Pregnancy and Perinatal Health

Question 1

what are some factors that lead to fertility issues?

Answer 1

age, smoking, bmi, exercise (LACK OF & EXCESSIVE), drugs, folate, alcohol

Question 2

what are the maternal changes that occur in pregnancy?

Answer 2

• physical
• hormonal
• haematological
• cardiovascular
• coagulation

Question 3

during pregnancy, oestrogen & progesterone are increased, what effect does it have?

Answer 3

act on kidney to increase renin secretion
- increased salt & water retention
- increased plasma volume as a result

Question 4

what are some haematological changes during pregnancy?

Answer 4

increased production of RC, WC, platelets,
and mass of RC.

Question 5

what are some cardiological changes during pregnancy?

Answer 5

• Increase cardiac output
• improved venous return

vascular compression CAN OCCUR by the uterus if mum lies on her back
- Vena cava & aorta
- Difficulty with venous return when mother is supine (weight of baby pressing down on blood vessels as its sandwiched by vertebrae)

Question 6

what are some coagulation changes during pregnancy?

Answer 6

• Clotting factor production increases
• Fibrinogen increases (helps clots to prevent excessive bleeding during labour)
• Increased DVT risk

Question 7

what should not be eaten during pregnancy?

Answer 7

• slightly raw cooked meat/fish (infection risk)
• Raw eggs (salmonella)
• unpasteurised milk & cheese (raw - infection)

Question 8

what happens in the FIRST trimester of pregnancy (foetal changes)?

Answer 8

week 4 - zygote becomes embryo

week 6 - start of embryonic development & growth

week 10-14 - foetus development

Question 9

what happens in the SECOND trimester of pregnancy (foetal changes)?

Answer 9

week 14 - hair, nails. eyelids start forming

week 18 - toes, fingers formed, hearing starts

week 20-26 - final development of vision & senses

Question 10

what happens in the THIRD trimester of pregnancy (foetal changes)?

Answer 10

week 27 - growth and nervous system matures

Question 11

what are the stages of labour?

Answer 11

• induction of labour
• first stage
• second stage
• third stage

Question 12

what is achieved when screening in the first trimester of a pregnancy?

Answer 12

• establish dates of a pregnancy
• determine number of foetuses
• detect any abnormalities
• check uterus and pelvic anatomy

Question 13

What is the APGAR Score?

Answer 13

A score used to evaluate a newborn baby

[A] Activity (muscle tone)
[P] Pulse (>100/min)
[G] Grimace (reflex irritability)
[A] Appearance (colour)
[R] Respiration (rate)