Obstetrics - Labour Flashcards
Normal labour definition and characteristics
Onset of painful and regular contractions
- Contractions
- Cervical show - Shedding of mucus plug
- ROM
- Shortening and dilation of cervix
Hormones in labour
Prostaglandins
- Decrease cervical resistance
- Stimulate release of oxytocin from posterior pituitary
Oxytocin - Stimulates uterine contraction
Monitoring in labour
- Foetal HR - Continuously
- Uterine contractions - 30 minutes
- Maternal HR - 1 hour
- Maternal BP - 4 hours
- Maternal temperature - 4 hours
- Urine - 4 hours
- PV - 4 hours
Diagnosis of labour
Regular painful contractions
Cervical dilation and effacement
Stage 1 labour
Onset of true labour to full dilation of cervix
10-16 hours
Latent - 0-3cm - 6 hours
Active - 3-10cm
- 2cm / hour if multiparous
- 1cm / hour if nulliparous
Abnormal stage 1 causes
Inefficient uterine contractions - Most common in nulliparous
Cephalopelvic disproportion - Most common in multiparous
Management of inefficient uterine contractions
Augment labour
- Amniotomy
- Syntocinon
Cephalopelvic disproportion causes, presentation and management
Causes
- Malposition
- Malpresentation
- Inadequate pelvis
- May lead to secondary arrest
Signs - Caput and moulding
Management - CS
Stage 2 labour
Full dilation of cervix to delivery of baby
Passive - No pushing
Active - Pushing
- 20 minutes if multiparous
- 40 minutes if nulliparous
Transient foetal bradycardia!
Abnormal stage 2 diagnosis and management
Multiparous > 1 hour
Nulliparous > 2 hours
Management
- Ventouse
- Forceps
- CS
- Episiotomy
Stage 3 labour
Delivery of foetus to delivery of placenta
15 minutes
Stage 3 labour management
Physiological - Maternal effort alone
- No synometrine or syntocinon
- Cord allowed to stop pulsating before clamping and cutting
Active - Decreases risk of PPH
- IM synometrine or syntocinon
- Clamping and cutting of cord
- Controlled cord traction - Push down suprapubically to prevent uterine inversion
Presentation
Part of the foetus occupying the lower segment
90% vertex
Breech
Cephalic
Presenting part
Lowest palpable part of foetus
Position
Where the head is in the outlet
Occiput
OA
OP
OT
Attitude
Degree of head flexion
Brow
Vertex
Face
Lie
Longitudinal axis of foetus
Longitudinal
Oblique
Transverse
Engagement
Widest part of the presenting part (usually head) has passed through the widest part of the pelvic inlet
Station
How far in the pelvis the baby’s head is
Movements in stage 2 labour
- Engage in OT
- Descent in flexion
- Internal rotation to OA
- Descent in OA
- Crowning
- Extension to deliver
- Internal rotation of shoulders to AP
- Restitution of head - In line with shoulders
- Lateral flexion of shoulder to deliver
Induction of labour indications
BISHOP SCORE < 5
Maternal
- Post-date > 12 days
- Diabetes > 38 weeks
- Pre-eclampsia
Foetal
- IUGR
- Pre-labour preterm ROM
Rhesus incompatibility
Bishop score
Spontaneous > 9
Requires induction < 5
Cervical position Cervical consistency Cervical effacement Cervical dilation Foetal station
Induction of labour methods
Prostaglandins - E2
- Best for nulliparous
- Inserted into post-vaginal fornix
Amniotomy + Oxytocin
- Amniotic hook - Risk of chorioamnitis
- No response on 2 hours - Oxytocin
Cervical sweep - Painful!
- Finger inserted through cervix between membranes and uterus
Induction of labour contraindications
Maternal - Something in the way?
- Vasa previa
- Cord prolapse
- Placenta previa
- Obstruction - Pelvic mass
- Premature
- Previous CS
Foetal - Distress!
- Abnormal lie
- Malpresentation
Induction of labour complications
Slow labour
Fast labour
PPH
Infection
Preterm pre-labour ROM
2% pregnancies
Associated with 40% preterm deliveries
ROM < 37 weeks
No contractions
PPROM complications
Foetal
- Prematurity
- Infection
- RDS
Maternal - Chorioamnitis
PPROM investigations and management
Admit and monitor!
Sterile speculum exam
USS - Assess foetal presentation
CTG - Assess foetal state
Infection swab
Oral erythromycin - 10 days
Dexamethasone - Reduce risk of RDS
Delivery at 34-36 weeks
Prolonger labour causes
The Ps!
Power - Nulliparous ladies?
- Insufficient uterine contraction
- Augmentation - Amniotomy + Oxytocin
Passenger
- Malpresentation
- Abnormal lie
Passage - CPD