prevent the complications of gestational diabetes.
Metformin is given if the fasting blood glucose is below 7mmol/L
Gestational diabetes, what should be started if the fasting plasma glucose level is < 7 mmol/l and a trial of diet and exercise is offered
but the glucose targets are not met within 1-2 weeks of altering diet/exercise?
metformin
If the plasma glucose level is between 6-6.9 mmol/l, and there is evidence of complications such as macrosomia or hydramnios, what should be started?
insulin
What’s the first line in gestational diabetes, if the fasting plasma glucose level is < 7 mmol/l? Should a medication first be started?
No, a trial of diet and exercise should be offered for 1-2 weeks first
If not glucose targets not met, then start on metformin
The diet for gestational diabetes should include one with a:
low glycaemic index
Remember exercise should be included
Gestational diabetes is treated with what sort of sub-cut insulin: long or short?
SHORT acting
Not long acting SC insulin
Long-acting insulin is not preferred in pregnancy as it may be associated with adverse birth outcomes. Equally, it may lead to maternal hypoglycaemia.
Short-acting alone gives better post-prandial glucose control and is more flexible in terms of responding to the different day-to-day diets of a pregnant woman
If glucose targets not met after, diet, exercise and metformin, what should be started:
Insulin
Fetal bradycardia is classically seen in what of the causes of antepartum haemorrhage:
Vasa praevia
Tender, tense uterus but with normal lie and presentation, and constant abdo pain is what of the causes of APH?
Placental abruption
Which examination should NOT be performed in primary care for APH before doing a ultrasound?
vaginal examination, women with placenta praevia may haemorrhage
Hydatidiform mole has what features:
Typically bleeding in first or early second trimester
associated with exaggerated symptoms of pregnancy e.g. hyperemesis
The uterus may be large for dates and serum hCG is very high
A pregnant woman has ruptured her membrane, but following this, there is vaginal bleeding immediately, fetal bradycardiac, what is the cause of the APH?
Vasa praevia
What is the cause of APH, there is painless vaginal bleeding?
Placental praevia (no pain) Placental abruption has constant abdo pain
A tender tense uterus with normal lie and presentation in APH is:
Placental abruption
A woman presents in the first and another woman in the second, both present with bleeding and exaggerated symptoms of pregancy such as hyperemesis.
The scan the uterus is large for date and serum hCG is very high, what is the APH diagnosis?
Hydatidiform mole
What should be ruled out if bleeding during pregnancy?
STIs and cervical polys should be excluded
Potential Gestational diabetes: if the fasting plasma glucose is < 7 mmol/l a trial of diet and exercise should be offered for 1-2 weeks….what diet should be offered?
advised to eat a high fibre diet with minimal foods containing refined sugars
balanced diet, high in fruit, vegetables, and unrefined foods
Gestational diabetes is caused by:
insulin insensitivity which affects women across the BMI spectrum