Resuscitation after birth Flashcards
What is the effects of breathing difficulty immediately after delivery?
Breathing difficulty after delivery can lead to hypoxia and potential brain damage or death if not managed properly.
What are some possible causes of poor breathing in newborns?
prenatal hypoxia,
maternal anesthesia or
sedation, and
preterm or
difficult delivery.
Why is resuscitation sometimes necessary after birth?
Resuscitation may be required to assist newborns in transitioning from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life
What is the importance of anticipation in neonatal care?
Anticipation is crucial for identifying high-risk pregnancies, monitoring them during labor, intervening appropriately, and being prepared for potential resuscitation needs.
What is the ultimate goal of neonatal care?
The goal is to deliver each mother a healthy newborn with optimal potential for growth and development.
What should healthcare providers be prepared for in high-risk pregnancies?
They should be prepared to anticipate and manage potential resuscitation needs to ensure the best outcomes for both mother and baby.
What maternal factors are associated with high-risk pregnancies requiring resuscitation?
- Teenage (< 16).
- Elderly (> 35).
- Low socioeconomic status
Name some maternal illnesses that may lead to the need for neonatal resuscitation.
- Diabetes.
- Hypertension.
- Rh sensitisation.
- Severe anaemia.
What previous pregnancy outcomes might indicate a need for resuscitation in subsequent pregnancies?
- Previous miscarriages.
- Previous stillbirths.
- Previous early neonatal deaths
What factors related to the current pregnancy increase the likelihood of needing resuscitation?
- No antenatal care.
- Certain medications, illicit drugs, alcohol and smoking.
- Pre-eclampsia.
- Antepartum haemorrhage.
What fetal conditions during pregnancy suggest a higher risk of needing resuscitation at birth?
- Multiple pregnancies.
- Severe fetal growth restriction (especially with poor umbilical flow on Doppler).
- Poor fetal movements in the last days of pregnancy.
- Polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios.
- Fetal abnormality.
What labor-related factors may increase the likelihood of neonatal resuscitation?
Abnormal presentation or position.
* Preterm or post-term labour.
* Poor progress in labour or prolonged labour.
* Cephalopelvic disproportion.
* Meconium staining or abnormal fetal heart rate.
* Instrument delivery or Caesarean section.
* Excessive maternal sedation
Why is it important for high-risk pregnancies to be delivered in hospitals with appropriate facilities?
These facilities are better equipped to handle potential complications and provide necessary interventions, including resuscitation if needed.
What happens to the fetal heart rate and blood circulation during hypoxemia?
The fetal heart rate decreases (bradycardia) as blood is shunted away from less vital organs to ensure sufficient supply to the heart and brain, protecting them during hypoxia stress.
Why does the fetus develop a physiological response to hypoxia?
The response aims to protect the brain and heart by ensuring adequate blood supply despite a decrease in cardiac output.
What additional complications can arise due to fetal hypoxemia?
Meconium passage and gasping respiratory movements, leading to aspiration of amniotic fluid and meconium into the upper airways.
When does fetal hypoxemia usually occur during labor?
It typically occurs transiently and intermittently towards the end of a uterine contraction when placental oxygen content is at its lowest.
How does delayed deceleration in fetal heart rate indicate fetal distress?
Delayed deceleration starting late in a contraction and continuing into relaxation suggests hypoxic stress on the fetus
What confirms severe hypoxia and metabolic acidosis in the distressed fetus?
Persistent baseline bradycardia or poor beat-to-beat variability on cardiotocography (CTG), which can be confirmed with cord gas analysis immediately after birth.(within 1 hr)
What immediate actions should be taken for a distressed fetus before delivery?
If there’s a delay in delivery, suppress uterine contractions (intravenous salbutamol or oral nifedipine) and optimize placental blood flow by turning the mother onto her side.
Why is fetal resuscitation particularly crucial if the mother needs to be transported to the hospital for delivery?
It ensures optimal fetal condition during transport and prepares for potential further interventions upon arrival.
How is significant fetal hypoxia confirmed clinically?
Significant fetal hypoxia is confirmed if the base deficit exceeds 10 mmol/l in arterial blood from the umbilical cord at birth or shortly after delivery.
When does a fetus become distressed and in danger of dying during labor?
When maternal blood supply to the placenta worsens, leading to fetal hypotension and tissue hypoxia, causing metabolic acidosis.
