TA2 Flashcards
(35 cards)
How can a GP support pregnant woman ?
• arrange tests
• consult her about health conditions, family history
• treats problems e.g. flu
• refers her to specialists if needed
• advises on contraception after giving birth
How can a midwife support a pregnant woman ?
• arrange clinical examinations
• monitors health of woman & baby
• delivers parenting classes
• leads labour process & delivery
• offers women care after birth
How can an obstetrician support a pregnant woman?
• assists/ advises in difficult pregnancies
• performs c- section & other surgeries
• decides medications to be prescribed
What happens at 1st appointment with midwife ?
• interviews/ asks about: previous pregnancies, miscarriages, date of last period, genetic diseases, physical & mental health, work & home life
• EDD is calculated
• blood sample taken to check: blood group, rhesus factor, iron levels
Why is baby’s heartbeat checked ?
• to check if baby is alive & not distressed
• heartbeat should be 110-160 bpm
Why is blood pressure checked?
• high blood pressure-> sign that the woman has developed pre eclampsia & may need medication
Why are blood tests taken?
• to checks woman’s level of haemoglobin & iron to prevent anaemia
• check for diseases/ complications e.g. Down’s syndrome
Why is the uterus checked ?
• to see if baby is growing as expected
• you check baby’s movement & position to confirm that baby isn’t breeched
Why is urine tested?
• checked for protein & glucose traces
• help detect pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes & urinary tract infections
Why is weight checked ?
• if woman is gaining weight as expected & baby is growing normally
• too much weight-> indicate pre eclampsia, diabetes
• less weight-> sign that baby isn’t growing , died , woman has illness
What is NIPT test ?
• can done from week 10 until end of pregnancy
• more accurate
• look for genetic mutations & abnormalities e.g. Down’s syndrome
What is Triple test?
• offered between weeks 10 & 14
• small amount of blood taken from mother -> sent to laboratory-> to measure levels of: AFP, HCG, Estriol
• mainly used to check for Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome, patau’s syndrome
What is ultrasound dating scan?
• takes place between weeks 10-14
• sonographer checks size/ growth of baby & confirms EDD
• shows if it’s single or multiple pregnancy
• 2nd scan confirms sex of baby
What is ultrasound anomaly scan ?
• takes place between weeks 18-21
• checks growth/ development of baby
• sonographer looks for 11 rate conditions e.g. cleft lip/palate, anencephaly, open spina bifida, cardiac arrest problems
What is NFT scan?
• takes place between 11-14 weeks
• sonographer measures thickness of nuchal fold to check likelihood of Down’s syndrome-> thicker fold= higher chances
What is amniocentesis ?
• takes place between weeks 15-20
• sample of amniotic fluid taken
• it is invasive-> can cause miscarriage
• confirms if baby has genetic/ chromosomal abnormalities e.g. Down’s syndrome
What is CVS ?
• takes pave between weeks 11-14
• may be recommended for women with higher health risk
• sample taken from placenta
• confirms if genetic/ chromosomal abnormality e.g. cystic fibrosis
• can cause miscarriage, infection
What is the purpose of antenatal classes ?
• advice on caring for baby
• chance to learn about possible labour options
• meet other parents in same situation
• prepares both parents for the experience
• promotes healthy lifestyle & diet
Which foods to avoid during pregnancy ?
• milk which isn’t heat processed-> contain listeria-> listeriosis can cause miscarriage or still birth
• undercooked, raw, unwashed-> carry toxoplasmosis-> affect baby’s brain development, miscarriage, still birth
• raw/ half cooked eggs-> salmonella-> low levels of amniotic fluid, birth defects, miscarriage, still birth
• caffeine-> low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth
• liver-> vitamin A-> affect foetus-> birth defects in nervous system
• raw shellfish/ too much tuna/ oily-> bacteria-> harmful for baby,
• alcohol-> foetal alchohol syndrome-> affects organs of baby & intellectual development
Advantages of hospital birth
• sterile environment
• wide range of pain reliefs available
• trained medical staff
• specialist equipment available
• can meet other mothers & share experience
• no need to worry about cooking & cleaning
• time to recover after birth
Disadvantages of hospital birth
• visitors may be restricted
• environment might be noisy, uncomfortable
• midwife may not be the same person the mother is used to
• not much privacy
• hospital might be far away from pregnant woman home
• chance of catching infection
• few personal belongings
Advantages of home birth
• familiar place, personal items
• no need to travel to hospital
• mother won’t be separated from her other children
• unrestricted number of visitors
• woman won’t be separated form partner
• familiar midwife
• more privacy
Disadvantages of home birth
• limited pain relief available
• no specialist equipment or doctors
• cooking & cleaning needs to be done
• has to be prepared in advance
• environment might not be as sterile
• mother less likely to rest after labour
how can the partner offer support ?
• cook, clean, look after siblings
• organise transport
• offer food, drinks, objects
• help with pain reliefs
• timing contractions, counting breaths during labour
• explaining to mother what is happening if she can’t see herself
• motivating, reassuring
• relaying woman’s wishes to hospital staff
• showing love
