Obstetrics Flashcards
Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
- fallopian tube damage - e.g. salpingitis, previous surgery
- previous ectopic
- IVF
Referred pain in an ectopic pregnancy?
Shoulder tip pain due to peritoneal bleeding.
What is a threatened miscarriage?
- painless vaginal bleeding occurring before 24 weeks
- cervical os is closed
When does a threatened miscarriage usually occur?
6 - 9 weeks
How common is a threatened miscarriage?
Complicates up to 25% of pregnancies.
What is a missed miscarriage?
Gestational sac containing a dead fetus before 20 weeks, without symptoms of expulsion.
What is an inevitable miscarriage?
- heavy bleeding with clots and pain
- cervical os is open
What is placental abruption?
Separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, resulting in maternal haemorrhage into the intervening space.
Clinical features of placental abruption?
- shock (doesn’t match visible blood loss)
- constant abdominal pain
- tender, tense uterus
- absent / distressed fetal heartbeat
Risk factors for placental abruption?
- proteinuric hypertension
- cocaine use
- multiparity
- maternal trauma
- increasing maternal age
Complication of placental abruption?
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Presentation of symphysis pubis dysfunction?
- pain over the pubic symphysis
- radiation to groins and medial thighs
- waddling gait
Where does pre-eclampsia abdominal pain occur?
- epigastric
- RUQ
How does uterine rupture present?
- maternal shock
- abdominal pain
- vaginal bleeding
When does uterine rupture typically occur?
During labour, but sometimes in the third trimester.
Risk factors for uterine rupture?
Previous C section
How does appendicitis present during pregnancy?
First trimester - RLQ pain.
Second trimester - umbilical pain.
Third trimester - RUQ pain.
What are the risks of UTI in pregnancy?
- pre-term delivery
- IUGR
What does increased alpha feto-protein suggest in pregnancy?
- neural tube defects
- adominal wall defects
- multiple pregnancy
What does decreased alpha feto-protein suggest in pregnancy?
- Dpwn’s syndrome
- trisomy 18 (Edward’s syndrome)
- maternal diabetes
What is an amniotic fluid embolism?
Amniotic fluid / fetal cells enter the mother’s bloodstream. Rare complication with a high mortality rate.
When does amniotic fluid embolism typically occur?
- majority of cases during labour
- during C section
- immediate post-partum
Clinical presentation of amniotic fluid embolism?
- chills & shivering
- sweating
- anxiety
- coughing
- cyanosis
- hypotension
- tachycardia
- arrhythmia
- MI
How is amniotic fluid embolism managed?
Critical care unit, mainly supportive care.
What supplements should women take antenatally?
- folic acid
- vitamin D
Which vitamin should not be supplemented in pregnancy?
Vitamin A - high intake may be teratogenic.
Standard dose of folic acid in pregnancy?
400mcg
When should folic acid be taken in pregnancy?
From before conception until 12 weeks.
Risks of smoking in pregnancy?
- low birthweight
- preterm birth
Which food-acquired infection are pregnant women at risk of?
- listeriosis
- salmonella
How can listeriosis be avoided in pregnancy?
Avoid:
- unpasteurised milk
- ripened soft cheese (Camembert, Brie, blue cheese)
- pate
- undercooked meat
How can salmonella be avoided in pregnancy?
Avoid raw or partially cooked eggs and meat - particularly poultry.
How should nausea and vomiting in pregnancy be managed?
- natural remedies: ginger, acupuncture on wrist point
- anti-histamines (promethazine) are first-line
When should the booking appointment take place in pregnancy?
8-12 weeks (ideally before 10 weeks).
What takes place at the booking appointment?
- general information and advice (diet, alcohol, smoking, supplements, etc)
- BP
- urine dipstick & culture
- BMI
- bloods
What bloods are done at the booking appointment?
- FBC
- blood group, rhesus status, red cell alloantibodies
- haemoglobinopathies
- hep B, syphilis, HIV
When is the dating scan performed?
10 - 13+6 weeks
When does Down’s syndrome screening take place?
11 - 13+6 weeks
What takes place at the 16 week appointment?
- blood results discussed
- consider iron if Hb < 110
- BP & urine dipstick
When does the anomaly scan take place?
18 - 20+6 weeks
What is routine care at antenatal appointments?
