Postnatal care

Question 1

What is the postnatal period?

Answer 1

First 6 weeks after birth

Question 2

What are some common problems of the post natal period?

Answer 2

Infant feeding
Bonding
Social issues (partners, siblings, financial)

Question 3

What are some things checked at the 6 week GP postnatal check?

Answer 3

Postnatal contraception
Mental health
General wellbeing

Question 4

How long after birth may a woman get preggers?

Answer 4

21 days

Question 5

What are some possible complications in breast feeding?

Answer 5

Mastitis
Blocked milk ducts
Baby not latching
Skin irritation

Question 6

Name some of the key postnatal conditions.

Answer 6

PPH
VTE
Sepsis
Psychiatric disorders 
Pre-eclampsia

Question 7

Are pregnancy and the post partum period hyper- or hypo-coagulable?

Answer 7

Hypercoagulable

Question 8

How is risk of thromboembolic disease reduced?

Answer 8

High quality risk assessment

Thromboprophylaxis

Question 9

Why is thromboembolic disease so common in pregnant or postnatal women?

Answer 9

Hypercoagulable state
Immobilisation following spinal anaesthetic
C section

Question 10

Is D-dimer a reliable test in pregnancy?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

What are some useful tests to assess thromboembolic risk?

Answer 11

ECG
Leg dopplers
CXR
VQ scan

Question 12

Why is warfarin avoided?

Answer 12

Teratogenic

Can be used when breastfeeding tho

Question 13

How is thromboembolic disease treated?

Answer 13

Low molecular weight heparin

Question 14

What is involved in a full septic screen?

Answer 14

Blood cultures
LVS
MSSU
Wound swabs

Question 15

What is a key feature of sepsis treatment?

Answer 15

Prompt IV antibiotics

Question 16

What is the sepsis 6?

Answer 16

Management for sepsis

Take blood cultures
Give high flow oxygen
Give IV antibiotics
Give fluid challenge
Measure lactate
Measure urine output

Question 17

What are some classic feature of post natal depression?

Answer 17

Carrying on from “baby blues”
Classical depressive symptoms
Affects mother functioning and bonding
Family history

Question 18

How is puerperal psychosis managed?

Answer 18

Look out for it in women with family/personal history of affective disorder, bipolar disorder or psychosis
Inpatient psychiatric care

Question 19

When do most eclamptic seizures take place?

Answer 19

Postnatal period