Repro 10 Flashcards
When is labour viable?
After 24 weeks. Before this, it is spontaneous abortion. Before 37 weeks, birth is pre-term or premature.
Where does the uterus extend to by 36 weeks?
Xiphisternum
How wide is the girth of the umbilicus of the mother at 24 weeks?
60cm. After this, the girth increases by approximately 2.5cm per week until term at which point it is approximately 100cm.
How is the period of the first stage of labour defined?
Interval between the onset of labour and full cervical dilation
What are the phases of the first stage of labour?
Latent: Slow cervical changes to approx 4cm dilation. Varying duration
Active: Faster rate of cervical change - 1-1.2cm/hr with regular uterine contractions
What is the lie of the foetus?
The relationship of the foetus long axis to the long axis of the maternal uterus. Should be parallel - longitudinal.
What is the presentation of the foetus?
Describes which part is adjacent to the pelvic inlet. Usually head (cephalic) or buttocks (podalic) aka breech. Presenting part may be in a variety of positions.
What does the clinical management of labour depend on?
Lie and presentation of the foetus
What is the typical position of the presenting part of the foetus?
Flexed - vertex presents to the pelvic inlet. In this case, diameter of presentation is typically 9.5cm
What is the required diameter of the birth canal?
10cm
What limits the diameter of the birth canal?
Pelvic inlet:
Bound posteriorly by the sacral promontory, laterally by the ilio-pectinal line and anteriorly by the superior pubic rami and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis.
What usually the true diameter of the pelvic inlet?
11cm
How might the diameter of the pelvic inlet be increased?
Softening of the pelvic ligaments may allow some expansion
How is the foetus normally retained in the uterus?
The cervix is closed and relative quiescence of the myometrium
How is the birth canal created?
Cervix dilates and is retracted anteriorly
What process is seen exteriorly as the “waters breaking”?
Foetal membrane rupture releasing amniotic fluid. This occurs at some point during dilation and retraction of the cervix
How does cervical dilation occur?
Cervical ripening (structural changes) facilitate it and forceful contractions of the uterine smooth muscle cause effacement and then dilation
Why is cervical ripening required?
Would tear without these structural changes.
When does cervical ripening occur?
From 36 weeks
What changes occur in the cervix during ripening?
Marked reduction in collagen and marked increase in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which decrease the aggregation of collagen fibres. Keratin sulphate increases at the expense of derma ton sulphate. Consequently, collagen bundles loosen.
Influx of inflammatory cells and increase in nitric oxide output.
What triggers cervical ripening?
Prostaglandins, namely E2 and F2x
Ostrogen
Relaxin
How does the myometrium size change during pregnancy?
Becomes much thicker, primarily due to increased cell size (10 fold) and glycogen deposition
What causes the co-ordinated contractions of the myometrium?
Action potentials spread from cell to cell via specialised gap junctions. Some sm cells are capable of spontaneous depolarisation and action potential so can act as pacemakers.
Where are the pacemakers in the myometrium?
In the top of the uterus at the poles. Spreads to fundus and then down. More powerful contraction at the top than the bottom.