Women's Health Flashcards
Disorders of the Puerperium
What is puerperium?
The time from the delivery of the placenta to six weeks following the birth
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the 3 features of puerperium?
- Return to pre-pregnant state
- Initiation/suppression of lactation
- Transition to parenthood
Disorders of the puerperium
What endocrinological changes are seen in the puerperium?
Profound decrease in serum levels of placental hormones:
* human placental lactogen, HCG, oestrogen and progesterone
Increased prolactin
Disorders of the puerperium
What happens to the uterus and genital tract during puerperium?
Involution of the uterus and genital tract
* Muscle: ischaemia, autolysis and phagocytosis
* Decidua: shed as lochia (rubra, serosa and alba)
Disorders of the puerperium
What happens to the breasts during puerperium?
Establishment of lactation - colostrum initially at birth
Lactation suppression takes 7-10 days
Disorders of the puerperium
What hormones are involved in lactogenesis and what do they do?
Prolactin: milk production
Oxytocin: milk ejection reflex
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the functions and features of prolactin?
- Suppresses ovulation
- Secreted by anterior pituitary gland and goes to the breast, lactocytes then produce milk
- More is secreted at night
- Levels peak after the feed to produce milk for the next feed
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the functions and features of oxytocin?
- Produced by postrior pituitary gland –> breast –> myoepithelial cells contract and expel milk
- Helped by sight, sound and smell of baby
- Becomes conditioned over time
- Hindered by anxiety, stress, pain and doubt
- Works before and during the feed to make the milk flow
Disorders of puerperium
What are the 3 types of risks to infant feeding?
Risks of not breastfeeding
Risks of artificial feeding
Risks of not being at the breast
Disorders of the puerperium
What is lactoferrin?
- Multifunctional protein in milk
- 7x higher in colostrum than later milk
Disorder of the puerperium
What are the functions of lactoferrin?
- Regulates iron absorption in intestines and delivery of iron to the cells
- Protection against bacterial infection, some viruses and fungi
- Involved in regulation of bone marrow function
- Boosts immune system
Disorders of the puerperium
What are some examples of mild-moderate postnatal problems?
Infection
Post-partum haemorrhage
Fatigue
Anaemia
Backache
Breast engorgement/mastitis
Urinary stress incontinence
Hemorrhoids/constipation
The ‘blues’
Disorders of the puerperium
What are some examples of major postnatal problems?
Sepsis
Severe PPH
Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
Thrombosis
Uterine prolapse
Incontinence
Post dural puncture headache
Breast abscess
Depression/psychosis
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the differences between sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock?
Sepsis = infection + systemic manifestations of infection
Severe sepsis = sepsis + sepsis-induced organ dysfunction or tissue hypoperfusion
Septic shock = the persistence of hypoperfusion despite adequate fluid replacement therapy
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the risk factors for maternal sepsis?
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Anaemia
- Amniocentesis/invasive procedures
- Prolonged SROM
- Vaginal trauma/CS
- Ethnicity BME
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the most common causes of maternal sepsis?
- Endometriosis
- Skin and soft tissue infection
- Mastitis
- UTI
- Pneumonia
- Gastroenteritis
- Pharyngitis
- Infection related to epidural/spinal
Disorders of the puerperium?
What investigations should be performed for maternal sepsis?
3Ts, white with sugar
Temperature: <36 or >38C
Tachycardia: HR >90bpm
Tachypnoea: RR >20 bpm
WCC >12 or <4 x 10^9/L
Hyperglycaemia >7.7mmol
Disorders of the puerperium
What is the SEPSIS 6?
Blood cultures
Urine output
Fluid resuscitation
Antibiotics
Lactate
Oxygen
Disorders of the puerperium
What is a post partum haemorrhage and how is it classified?
Primary PPH: >500ml estimated blood loss after birth of the baby
Secondary PPH: abnormal or excessive bleeding from the birth canal between 24hrs and 12 weeks postnatally
Minor PPH: <1500mls and no signs of shock
Major PPH: >1500mls and signs of shock or continuing to bleed
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the causes of secondary PPH?
- Endometriosis
- Retained products of conception
- Subinvolution of the placental implantation site
- Pseudoaneurysms
- Arteriovenous malformations
Disorders of the puerperium
What investigations should be performed for a PPH?
ABCDE
Assess blood loss
Assess haemodynamic status
Bacteriological testing (HVS and endocervical swab)
Pelvic ultrasound
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the high risk factors for venous thromboembolism?
Any previous VTE
Anyone requiring antenatal LMWH
High risk thrombophilia
Low risk thrombophilia and family history
Disorders of the puerperium
What is the prophylaxis of high risk VTE?
6 or more weeks of postnatal LMWH
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the moderate risk factors for VTE?
C-section
BMI >/= 40
Readmission or prolonged admission (>/= 3 days) during puerperium
Any surgical procedure except the immediate repair of the perineum
Medical comorbidities
Disorders of the puerperium
What is the prophylaxis of moderate risk VTE?
10 or more days postnatal LMWH
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the symptoms of post-dural puncture headache?
Headahce worse on sitting or standing, starts 1-7 days after spinal/epidural
Neck stiffness
Photophobia
Disorders of the puerperium
How is post-dural puncture headache managed?
Lying flat, simple analgesia, manage fluids and caffeine, epidural blood patch
Disorders of the puerperium
What is postnatal urinary retention?
The abrupt onset of aching or painless ability to completely micturate, requiring urinary cathetirisation, over 12 hrs after giving birth
OR
not to void spontaneously within 6hrs of vaginal delivery
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the risk factors for postnatal urinary retention?
Epidural analgesia
Prolonged second stage of labour
Forceps or ventouse delivery
Extensive perineal lacerations
Poor labour bladder care
Disorders of the puerperium
How is postnatal urinary retention managed?
Aims to:
* maintain bladder function
* minimise risk of damage to urethra/bladder
* provide appropriate management strategies for women who have problems with bladder emptying
* prevent long term problems with bladder emptying
Disorders of the puerperium
What are baby blues?
A period of feeling emotional and tearful around 3-10 days after giving birth, it normally only lasts a few days
Disorders of the puerperium
Whata are the 3 red flags for mental health disorders in the puerperium?
- Recent significant change in mental state or emergence of new symptoms
- New thoughts or acts of violent self-harm
- New and persistent expressions of incompetency as a mother or estrangement from the infant
Disorders of the puerperium
How does postnatal depression present?
- 10% of new mothers
- Depressed
- Irritable
- Tired
- Sleepless
- Appetite changes
- Negative thoughts
- Anxiety
- Affects bonding
Disorders of the puerperium
How does postpartum psychosis present?
- 1-2 in 1000 mothers affected
- Depression
- Mania (feeling elated or excited)
- Rapid mood changes
- Feeling confused or disorientated
- Feeling restless
- Being unable to sleep
- Being unable to concentrate
- Experiencing psychotic symptoms e.g., delusions, hallucinations
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the risk factors for postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder?
- Perceived lack of care
- Poor communication
- Perceived unsafe care
- Perceived focus on outcome over experience of the mother
Disorders of the puerperium
How does postnatal PTSD present?
- Anger
- Low mood
- Self-blame
- Suicidal ideation
- Isolation
- Dissociation
- Intrusive and distressing flashbacks
Disorders of the puerperium
What are the consequences of postnatal PTSD?
Women may delay or avoid future pregnancies.
Request C-sections to avoid vaginal delivery.
Avoidance of intimate physical relationships.
Impact on breastfeeding.
Disorders of the puerperium
What is the definition of maternal death?
The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its managemnet, but not from accidental or incidental causes.