High risk pregnancy

 High risk pregnancy 

 

 

 

        

 

Introduction

Most of the time having a baby is a natural process. After a full-term pregnancy, women go into labor on or near their due date and give birth to a healthy baby. A day or two later they leave the hospital to begin day-to-day life with their growing family. But not allence what doctors refer to as a high-risk pregnancy.

Definition

A pregnancy is considered high-risk when there are potential complications that could affect the mother, the baby, or both. 

High-risk pregnancies require management by a specialist to help ensure the best outcome for the mother and baby.

Risk factors

Many factors can increase the possibility of woman to be in a high risk pregnancy, It’s classified to:

a)          Physical factors

b)          Social factors

c)          Pre- pregnancy medical factors

d)          Medical disorders during pregnancy

e)          Obstetrical history factors 

f)           Psychological factors Physical factors

         Age: Under 17 or above 35 that high risk of genetic defects. 

         weight: Overweight or obesity high risk of birth defects and heart diseases. 

         height: Women shorter than 5 feet are more likely to have small pelvis ( difficult movement of fetus) and high risk of preterm labor. 

         Reproductive abnormalities: Structural abnormalities in the uterus or cervix. 

Social (lifestyle): 

         Smoking 

         drinking alcohol 

         imbalanced of nutrition 

Pre- pregnancy medical factors: 

         High blood pressure: can damage of blood vessels in kidney and cause preeclampsia. 

         Diabetes: can cause birth defect. 

         Kidney diseases: can cause preterm delivery and preeclampsia. 

         Autoimmune disease: such as lupus and multiple sclerosis can cause preterm birth and still birth. 

         thyroid disease: cause problems of metabolism. 

         Sexually transmitted disease such as (HIV). 

         Anemia. 

         Heart diseases. 

         Liver diseases. 

Medical disorders during pregnancy: 

         Hepatitis B 

         Hepatitis Care transmitted blood to blood 

         Placenta previa: implantation of placenta in lower segment. 

         placenta abruption: can cause bleeding from the vagina. 

         Problems with amniotic fluid: polyhydraminous and over distention. 

         cervical insufficiency: weak cervix. 

 Obstetrical history factor: 

         multiple pregnancy 

         Caesarean section and any surgery of abdominal.

High risk conditions:

Bleeding in early pregnancy

Early pregnancy bleeding refers to vaginal bleeding before 24 weeks of gestational age (during the first and second trimester). 

Causes:-  Abortion.

Vesicular mole.

Ectopic pregnancy.

Rarely Gynecological lower tract pathway.(local lesions, cervical cancer, polyp)

Abortion 

It's a termination of pregnancy before 24 weeks , or products of conception weighing below 500 gram .

It occur 10 - 15% of Pregnancy , 80% of them occur in the first trimester.

Causes:-  Fetal:

        Chromosomal anomalies.

        Disease of the fertilized ovum 

        Hypoxia.

 

 

 Maternal: o infection e.g. influenza , malaria, syphilis , HIV. o Disease such as chronic nephritis. o Drug intake during pregnancy. o RH and ABO incompatibility. o Incompetent cervix. o uterine malformations.

o   Acquired uterine defect as uterine fibroid or adhesion s o Trauma , criminal interference.

o   Endocrinal disorder as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus.

Types of abortion:

ü spontaneous abortion 

ü Threatened abortion 

ü missed abortion 

ü Inevitable abortion.

ü Complete abortion

ü incomplete abortion 

ü habitual abortion

ü Therapeutic abortion.

ü Criminal abortion.

ü septic abortion.

Threatened abortion

It's an attempt of uterus to get rid of its contents.

Sign and symptoms:-  o Vaginal bleeding mild and bright red in color.

o   Abnormal pain and backache may or may not be present. o cervical os is closed.

o   Membrane are intact.

Nursing management:-  Complete bed rest .

        Avoid heavy work, enema and constipation.

        no sexual intercourse.

        Administration of prescribed medication.

Inevitable abortion

Sign and symptoms:- 

        Bleeding is excessive (more than 10 Day)

        blood is red in color with clots.

        sever colicky lower abdominal pain.

        Cervical os is dilated and rupture of membranes has occurred.

        There is sever blood loss and the women become shocked.

Nursing management:

        Hospitalization

        Anti shock measure

        fluid infusion.

        Blood transfusion if indicated .

        O2 mask 6 - 8 L /m

        Warmth

        sedative: morphine

        If no heart beats are detected a dilute solution of oxytocin may be given as the doctor order to help in the expulsion of the contents of the uterus.

        D&C should be done Missed abortion fetus is dead and retained inside the uterus.

