Unplanned Pregnancy Flashcards
are the outcomes for mother and baby the same or worse in unplanned pregnancy compared to planned
worse:
o Later initiation and less frequent antenatal care
o Increased pre term birth and low birth weight
o Increases postpartum depression and substance misuse
o Reduced breastfeeding rates
o Poor bonding
o Increased neglect and abuse
o Poorer long term developmental outcomes
how many unplanned pregnancies end in abortions
30-40%
what is the risk of unplanned pregnancies in lower income countries
unsafe abortion
what is the legal documentation needed for abortions in uk
HSA1/ certificate A
needs to be signed by two doctors who dont need to have met patient but need to be familiarised with case
two emergency clauses that only need one doctor to sign
Most abortions in UK certified under clause C which has gestational limit of 24 weeks- risk/ injury to mental or physical health to mother/ her family greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. Next most common in clause E which has no gestational limit- mental or physical abnormalities causing the foetus to be severely handicapped.
do all abortions need to be reported
yes to CMO
can HCP abstain form abortion care
yes but not if:
- life threatening emergency
- if going to delay or prevent patients access to care
- indirect tasks associated with abortion (administration, supervision of staff)
how can you be referred for an abortion
GP
sexual + repro health
self referral (not in tayside yet)
what is the most common method of abortion
medical
what does the type of abortion chosen depend on
gestation
patient preference
what is available
how do you assess gestation
date of LMP and +ve UPT
palpable uterus means more than 12 weeks gestation
USS: abdominal or transvaginal (if <6 weeks)
what is the procedure for a medical abortion
- Mifepristone 200mg PO (antiprogesterone, enhances uterine contractility and increases prostaglandin receptors- acts as a priming agent)
- Misoprostol 800mcg PV/SL (24-48 hours) (4 200mg tablets inserted into vagina (better) or sublingually (can cause GI side effects) (Is a prostaglandin)
- If under 10 weeks gestation can do misoprostol at home
- > 10 weeks inpatient procedure, repeated doses of PV misoprostol: 800mcg PV then 400 mcg 3 hourly PV/PO/SL (up to four)
until what gestation can you have a medical abortion
19+6 weeks in scotland
if over 20 weeks referal to england
when can you have an early medical abortion at home (EMAH)
<10 week gestation
not recommended for <16s, those who live alone/ far away from hospital (misoprostol works quickly) or those at risk of complications
what are the methods of surgical abortions
cervical priming is done via misoprostol or osmotic dilators (relaxes and dilates cervix, reduces rate of complications- trauma to cervix or uterus)
- Under 14 weeks: o Electric vacuum aspiration (GA) o Manual vacuum aspiration (up to 10 weeks, LA) - >14 weeks o Dilatation and evacuation
what gestation can a surgical abortion be done up till
14 weeks in scotland
>14 weeks referral to england