Pregnancy Planning and Preconception Care Flashcards
What is the Developmental Origins of Disease Concept?
An approach emphasising the role of prenatal exposure to environmental factors in determining the development of human diseases in adulthood
E.g. obesity, diabetes, CVD, and certain cancers may be linked to early life nutritional status and/or exposures to environmental chemicals, drugs, infections, lifestyles or stress
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for CNS development?
Weeks 3 to full term
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for ear / hearing development?
Weeks 4.5 to 20
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for eye / visual development?
Weeks 4.5 to term
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for heart development?
Weeks 3.5 to 9
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for teeth development?
Weeks 6.5 to full term
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for palate development?
Weeks 6.5 to 16
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for limb development?
Weeks 4.5 to 9
Periods of fetal development
When is the most vulnerable time for external genitalia development?
Weeks 7 to full term
When can a teratogen affect a fetus?
- Organ formation occurs in first 12 weeks of pregnancy - therefore teratogenic drugs taken in this period tend to cause structural defects
- After 12 weeks, teratogens tend to cause growth defects or developmental delay
- If exposure occurs before differentiation of the three germ layers, either embryonic death results or no abnormalities are apparent
Describe the use of ACE inhibitors in pregnancy
- Relatively safe in 1st trimester
- In 2nd and 3rd trimester can cause renal tubular aplasia and IUGR
- Some evidence of PDA
- Oligohydramnios (due to reduced renal function)
- If on ACEi and planning a pregnancy, should ideally switch to another medication
- Extra growth scans will be required in those who continue to use ACEi
Describe the use of beta blockers in pregnancy
- Generally don’t cause birth defects, stillbirth or preterm birth
- Concern that the fetus will be SGA/IUGR
- Neonatal hypoglycaemia can occur
- If continued on propranolol, will need extra growth scans
Describe the use of statins in pregnancy
- Not recommended due to theoretical risk of reduced cholesterol production needed for normal development of fetus and placenta
- Recommended to stop 3 months prior to conception
- Temporary suspension of statins shouldn’t compromise maternal health
What advice should be given to a pregnant epileptic on carbamazepine?
- Take 5mg/day folic acid
- Some reports of neonatal withdrawal
- All babies should be given vit K injection in case of pancytopenia
What abx can be used for UTI in pregnancy?
- Penicillins and cephalexin are fine
- Trimethoprim should be avoided in 1st trimester (is a folate antagoninst)
- Nitrofurantoin should be avoided at term due to risk of haemolytic anaemia in the newborn
Can you use doxycycline in pregnancy?
No, particularly in 2nd and 3rd trimester as causes discolouration of teeth (adult teeth are unaffected)
What advice is given re. ibuprofen in pregnancy?
- Not advised, especially if over 30 weeks pregnant as may cause PDA to close in utero
- Unlikely to harm before 30 weeks
- Links to persistent pulmonary HTN if PDA closes
- May also result in oligohydramnios
What advice is given re taking warfarin in pregnancy?
- Risk of fetal warfarin syndrome / warfarin embryopathy
- Switch to LMWH before pregnancy or ASAP
- Continued use of warfarin may need to be considered in patients with mechanical heart valves
What are the features of fetal warfarin syndrome / warfarin embryopathy?
- Nasal hypoplasia, skeletal abnormalities (short limbs and digits)
- Critical period is 6-12 weeks, 30% of fetuses exposed in this time will develop fetal warfarin syndrome
- Exposure in 2nd trimester can be associated with CNS and eye anomalies
- Exposure in 3rd trimester increases risk of placental, fetal or neonatal haemorrhage
What advice is given re. taking carbimazole in pregnancy?
- 98% of women on carbimazole do not experience these birth defects, but it can include:
– Choanal atresia
– Heart / GI / abdominal wall defects
– Scalp defect called asplasia cutis - Can cause neonatal hypothyroidism
- Propylthiouracil (PTU) should be used instead in 1st trimester, and then switched to carbimazole for rest of pregnancy
- Avoid pregnancy for 6 months after radioactive iodine
What advice is given to women who take SSRIs in pregnancy?
