high risk L&D Flashcards
(85 cards)
incompetent cervix
cervical insufficiency; dilatation of the cervix (prematurely) without pain or contractions
- this can be d/t congenital, acquired, or hormonal problems
what does an incompetent cervix put her at risk for?
- early delivery
- miscarriage
- loss of pregnancy
cerclage
stitch is place in cervix with the goal of maintaining a pregnancy
what are the risks of a cerclage?
- ROM
- stimulation to cervix = put her in labor = some bleeding
nursing considerations for a cerclage
- monitor for s/sx of labor
- monitor for infection
premature ROM (PROM)
- ROM prior to onset of labor
- after 38 weeks
preterm premature ROM (PPROM)
- ROM prior to onset of labor
- before 37 completed weeks
prolonged ROM
ROM for > 24 hours prior to delivery
what are the maternal concerns for a premature ROM?
- infection
- chorioamnionitis (infection of chorion)
- endometritis (infection of lining of uterus)
what are the fetal concerns for a premature ROM?
- preterm delivery (lung development = issue)
- infection
- risk for cord prolapse
- oligohydramnios
how can we assess for fetal infection while in utero?
- assess fluid might be leaking –> foul smelling
- FHR (tachy)
what do we do is ROM is suspected?
nitirizine test
management of PROM/PPROM patient:
- monitor for infection
- monitor for cx
- bed rest (prevent cord prolapse)
- fetal assessment (FHR, quickening)
- corticosteroids (helps mature fetal lungs)
- possible antibiotics
preterm labor
labor after 20 weeks and prior to 38 weeks
fetal fibronectin (FFN)
vaginal swab that tests for presence of fetal fibronectin
what does a negative FFN indicate?
woman will likely not deliver in the next 14 days
what does a positive FFN indicate?
doesn’t tell us much; it could be positive d/t vaginal manipulation (vag exam, sex)
maternal risks of preterm labor
- underlying cause of PTL (bleeding, trauma, infection)
- DVT
- emotional concerns
- S/E from meds used to treat PTL
fetal risks for preterm labor
- mortality
- immature body systems and lungs
if a baby born at ___ weeks (earliest a baby can survive) –> it has a ___% chance of acquiring respiratory distress syndrome and ___% survival rate.
24 weeks; 70%; 40%
management of preterm labor
- pt education
- tocolysis (tocolytic meds used to stop labor)
- ritodrine
- mag sulfate
- CCB
- prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors
what is the typical dosage of magnesium sulfate?
bolus: 4-6 g/20-30 min
maintenance: 2 g/hr
a patient presents with symptoms of visual changes, hot/flushed, and lethargic –> what do we do?
these are the expected symptoms of being on a magnesium drip
keep monitoring the patient
a patient on magnesium seems to have diminished reflexes upon her mag assessment –> what do we do?
we are concerned for mag toxicity, have the antidote on hand