Repro Week 8

Question 1

Define EDD and its significance (4)

Answer 1

Estimated Date of Delivery 
- Last Menstrual Period 
- +280 days (40 weeks = full pregnancy)
Ultrasound 
- before and after three weeks at term 

Significance

• monitoring the growth of the baby
• booking an elective caesarian
• when to induce labour in a women with mildly raised blood pressure
• Interpreting antenatal screening

Question 2

Clinical Definitions

Pre-Term

Term

Post-Term

Answer 2

Pre-Term: Less than 37 completed weeks

Term: 37-42 completed weeks

Post- Term: More than 42 weeks

Question 3

Foetal Maturation

A) Organs that interfere with the environment (3)

B) Organs that maintain homeostasis (4)

Answer 3

A) lungs, intestinal tract, immune system

B) hypothalamic-pituitary axis, kidney, liver, pancreas

Question 4

What is the function of Surfactant?

Answer 4

Expands the alveoli in the lung when the foetus is born and takes its first breath

Produced by cells lining the alveoli

Question 5

Describe Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Answer 5

• insufficent corticosteroids

- lung expansion interference

Question 6

Name the function of the following hormones

A) Estrogen

B) Oxytocin

C) Prostaglandin

D) Progesterone

Answer 6

A) Estrogen: released from the placenta, induces oxytocin receptors, causes changes in uterine muscle, electrical connections between myometrial cells

B) Oxytocin: released from the fetus and mother’s posterior pituitary, causes uterine contraction, stimulates placenta to produce prostaglandin, directly increases calcium levels

C) Prostaglandin: leads to more vigorous contractions of the uterus, stimulates gap junctions, soften and dilates the cervix

D) Progesterone: prevents uterine contractions, uterus relaxation, involved in the maintenance of pregnancy

Question 7

What happens in the dilation of the cervix? (Name the three events)

Answer 7

• cascade of events that ripen the cervix driven by estrogen, prostaglandins
• Inflammatory cytokines attract and activate neutrophils to release proteolytic enzymes
• myometrial contractions and the foetus pushing against the cervix, leads to further dilation

Question 8

What are the two functions of Relaxin?

Answer 8

• causes cervical softening and relaxation of maternal pubic symphysis

Question 9

What are the methods to delay labour?

ABC

Answer 9

1) Antiprostaglandins
2) B-agonists
3) Calcium channel Inhibitors

Question 10

What are the methods to induce labour?

Oxygen provides breathing

Answer 10

1) Oxytocin
2) Prostaglandins
3) Break amniotic membrane

Question 11

Name and describe the three stages of labour, including pre-labour (BDD)

Answer 11

Pre-Labour: Cervix softens and becomes stretchable

Stage 1: Beginning of regular contractions to fully dilated
Stage 2: Full Dilation until delivery
Stage 3: Until Delivery of the placenta

Question 12

What are the six factors that are involved in Pre-Term Birth?

Answer 12

• Uterine over-distension
• Infections
• Antepartum haemorrhage
• Previous Pre-Term Delivery
• Smoking
• Maternal diabetes/ Hypertension affecting placenta

Question 13

What does APGAR stand for?

Answer 13

Appearance 
Pulse 
Grimance 
Activity  
Respiration