Sign and symptoms:- 

        Some signs of pregnancy disappear 

        fundal height doesn’t increase in size

        The breast may be secreted milk due to hormonal changes 

        Fetal heart rate are absent .

        A sonar test confirms fetal death .

        some brownish vaginal discharge. Management:-  - Evacuation. Septic abortion any type of abortion completed by infection e.g. missed or criminal abortion. Sign and symptoms:- 

        Tender and painful uterus 

        offensive vaginal bleeding.

        High temperature , rapid pulse , unstable blood pressure.

        Shock

Nursing management:- 

        isolation

        complete bed rest, in folwer position.

        monitoring for vital signs and fluid chart.

        Fluid infusion (5% Glucos+ saline ) to maintain uterine flow >30ml/hr

        Clinical bacteriological to identify the infection organism.

        Administration of antibiotics , antipyretic and analgesic as doctor order.

        To soild pads should be properly collected and burned.

 

 

Incomplete abortion Signs & symptoms:

        Severe bleeding • Cervical is partly closed.

        No uterine involution.

        Pain may or may not be present.

        Uterus is soft and smaller than the expected period of pregnancy.

Complete abortion:

Signs & symptoms:

        There is minimal bleeding.

        Pain stops.

        Uterus is hard and much smaller

        The cervix is closed Treatment:  of the cause such as cervical incompetence or treatment of causative diseases as syphilis, DM, etc.

Nursing Management of Abortion

        Prevention measures should be taken to avoid risk of a spontaneous abortion:

        A nutritional diet.

        Avoiding smoking or thinking  alcohol.

        Receiving available immunizations against infectious diseases.

        Treatment of vaginal or pelvic infections.

Hydatidiform Mole !Vesicular mole)

It is a gross malformation of the trophoblastic in which the chorionic villi proliferate and become avascular.

Causes:

The exact cause is unknown.

Risk factors are:

        Maternal age above 40 years or below 19 years.

        Malnutrition Types

        partial mole

        complete mole

Signs and Symptoms

        Excessive frequent  vomiting.

        Over distension of the uterus and larger than expected for weeks of

        gestation.

        Some vaginal bleeding may occur plus vesicles.

        No fetal movements, No fetal parts

        Positive pregnancy test result in highly diluted urine 1:500.

Complications:

-  Hemorrhage

-  shock

-perforation

-Uterine sepsis -Choriocarcinoma

Nursing management:

-Admit the woman into hospital. -Evacuation of the uterus under general anesthesia.

 

  Health education on the following:

  Need for monitoring HCG levels for two years (monthly for the first 3 months, then every three months for one year).

Birth spacing methods to prevent pregnancy for two years.

-  If HCG levels remain more than five international units per liter eight weeks postpartum , prophylactic chemotherapy is indicated.

3-Ectopis Pregnancy pregnancy occurring outside the normal uterine cavity.it usually occurs 99% of cases in the uterine tube.

Tubal Pregnancy

Causes

-  Impaired tubal cilliary action.

-  Impaired tubal contractility.*

-  Decreased sperm mobility

-  The use of intrauterine contraceptive device.

Risk Factors:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease.

History of previous pelvic operations such as D and C, ovarian surgery.

Signs and Symptoms

-Short periods of amenorrhea.

-        Sudden/recurrent severe, colicky abdominal pain in one iliac fossa or entire lower abdomen

-        Blood stained vaginal discharge.

-        Signs of shock.

-        Dyspareunia.

 

Management:

Surgical

-        -Especially in undisturbed ectopic.

-        -Evacuated immediately.

-        -Salpingectomy is performed.

-        -Provide emotional support.

-        Follow-up is needed.

Medical.

When undisturbed

B-HCG less than 1000

Bleeding in Late Pregnancy (Antepartum Hemorrhage)

It is bleeding from the genital tract after the 28th week of pregnancy and before the end of the second stage of labor. Classification

        Placental site bleeding: (62%)

        Placenta praevia (22%): Bleeding from separation of a placenta wholly or partially implanted in the lower uterine segment.

        Abruption placentae (30%): Premature separation of a normally implanted placenta.

        Marginal separation(10%)ý: Bleeding from the edge of a normally implanted placenta.

        Non-placental site bleeding: (28%)

        Vasa praevia: Bleeding from ruptured foetal vessels.

        Rupture uterus.

        Bloody show.

        Cervical ectopy, polyp or cancer.

        Vaginal varicosity.

Placenta Pravia

The placenta is partially or totally attached to the lower uterine segment.

Incidence

0.5% of pregnancies . It is more common in multiparas and in twin pregnancy due to the large size of the placenta.

Causes

Not well known but may be due to:

Low implantation of the blastocyst.

Development of the chorionic villi in the decidua capsularis leading to attachment to the lower uterine segment.

