Obstetrics Flashcards
(149 cards)
Shoulder dystocia management includes:
- Apply downward suprapubic pressure
2. McRobert’s manoeuvre, woman is supine and the legs are hyperflexed towards the abdomen
Following artificial rupture of the membranes, fetal bradycardia is noted on the cardiotocograph (CTG). This prompts the midwife to perform a vaginal examination, during which the umbilical cord is found to be palpable just below the presenting part.
Umbilical cord prolapse noticed management:
- Call for senior help
- Push the presenting part into the uterus during contractions to prevent compression of the umbilical cord (if the cord is past the level of the introitus, there should be minimal handling and it should be kept warm and moist to avoid vasospasm)
- ‘all fours’ (i.e. on the floor on hands and knees) and adopt the knee-to-chest position (bringing the knees towards the chest and raising the bottom in the air so that it is higher than the head).
- Catheterization of the bladder is performed during umbilical cord prolapse, the purpose of this is to fill the bladder with 500-750mL of saline by attaching the catheter to an intravenous giving set. This helps to elevate the presenting part, preventing compression of the cord.
- Consider delivery of the baby (caesarian section is the usual first-line method of delivery, an instrumental vaginal delivery is possible if the cervix is fully dilated and the head is low).
- tocolytics may be used to reduce uterine contractions
Risk factors for cord prolapse include:
- prematurity
- multiparity
- polyhydramnios
- twin pregnancy
- cephalopelvic disproportion
- abnormal presentations e.g. Breech, transverse lie
If after 28/40 weeks, if a woman reports (Physical examination is unremarkable, and observations are stable) reduced fetal movements and kicking has reduced with no complications throughout the pregnancy and no fetal heart is detected with handheld Doppler then what the next step in management:
An immediate ultrasound should be offered
Note if a heartbeat was detected, then a CTG should be used for at least 20 mins to monitor the heart rate
Reduced fetal movements can represent:
fetal distress, as a method of fetal compensation to reduce oxygen consumption as a response to chronic hypoxia in utero.
This is concerning, as it reflects risk of stillbirth and fetal growth restriction.
It is believed that there may also be a link between reduced fetal movements and placental insufficiency.
What is the first onset of recognised fetal movement which occurs between 18-20 weeks gestation is known as
quickening
Fetal movements start and increase till what weeks:
18-20 weeks gestation and increase until 32 weeks gestation at which point the frequency of movement tends to plateau
Multiparous women will usually experience fetal movements sooner, true or false:
True, they experience it at 16-18 weeks gestation (towards the end of pregnancy, fetal movements should not reduce)
Normally it occurs between 18-20 weeks and increase between until 32 weeks gestation at which point the frequency of movement tends to plateau
According to the RCOG what is considered for fetal movements indication for further assessment:
Considers less than 10 movements within 2 hours ((in pregnancies past 28 weeks gestation) an indication for further assessment).
If the mother is past 28 weeks gestation, and there’s a heart rate present confirmed via a handheld doppler and then a CTG is used for at least 20 mins which can assist in excluding fetal compromise, but concerns remain, what should be done next:
ultrasound assessment should include abdominal circumference or estimated fetal weight (to exclude SGA), and amniotic fluid volume measurement
Gravida number refers to what:
the TOTAL number of pregnancies, including the present one (twin pregnancy counts as one pregnancy) but since two children past 24 wks then para 2
Parity refers to:
the number of children delivered whether alive or dead after 24 weeks, twins count as Para 2 but grava 1 (cos one pregnancy)
What are the stages of labour:
Labour may be divided in to three stages
stage 1: from the onset of true labour to when the cervix is fully dilated
stage 2: from full dilation to delivery of the fetus
stage 3: from delivery of fetus to when the placenta and membranes have been completely delivered
primigravida woman have stage 1 labour lasting typically:
10-16 hrs
stage 1 has the latent phase = 0-3 cm dilation, normally takes 6 hours
active phase = 3-10 cm dilation, normally 1cm/hr
When you give birth, your baby usually comes out headfirst with 90% of this, this is also called:
vertex position
Stage 1 refers to the onset of what….
the onset of true labour to when the cervix if fully dilated
Stage 2 of labours refers to:
from full dilation to delivery of the fetus
Stage 3 of labour refers to:
from delivery of fetus to when the placenta and membranes have been completely delivered
When the head of the baby enters the pelvis in the occipito-lateral position, the head normally delivers:
in an occipito-anterior position
In stage 1 labour, the first stage of it, latent phase, the dilation is how many cm and takes how long:
0-3 cm dilation, normally takes 6 hrs
In stage 1 labour, the second stage of it, active phase, the dilation is how many cm and at what rate:
3-10 cm dilation, normally 1cm/hr
The birth of the foetus refers to which stage of labour:
second stage
The delivery of the placenta refers to which stage of labour:
3rd stage
Stage 1 labour involves which features:
- Onset of regular contractions
- Gradual dilation of the cervix
- It ends once at 10cm cervical dilation when the cervix is considered fully effaced (shortening and thinning of the cervix)