Management of Labour and Delivery Flashcards
(129 cards)
what is normal labour?
A physiological process during which the products of conception are expelled outside of the uterus
Skull is proportionally very large and humans have adopted an upright stature which makes it difficult for humans
Human babies are born relatively premature compared to other species
maternal mortality
830 women die in childbirth every day
In 2015-303,000 worldwide
Most of these deaths are preventable-sepsis/haemorrhage etc
stillbirths
1.2 million a year
Risk is 50 times greater for an African woman that for a woman in the UK
55% of all stillbirths are for rural families in Africa, South Asia
hormones for retaining a pregnancy
Progesterone Cervix Hypervolaemia Adrenaline Relaxin CRH
describe the role of progesterone in maintaining pregnancy
Produced by corpus luteum initially and then placenta
Dampens down excitability of smooth muscle in uterus and strengthens sphincter at internal os
describe the role of the cervix in maintaining pregnancy
Long tubular structure made of strong connective tissue
In labour it softens and thins down and dilates
describe the role of hypervolaemia in maintaining pregnancy?
Inhibits hormones of posterior lobe of pituitary (oxytocin and vasopressin)
Dampen down contractility of uterus
describe the role of adrenaline in maintaining pregnancy
Act same way as progesterone
Inhibits oxytocin secretion
describe the role of relaxin in maintaining pregnancy
Relaxin is a hormone that regulates activation adenalol cyclase involved in energy uptake by fibres
Prevents uterine contraction
describe the role of CRH in maintaining pregnancy
Derived from placenta and secreted into maternal circulation in third trimester
Inhibits prostaglandin production
Increases contractility of myometrium (at term)
what is involved in the release of pregnancy
Oestrogen Oxytocin Vasopressin Cortisol Prostaglandins Uterine distension CRH
describe the role of oestrogen in release of pregnancy
Sensitises uterine muscle to oxytocin
describe the role of oxytocin in release of pregnancy
Released from pituitary along with vasopressin
Specific oxytocin receptors in myometrium that are activated
describe the role of cortisol in release of pregnancy
Decrease progesterone secretion
describe the role of prostaglandins in release of pregnancy
Increase myometrium contractility
Smooth muscle relaxants on cervical sphincter
describe how distension of the uterus results in release of pregnancy
Causes increase in contractility of muscle
what are the aspects involved in the mechanism of labour
Passage
Power
Passenger
what are the 4 types of pelvis
Gynecoid
Android
Anthropoid
Platypelloid
gynecoid pelvis
- Most common and favourable for delivery
- Oval at outlet
- Transverse diameter greater than AP
- Shallow
- Wide suprapubic arch
- Short ischius spines
android pelvis
- Usually in males
- Triangular inlet
- Narrow suprapubic arch
- Prominent iscius spine
- Blocks areas for rotation and extension
- 20% of women
- More common in afrocaribean women
anthropoid pelvis
- Oval with AP diameter wider than transverse
* More likely to get babies in OP position (looking up) this slows down labour
platypelloid pelvis
- Least common
- Wide suprapubic arch
- Wide sacrum
vaginal impediment of labour
- If it has scarring
* Fatty tissue around
what is the role of the pelvic floor in labour
• Flexion and rotation of head