Obstetrics Flashcards
(353 cards)
pregnancy- when is the window of blastocyst formation and why?
cycle day 20-24- perfect balance of hormones
pregnancy- what happens after blastocyst formation?
blastocyst buries- interstitial implantation
this starts the primary decidual reaction
pregnancy- what basic placental structures form after interstitial implantation?
floating and anchoring villi
pregnancy- what do cytotrophoblast progenitor stem cells differentiate into?
1- terminal differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast
2- extra-villus trophoblasts
3- regenerate new cytotrophoblasts
pregnancy- what are the functions of the extra-villous trophoblasts?
spinal artery remodelling- endovascular invasion of the myometrium
during pregnancy, when does full placental blood flow occur?
week 10-12
during pregnancy, what can poor endovascular remodelling lead to?
reduced fetal O2 and nutrient supply, which results in:
- pre-eclampsia
- intrauterine growth restriction
- preterm birth
- recurrent miscarriage
pregnancy- what is human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)?
- hormone secreted from day 6-7 trophoblast cells of the blastocyst
- promotes maintenance fo corpus luteum
- maintains production of oestrogen and progesterone
where is progesterone produced?
up to week 7/8- corpus luteum
after this it is made in the placenta
what are the functions of progesterone in pregnancy?
- prepare uterus for implantation
- makes cervical mucous thick and impenetrable to sperm after fertilisation
- decrease immune response- allows pregnancy to occur
- decreases contractility of uterine smooth muscle to prevent pre-term labour
what does progesterone inhibit during pregnancy?
lactation
after delivery, falling progesterone levels triggers milk production
what is the function of human placental lactogen (hPL)?
- mobilises glucose from fat
- insulin antagonist to facilitate energy supply to foetus
- converts mammory glands into milk-secreting tissue
what is the function of prolactin?
milk production
what is the function of oxytocin?
milk ejection reflex
what happens to maternal glucose levels during the early stages of pregnancy?
low- due to fat deposition and glycogen synthesis
what happens to maternal glucose levels during the late stages of pregnancy?
high
alongside maternal insulin resistance- ensures glucose sparing for foetus
what happens to maternal insulin levels throughout pregnancy?
rise until week 32
hPL then induces insulin resistance
what immunity changes occur after fertilisation?
increases in GF’s, proteolytic enzymes and inflammatory mediators to facilitate implantation
why is blastocyst implantation not rejected?
change in self: non-pattern recognition molecules (HLA and MHC)
Why are syncytiotrophoblasts and extra-villus trophoblasts not rejected?
- Syncytiotrophoblast has no self:non-self markers
- extra-villus trophoblast has modified self:non self markers
what happens to the T helper ratio during pregnancy?
pregnancy- more Th2 (in ‘normal’ physiology, Th1 and Th2 are balanced)
what are the functions of the following antibodies in pregnancy
IgA IgD IgE IgG IgM
IgA- secreted in breast milk
IgD- on B-cell membranes
IgE- mast cells (anaphylaxis)
IgG- only one that crosses placenta
IgM- early antibody
explain the pathophysiology of Rhesus disease
- haemolytic disease of new born
- Rh -ve mother (dd) and Rh +ve father (Dd or DD)
- sensitisation in first pregnancy igM
- rapid response by IgG of subsequent pregnancy
what is the definition of a normal pregnancy and birth?
- term- 37-42 weeks
- spontaneous onset
- infant born spontaneously in vertex position
birth occurs without:
- induction of labour
- spinal/ epidural/ general analgesia
- forceps/ ventrose delivery
- caesarean section/ episiotomy