Pregnancy Flashcards
What does Laxin do?
Relaxes joints
This includes non-mobile joints like the pubic symphysis
Why is anaesthesia dangerous in pregnancy?
It often leads to aspiration
Why are pregnant women likey to get oedema?
They are less likely to secrete sodium ions, leading to accumulation of fluid
What is oedema associated with in pregnancy?
Preeclampsia
How much weight do women tend to gain in pregnancy?
10-14kg
Split in to 2kg in first semester, 5kg in second/third
Why are pregnant women more susceptible to thyroid issues?
Relative iodine pregnancy as actively transported to child
Thyroid often increases in size
Note - if already deficient, can lead to goitre
What are the changes in breast in pregnant women?
Increased size and vascularity Increased pigmentation of areola/nipple Secondary areola ppears Montogomery tubercles appear on areola Fluid can be secreted from 3rd month
What was the biggest cause of maternal death in pregancy in previous years?
Cardio vascular diseasecomplications
What are the cardiovascular changes in pregnant women?
Increased circulating blood volume (50-70%)
Systemic vascular resistance falls (prostaglandins partially responsible)
Increased blood flow
Increase Cardiac output, and heart rate (upto 10-20)
Increase oxygen consumption
Why is it dangerous to be in the supine position when pregnant?
Can compress IVC
Why are epidurals the preferred pain reduction method?
Anaesthesia can cause regurg
Also reduces peripheral resistance so decreases cardiac problems
What are the intrapartum cardiovascular changes?
Autotransfusions of contractions
Pain due to increasing catecholamines
Cardiac outputs increase by 10% in labour
By 80% in post delivery hour although not safe until after 3 months
What are the respiratory changes in a pregnant woman?
Increase in oxygen demand
Increase in ventilation/resp rate
Increased tidal volume
PEFR + PEV1 unchanged
PCO2 decreases (like mild respiratory alkalosis)
Work harder, but reduced expansion potential
What are the renal changes in a pregnant woman?
Dilation or urinary collecting system, more dramatic on right
Increased renal plasma flow
Increased GFR + creatine clearance (up to 50%)
Protein excretion increased
Microscopic haematuria may be present
Glycosuria common
Decreased urea, increased urate, decreased ceatinine
How does uric acid change in pregnancy?
Increases with gestational age
Almost 10x per gestational week
Also rises in preeeclampsia
Above 600 risk of neonatal death
What are the haematological changes in pregnancy?
Plasma volume increases Decreased haemoglobin (dilutional) Decreased platlet count Increased need of iron (iron def. anaemia common) + folate WCC increases (although relative immunocompromised) Hypercoagulable (DVT ~1%) Albumin drop (oedema common) Alk phos up (placenta, within thousands)
What is labour?
The process where the placenta, foetus and membranes are expeled into the birth canal
What is normal labour?
Wher labour occurs spontaneously at term(37-42 weeks)
WIth foestus presenting by vertex and resulting in spontaneous vaginal birth
May not feel normal to mother
What must occur for labour to happen?
Cervix softening
Myometrial tone changes to allow for co-ordinated contractions
Progesterone decreases whilst oxytocin increases to initiate labour
What are the subcategories of the first stage of labour?
Latent stage
Established stage
What is the latent part of the first stage of labour?
Stage of intermittent, often irregular, painful contractions
Bring some cervical enlargement up to 4 cm
Can last a long time
What is the established part of the first stage of labour?
Regular, painful contractions resulting in progressive effacement and dilation of cervix from 4cm
When is the first stage of labour complete?
At 10 cm dilation
What is the anticipated progress of the first stage of labour?
0.5-1cm/hour
How long does the first stage of labour take?
In a primagravida (first time pregnant) around 8 hours
In a multigravida (more than once) around 5 hours
What are the parts to the second stage of labour?
Passive phase
Active phase
What s the second stage of labour?
From full cervical dilation to the birth of the baby
What is the passive phase of the second stage of labour?
Finding of full dilatation of cervix before (or in abscence of) inv9oluntary expulsive contractions
Allow for further foetal descent
What is the active phase of the second part of labour?
Presenting part is visible
Expulsive contractions with finding of full cervix
Active maternal effort following confirmation of full cervix dilatation in absecen of expulsive contractions
How long is birth expected within the second (active phase) of labour starting?
2 hours in primagravida
1 hour in multigravida
What is the third stage of labour?
From after birth of baby, to expulsion of placenta/membranes
What does the active management of the third stage of labour entail?
Routine use of uterotonic drugs
Deferred clamping/cutting of the cord
Controlled cord traction after signs of seperation of placenta
What does the physiological management of the third stage of labour entail?
No routine use of uterotonic drugs
No clamping of cord until pulsation has stopped
Delivery of placenta by maternal effort