What is the primary biochemical marker of hypoxia before delivery?
The presence of metabolic acidosis in the infant at birth is the best marker
What is considered the best indicator of severe intrapartum hypoxia and resulting cerebral damage?
The development of neonatal encephalopathy is considered the best measure.
In what cases should the acid-base status of umbilical arterial blood be determined?
It should be determined in all cases of fetal distress or failure to breathe well after delivery, if possible.
Does the degree of metabolic acidosis indicate the severity or duration of fetal hypoxia?
No, the degree of metabolic acidosis does not correlate with the severity or duration of fetal hypoxia or the risk of cerebral damage.
What is HBB, and what does it aim to teach?
HBB stands for Helping Babies Breathe, an evidence-based training program focusing on neonatal resuscitation techniques in resource-limited areas.
What is the primary goal of HBB?
HBB aims to teach the initial steps of basic neonatal resuscitation to be completed within The Golden Minute, ensuring adequate breathing within the first minute of life to save lives and improve outcomes for newborns.
Apart from practical resuscitation steps, what are some key strategies included in HBB to improve neonatal outcomes?
Good communication between staff.
* Preparation and planning.
* Hand washing and cleanliness.
* Delayed cord clamping
Immediate skin to skin care.
* Breastfeeding.
Why is preparation essential in neonatal resuscitation?
Preparation ensures readiness to provide timely and effective care, which can be critical for the newborn’s survival and well-being.
What are some key principles of preparation in neonatal resuscitation according to HBB?
Providing a warm environment,
avoiding open windows or drafts,
maintaining a theater temperature of 26 degrees Celsius,
having warm dry towels,
utilizing a radiant heat source, and
maintaining clean hands are important principles.
How are ‘birth asphyxia’ or ‘neonatal asphyxia’ often defined?
They are often defined as the failure to initiate and sustain breathing after birth.
How do some authorities interpret ‘asphyxia’ in the context of labor?
Some interpret ‘asphyxia’ to mean impaired fetal gas exchange during labor, also known as intrapartum fetal hypoxia.
Why is there a discrepancy in the association between poor breathing after birth and abnormal neurological development?
Many infants who do not breathe well after birth have not experienced intrapartum hypoxia, while some infants with intrapartum hypoxia still manage to breathe spontaneously after delivery. Thus, the association between poor breathing after birth and abnormal neurological development is tenuous.
What is the Apgar score, and when is it typically assessed?
The Apgar score is an objective method of assessing an infant’s clinical condition after delivery, typically assessed at 1 minute after birth.
What should be done if the Apgar score at 1 minute is low?
If the 1 minute Apgar score is low, it should be repeated every 5 minutes until normal to document the infant’s condition objectively.
Why is it important to repeat the Apgar score if the 1 minute score is low?
Repeating the Apgar score every 5 minutes provides ongoing assessment of the infant’s condition and the success or failure of resuscitation attempts.
Is it necessary to wait for the 1 minute Apgar score before deciding on resuscitation?
No, it is not necessary to wait for the 1 minute Apgar score before deciding whether the infant needs resuscitation.
Acronym APGAR
Appearance
Pulse rate
Grimace
Activity
Respiratory effort
What are the components of the Apgar score?
The components include heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimuli, and color.
What are the possible scores for each component?
Each component can be scored as 0, 1, or 2.
How is the heart rate assessed in the Apgar score?
It is assessed based on whether it is absent (0),
under 100 beats per minute (1),
or over 100 beats per minute (2).
What does a score of 0 indicate for muscle tone in the Apgar score?
A score of 0 indicates limp muscle tone.
score of 1- some flexion
score of 2- active movement
response to stimuli grading
1- none
2- weak movement
3- cry
grading of colour
0- blue or pale
1- body pink, extremities blue
2- completely pink
grading of resp. effort
0- absent
1- weak/irregular
2- strong/ regular
When is the Apgar score typically assessed after birth?
The Apgar score is typically assessed at 1 minute after birth, and if needed, repeated at 5 minutes.
What is considered a normal Apgar score range?
A normal Apgar score range is 7-10.
What Apgar score range indicates a moderately abnormal condition?
A moderately abnormal condition is indicated by an Apgar score range of 4-6.
How is a severely abnormal condition classified based on the Apgar score?
A severely abnormal condition is indicated by an Apgar score range of 0-3.