Repro 10.1 partuition. Flashcards
(48 cards)
Define partuition:
‘the transition from the pregnant state to the none pregnant state at the end of gestation’
Define labour in medical terms?
‘describes partuition when both the cervix and uterus have been remodelled’
After what time is expulsion of products of conception known as partuition?
24 weeks
What is the medical term for expulsion of the products of conception before 24 weeks?
spontaneous abortion
lay people- miscarriage
What does pre-term mean?
a foetus born after 24 weeks (but before 36)
What does ‘term’ mean, in terms of partuition?
partuition between 37-42 weeks.
What does ‘post term’ mean?
Partuition after 42 weeks.
Why is a baby born a long time (weeks) after the due date dangerous?
It can die in utero (placenta can’t manage for the bigger needs, and is only supposed to last for 38 weeks)
Can cause haemorrhage and death of the mother.
Broadly, what are the 3 stages of labour?
1st stage- creation of birth canal
2nd stage- expulsion of the fetus
3rd- expulsion of placenta, contraction of uterus.
When can you first palpate the uterus?
At around 12 weeks.
What terms can be used to describe the position of the fetus during the end of pregnancy?
- lie
- presentation
- vertex
What does lie mean, with respect to the fetus in labour?
What’s the most common?
it compares the relationship of the long axis of the fetus against the long axis of the mother.
Longitudinal lie is the most common.
What does presentation mean, with respect to the fetus in labour?
Which part of the fetus is adjacent to the pelvic inlet.
Most commonly the head, ‘cephallic presentation’
What does vertex mean, with respect to the fetus in labour?
The orientation of the presenting part of the fetus,
Eg in cephallic presentation, you can have the minimum diameter, forehead, brow etc.
What is the diameter of presentation of the average fetal head?
9.5cm.
What is the diameter of the typical pelvic inlet?
11cm.
What can help to increase the diameter of the pelvic inlet during pregnancy?
Softening of the pelvic ligments, due to collaginases and prostaglandins.
What is ‘Effacement’?
Bringing the external os of the cervix up to meet the internal os.
It is part of cervical ripening.
What is the cervix made up of structurally?
lots of collagen.
this needs to be broken down during labour to allow expulsion of the fetus.
What does ripening involve?
- reduction in the amount of collagen (done by collaginases)
- increase in glycoasaminoglycans
- increase in hyaluronic acid
- reducing aggregation of collagen fibres.
What is the purpose of glycsaminoglycans in cervical ripening?
They fit between the collagen strands, pulling them apart and increasing the surface area for the collaginases to work on
This leads to less rigidity of the cervix
What is the purpose of hyaluronic acid during cervical ripening?
It causes water to come in between the layers of tissue (like a blister)
Increases the area of collaginases etc to work on during cervical ripening.
Which muscle is responsible for generating force during partuition?
How does this happen?
The myometrium.
Raises in intracellular Ca2+, which occur due to spontaneous action potentials being formed by pacemaker cells.
The Calcium causes SM contraction.
What happens in early pregnancy, regarding contractions?
You get spontaneous contractions around every 30 minutes, but they are of low amplitude.