- QoL is important ++ and the mental health of the woman
- Some studies have linked SSRI use to preterm delivery or low birth weight
- Neonatal withdrawal can occur
- Rarely can cause persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- Higher risk of PPH
- Some links to autism
What advice is given to pregnant women on lithium?
- Avoid in pregnancy, especially in 1st trimester
- Can cause abnormality of heart valves (Ebstein’s anomaly)
- All women on lithium should have a high-resolution USS and fetal echo at 18-20 weeks
What advice is given to women on azathioprine / mercaptopurine in pregnancy? (used in IBD, lupus, severe eczema, RA, psoriasis, transplant rejection)
- No evidence of fetal harm
- No further scans necessary (although underlying condition may require these)
Why is smoking harmful in pregnancy?
- Miscarriage, premature delivery, IUGR/SGA (reduced blood supply to placenta)
- 2x likely to have a stillbirth
- Increased risk of SIDS and childhood illnesses
- Birth defects include
– Craniosynostosis (fusion too early)
– Gastroschisis
– Defects of urinary tract
– Heart defects
– Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
– Talipes
Explain how alcohol is a teratogen
- Interferes with normal development by restricting blood flow and triggering cell death
- Nearly all aspects of fetal development can be disrupted by exposure to alcohol
- Brain and CNS are most vulnerable to interference
- Facial dysmorphologies occur in first trimester
What effect does cannabis have on the fetus?
- Increases risk of preterm delivery
- Increases risk of low birth weight
- May affect long-term learning and behaviour
- May have withdrawal at birth
What effect does cocaine have on the fetus?
- Increases risk of stillbirth
- Increases risk of premature delivery
- Increases risk of low birth weight (restricts placental blood vessels and increases placental abruption)
- Withdrawal symptoms at birth
- Long-lasting growth restriction in the child’s height too
What advice is given re opioid use in pregnancy?
- No evidence that opioid use causes birth defects
- Possibly higher chance of stillbirth
- May have withdrawal symptoms at birth (jitteriness, sleep disturbance, seizures, poor feeding, digestive problems, vomiting)
- Transient tachypnoea of newborn
- Possible link to learning and behavioural problems in the child
What advice is given to women of childbearing age who are on isotretinoin (roaccutane)
- Women must use 2 methods of contraception, have a neg PT one month before starting, have a neg PT before repeat px, and a negative PT one month after stopping
- 3/10 women who conceive on this will miscarry
- 1/5 women will have a birth defect
What current pregnancy ‘problems’ will categorise a woman as a high risk pregnancy?
- Multiple pregnancies
- Gestational diabetes
- HTN
- Low-lying placenta
- Raised BMI
- IUGR
- Breech
- Oligo/polyhydramnios
- Anaemia
- Infection
- Preterm labour / PROM
What previous pregnancy problems would categorise this pregnancy as high risk?
- Previous c-section
- PPH
- Shoulder dystocia
- PET
- Eclampsia
- Retained placenta
- Stillbirth / IUFD
What maternal medical conditions would categorise her pregnancy as high risk?
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Renal disease
- HTN
- Stroke
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sickle cell
- Thrombophilia
- Haemophilia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Blood borne viruses
- Liver disease
- Epilepsy
- Mental health illness requiring hospitalisation
What minimum interpregnancy interval is recommended and why?
- At least 12 months between childbirth and conceiving again
- Less than this is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and SGA
What adverse maternal and fetal outcomes are increased with diabetes in pregnancy?
- Increased rates of hypoglycaemia, DKA, worsening diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy
- Increased risk of miscarriage, macrosomia, obstetric complications and growth abnormalities, stillbirth
What HbA1c monitoring is needed pre-pregnancy, and what levels are to be aimed for?
- Pregnancy should be avoided if above 86 mmol/mol (10%)
- Measure HbA1c monthly
- Aim for pre-pregnancy level of 48mmol/mol (<6.5%) to reduce risk of congenital malformation
What blood sugars should be aimed for in pregnancy for someone with T1DM?
- Fasting of 5-7mmol/L on waking
- 4-7mmol/L before meals