Week 4 Obstetrics (Q. 3 & 4) Flashcards
What do the terms Primigravida and Multigravida mean?
A “primigravida” is a woman who is pregnant for the first time or has been pregnant one time. A “multigravida” or “secundigravida” is a woman who has been pregnant more than one time.
What are some causes of Postpartum Haemorrhage?
Hint: The Four T’s in the CPG’s
- Tone (uterine atony)
- Trauma (to genital structures)
- Tissue (retention of placenta or membranes)
- Thrombin (coagulopathy)
An empty and contracted uterus does not bleed
Tear in the cervix or tissues of the vagina
- Tear in a blood vessel in the uterus
- Bleeding into a hidden tissue area or space in the pelvis
- Blood clotting disorders
- Placenta problems (Placenta Praevia; Abruption)
- Retained cotyledons, membranes
Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) can be caused by an atonic uterus that fails to contract and there is bleeding from the placental site.
What are some causes for an atonic uterus?
- Incomplete placental seperation
- Placenta problems (Placenta Praevia; Abruption)
- Retained cotyledons, membranes
- Precipate Labour
- Prolonged Labour
- Polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid)
- Multiple preganancy
- Infection
- Mismanagement of 3rd Stage Labour
- Full Bladder in women
What are the signs and symptoms of PPH?
Obvious Signs:
- Visible Bleeding
- Maternal shock or collapse
Subtle Signs:
- Pallor
- Compensation/Decompensation
- Alt Con State
- Enlarged ‘Boggy’ Uterus
- The woman has a feeling of a full bladder
What is a cord prolapse?
A cord prolapse is when a loop of the umbilical cord (which is attached to the baby at one end, and the placenta at the other) falls past the baby, through the woman’s open cervix and into her vagina. If this occurs, rather than the baby leading the way down the vagina, the cord does.
What is shoulder dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of obstructed labour whereby after the delivery of the head, the anterior shoulder of the infant cannot pass below or requires significant manipulation to pass below, the pubic symphysis. It is diagnosed when the shoulders fail to deliver shortly after the foetal head. Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency, and foetal demise can occur if the infant is not delivered, due to compression of the umbilical cord within the birth canal.
What are the risk factors for cord prolapse?
Prematurity Multi Fetus Polyhydramnios High presenting part of the foetus Multigravida
What is not a sequence in the delivery position for Shoulder Dystocia?
A. Knees to Nips (McRobert’s Manoeuvre)
B. Suprapubic Pressure whilst in McRobert’s Position
C. All Fours (Gaskin)
D. Downward Traction
D. Downward Traction is apart of the All Fours (Gaskin) Manoeuvre
- Rotate mother to all fours
- Hold the baby’s head and apply gentle downward traction - attempting to dis-impact and deliver the posterior shoulder (now uppermost)
How does a baby take its first breath?
A. Allowing the baby a minute to breath
B. Cabron Dioxide receptors respiratory centres
C. Cutting of the placenta cord
D. All the above
B. Cabron Dioxide receptors respiratory centres
Once carbon dioxide is no longer removed by the placenta, central acidosis occurs. This excites the respiratory centres to trigger the first inspiration. This requires tremendous effort – airways are tiny and the lungs are collapsed once the lungs inflate, surfactant in alveolar fluid helps to reduce surface tension
What is the difference between Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage and Secondary Postpartum Haemorrhage?
Primary PPH = bleeding within 24 hours
Secondary PPH = 24h-6/52
What is stage 1 of Birth?
Consists of two phases. Early and latent
Early
- 0 - 3 cm effacement of 0 - 30%
- Irregular contractions every 5 to 30 mins that last for 30 seconds; progress to regular contractions that are every 3 - 5 mins and lasts for 1 min or greater
- Once regular contractions start the cervix will be dilated from 3 - 6cm and effacement of 80%
Active
- Intense contractions that are 6 0 - 90 seconds and occur every 30 to 120 seconds
- Cervix dilation of 6 - 10cm and 100% effacement
- The amniotic sack will rupture at this point if it has not already
What happens in stage 2 of labour?
Full cervix dilatation 10cm until the baby is born
Head
- Encourage mum to push, if the baby is birthing to fast, ask mum to pant with mouth open during contractions
- Apply pressure to Perineum to reduce risk of tears
- Apply backwards, downwards pressure for precipitous birth - Note Time of Delivery Umbilical Cord Check
- If Loose and wrapped around head = slip over babies head with appropriate tractions
- if tight = encourage the mother to push; where the baby does not descend and cord still cannot be loosened; clamp and cut cord Normal Birth - Head Rotation
- Restitution should occur, indicating internal rotation of the shoulders in preparation for the birth of the body
Normal Birth
- Birth of the Shoulders and Body
- Birth baby
- Gentle pressure to assist shoulder delivery
- Note time of birth
- Give baby skin to skin contact with mother on her chest for warmth unless the baby is not vigorous or requires resuscitation
Normal Birth - Clamping and Cutting
- Do not cut cord if needed
- If necessary, wrap placenta while still attached to baby
- Attach first clamp 10cm from the baby and the second clamp a further 5cm down and cut between the two.
Normal Birth - Placenta (Stage 3 Labour)
What occurs during stage 3 of labour and Mx by paramedics? In particular, what are the signs of placental separation?
HINT: CULT
- Placenta separation and delivery
- Uterine contractions to ensure there are not placental remnants
C - Cramping/Contractions Return
U - Uterus becomes rounded, firm, smaller
L - Lengthening of the cord
T - Trickling or gushing of vaginal blood
CPG
- Expulsion time is 15 to 60mins
- Wait for signs of separation (CULT)
- Do Not Pull
- Use two hand see-saw motion to help placenta out
- Note the placental delivery time and store in a container for hospital and inspect placenta for completeness
- Inspect the fundus is firm, contracted and central
- Continue to monitor fundus, do not massage once firm
- If Fundus is not firm or blood loss >500mL, Mx as per PPH CPH M0401
What signs and symptoms of Stage 2 Labour?
- Bulging or stretching perineum
- Presenting part on the view
- Anal pouting
- Uncontrollable urge to push
- Grunting
Explain your thinking for Pain Relief during Labour?
Stage 1 - Opioids are an allowed Morphine, Fentanyl, Methoxy
Stage 2 - Opioids are C/I for late second stage labour Methoxy is a good choice because the drug cannot cross the placental membrane (Nitric Oxide for other Ambulance services)