- BP
- urine dipstick
- symphysis-fundal height
What takes place at the 28 week appointment?
- second screen for anaemia and red cell alloantibodies
- consider iron if Hb < 105
- first dose anti-D to rhesus -ve women
- routine care
What takes place at the 34 week appointment?
- routine care
- second dose of anti-D to rhesus -ve women
What takes place at the 36 week appointment?
- routine care
- check presentation & offer external cephalic version if indicated
Is GBS routinely screened for in pregnancy?
No
What is antepartum haemorrhage?
Bleeding from the genital tract after 24 weeks of pregnancy (prior to delivery of the fetus).
Should vaginal examination be performed for suspected antepartum haemorrhage?
No - risk of haemorrhage in placenta praevia.
Features of placenta praevia?
- shock in proportion to visible blood loss
- painless
- uterus not tender
- fetal heart usually normal
Major causes of bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy?
- (threatened) miscarriage
- ectopic pregnancy
- hydatidiform mole
Major causes of bleeding during the second trimester?
- (threatened) miscarriage
- hydatidiform mole
- placental abruption
Major causes of bleeding during the third trimester?
- bloody show
- placental abruption
- placenta praevia
- vasa praevia
Presentation of a hydatidiform mole?
- bleeding in first / early second trimester
- associated with exaggerated symptoms of pregnancy (e.g. hyperemesis, uterus large for dates)
- serum hCG very high
Presentation of vasa praevia?
- rupture of membranes
- immediate vaginal bleeding
- fetal bradycardia
How is a blocked milk duct managed?
- continue breastfeeding
- advice on positioning of the baby
- breast massage
How is nipple candidiasis managed?
- miconazole cream for the mother
- nystatin suspension for the baby
How common is mastitis?
Affects 1 in 10 breastfeeding women.
When should mastitis be treated with antibiotics?
- systemically unwell
- nipple fissure present
- symptoms do not improve after 12-24 hours of effective milk removal
- culture indicates infection
First-line treatment for mastitis?
Flucloxacillin for 10-14 days.
Can breastfeeding continue with mastitis?
Yes
Complication of mastitis?
Breast abscess - requires incision and drainage.
How does breast engorgement present?
- typically occurs in the first few days after delivery
- usually affects both breasts
- pain / discomfort worse before a feed
- poor milk flow
- infant has difficulties attaching & suckling
- fever (settles within 24 hours)
- breasts may appear red
Complications of breast engorgement?
- blocked milk ducts
- mastitis
- breastfeeding difficulties
- reduced milk supply
Management of breast engorgement?
Hand expression of milk.
How does Raynaud’s disease of the nipple present?
- intermittent pain present during & immediately after feeding
- blanching of the nipple followed by cyanosis / erythema
Initial management of Raynaud’s disease of the nipple?
- minimise exposure to cold
- apply heat packs following breastfeeding
- avoid caffeine
- stop smoking
Further management if Raynaud’s disease of the nipple persists?
Consider specialist referral for a trial of oral nifedipine.
How much weight is normal for babies to lose in the first week of life?
< 10%
How should poor weight gain be managed in breast fed infants?
- expert review of feeding - e.g. midwife-led breastfeeding clinic
- monitor weight gain until satisfactory
Non-medication related breastfeeding contraindications?
- galactosaemia (in the baby)
- HIV-positive mother
- active untreated TB
- active HSV lesions on breasts
- maternal substance abuse
- active chickenpox infection
Can mothers with hep B / C breastfeed?
Yes - benefits outweigh the risks.
Can mothers who smoke / drink alcohol breastfeed?
Yes - benefits outweigh the risks. Avoid breastfeeding for 2+ hours after alcohol intake.
Which antibiotics can be used when breastfeeding?
- penicillins
- cephalosporins
- trimethoprim
Which antibiotics cannot be used when breastfeeding?
- ciprofloxacin
- tetracycline
- sulphonamides
Can glucocorticoids be taken when breastfeeding?
Yes, but avoid high doses.
Can levothyroxine be taken when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is sodium valproate safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is carbamazepine safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is salbutamol safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is theophylline safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Are TCAs safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Are antipsychotics safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes, apart from clozapine which should be avoided.
Are beta-blockers safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is hydralazine safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is warfarin / heparin safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is digoxin safe to use when breastfeeding?
Yes
Is lithium safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Are benzodiazepines safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Is aspirin safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Is carbimazole safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Is methotrexate safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Are sulfonylureas safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
Is amiodarone safe to use when breastfeeding?
No
How can lactation be suppressed?
- stop suckling / expressing
- well-supported bra
- cabergoline - first-line medication
How does cabergoline suppress lactation?
Dopaminergic - suppresses prolactin.
Percentage of breech pregnancies at 28 weeks?
25%
Percentage of breech pregnancies at term?
3%
Extended (frank) vs flexed vs footling breech?
Extended - hips flexed and knees extended.
Flexed - hips and knees flexed.
Footling - one or both feet are present below the fetal buttocks.
Most common type of breech presentation?
Extended (frank) breech.
Risk factors for breech presentation?
- uterine malformation, fibroids
- placenta praevia
- poly / oligohydramnios
- fetal abnormality (e.g. chromosomal disorder)
- prematurity
Management of breech presentation < 36 weeks?
No intervention, monitor fetal lie. Many fetuses will turn spontaneously.
Management of breech presentation at 36 weeks?
Offer external cephalic version.
Success rate of external cephalic version?
60%
External cephalic version timing in nulliparous vs multiparous women?
Nulliparous - from 36 weeks.
Multiparous - from 37 weeks.
Management of breech position if ECV unsuccessful / contraindicated / declined?
Counselling on C section vs vaginal delivery.
C section vs vaginal delivery for breech presentation?
- C section carries reduced perinatal mortality & early neonatal morbidity compared to vaginal delivery.
- No difference for long term health outcomes.
Contraindications for external cephalic version?
- C section is required
- antepartum haemorrhage within 7 days
- abnormal CTG
- major uterine anomaly
- ruptured membranes
- multiple pregnancy
When is a cat 1 C section indicated?
Immediate threat to the life of the mother or baby - delivery should occur within 30 minutes of making the decision.
Examples of indications for a cat 1 C section?
- suspected uterine rupture
- major placental abruption
- cord prolapse
- fetal hypoxia
- persistent fetal bradycardia
When is a cat 2 C section indicated?
Maternal or fetal compromise which is not immediately life threatening - delivery should occur within 75 minutes of making the decision.
When is a cat 3 C section indicated?
Delivery is required, but mother and baby are stable.
What is a cat 4 C section?
Elective
Serious maternal risks of C section?
- emergency hysterectomy
- need for further surgery (e.g. retained placental tissue)
- ICU admission
- thromboembolism
- bladder / ureteric injury
- death
Frequent maternal risks of C section?
- wound / abdominal discomfort in the first few months after surgery
- repeat C section when attempting VBAC
- readmission
- haemorrhage
- infection
Frequent fetal risks of C section?
Laceration (1-2%)
Risks to future pregnancies after C section?
- uterine rupture
- antepartum stillbirth
- placenta praevia
- placenta accreta
How successful is VBAC?
70-75%
Contraindications to VBAC?
- uterine rupture
- classical C section scar (vertical)
When is VBAC appropriate?
37+ weeks gestation with a single previous C section delivery.
Normal fetal heart rate?
100-160 bpm
What is considered loss of baseline variability on CTG?
< 5 bpm variability.
Causes of loss of baseline variability?
- prematurity
- hypoxia
Causes of baseline tachycardia on CTG?
- maternal pyrexia
- chorioamnionitis
- hypoxia
- prematurity
What is an early deceleration?
HR deceleration which starts at the onset of a contraction and returns to normal when the contraction is completed.
What do early decels indicate?
Head compression during contractions.
What are late decelerations?
HR deceleration which lags after the onset of a contraction and does not return to normal until 30s after the contraction is completed.
What do late decels indicate?
Fetal distress
What are variable decelerations?
Deceleration in HR independent of contractions.
What do variable decels indicate?
May indicate cord compression.
Maternal risk of varicella exposure in pregnancy?
5x greater risk of pneumonitis.
Fetal risk of varicella exposure in pregnancy?
- fetal varicella syndrome risk if exposed at < 20 weeks gestation (rare after 20 weeks)
- shingles in infancy (if exposed in second / third trimester)
- severe neonatal varicella if mother develops rash from 5 days before up to 2 days after birth