Large placenta as in twin pregnancy.

Mechanism of bleeding

Progressive stretching of the lower uterine segment normally occurs during the 3rd trimester and labour, but the inelastic placenta cannot stretch with it. This leads to inevitable separation of a part of the placenta with unavoidable bleeding. The closer to term, the greater is the amount of bleeding.

Diagnosis

Symptoms:

       Causeless, painless and recurrent bright-red vaginal bleeding;

       It is causeless, but may follow sexual intercourse or vaginal examination.

       It is painless, but may be associated with labour pains .

       It is recurrent, but may occur once in slight placenta praevia lateralis. Fortunately, the first attack usually not severe Signs:

       General examination:

The general condition of the patient depends upon the amount of blood loss. Shock develops if there is acute severe blood loss and anemia develops if there is recurrent slight blood loss.

       Abdominal examination:

The uterus is corresponding to the period of amenorrhea, relaxed and not tender.

The fetal parts and heart sound (FHS) can be easily detected. Malpresentations, particularly transverse and oblique lie and breech presentation are more common as well as non-engagement of the head. This is because the lower uterine segment is occupied by the placenta.

       Vaginal examination

Speculum examination to exclude local lesions is only permissible when placenta praevia has been excluded by ultrasound.

P/V is indicated only if active treatment is initiated. This may provoke a severe attack of bleeding so it should be done with the following precautions: In the operating room, under general anesthesia, cross- matched blood is in hand, operating theatre is ready for immediate caesarean section.

If the index finger is introduced gently through the dilated cervix, the placenta can be felt as a tough fibrous mass. Placental abruption (abruption placentae)  is an uncommon yet serious complication of pregnancy. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta partly or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. This can decrease or block the baby's supply of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother.

Signs and symptoms

       Vaginal bleeding, although there might not be any

       Abdominal pain

       Back pain

       Uterine tenderness or rigidity

       Uterine contractions, often coming one right after another The cause of placental abruption  is often unknown. Possible causes include:

       trauma or injury to the abdomen — from an auto accident or fall, for example —

       Rapid loss of the fluid that surrounds and cushions the baby in the uterus (amniotic fluid). Risk Factors

       Placental abruption in a previous pregnancy that wasn't caused by abdominal trauma

       Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension)

       Hypertension-related problems during pregnancy, including preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome or eclampsia

       A fall or other type of blow to the abdomen

       Smoking

       Cocaine use during pregnancy

       Early rupture of membranes, which causes leaking amniotic fluid before the end of pregnancy

       Infection inside of the uterus during pregnancy (chorioamnionitis) Being older, especially older than 40

 

Complications for the mother

        Shock due to blood loss

        Blood clotting problems

        The need for a blood transfusion

        Failure of the kidneys or other organs resulting from blood loss

        Rarely, the need for hysterectomy, if uterine bleeding can't be controlled Complications for the fetus

        Restricted growth from not getting enough nutrients

        Not getting enough oxygen

        Premature birth

        Stillbirth

Prevention

We can't prevent placental abruption, but we can decrease certain risk factors.

For example, mother should not smoke or use illegal drugs, such as cocaine. If she have high blood pressure, then she must work with her health care provider to monitor the condition.

Mother should always wear her seatbelt when in a motor vehicle. If she have had abdominal trauma — from an auto accident, fall or other injury — seek immediate medical help.

If she have had a placental abruption, and are planning another pregnancy, she should talk to her health care provider before she  conceive to see if there are ways to reduce the risk of another abruption.

 

Medical treatment

The treatment for placental abruption depends upon the severity of the abruption. Your doctor will determine if your placental abruption is mild, moderate, or severe. Mild placental abruption is when blood loss has occurred, but the bleeding has slowed and you and your baby are stable. Treatments will also depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy. If you’ve lost a significant amount of blood, you may need a blood transfusion. Mild placental abruption at 24 to 34 weeks. If you and your baby are doing well, your doctor may give you medications to try and speed up your baby’s lung development and allow them to keep developing. If your bleeding seems to have stopped or slowed, your doctor may send you home. Otherwise, you may need to remain in the hospital for close monitoring.

Mild placental abruption at 34 weeks or greater. If you’re near full-term, your doctor may induce labor or perform a cesarean delivery. If your baby has had time to develop, an earlier delivery can reduce the risks for further complications.

Moderate to severe placental abruption. This degree of placental abruption — marked by significant blood loss and complications to you and your baby — usually requires immediate delivery, often by cesarean.

In rare instances, if your doctor can’t stop your bleeding, you may need a hysterectomy. This is the surgical removal of the uterus. Again, this is in rare instances of severe bleeding.

 

Nursing management

1.     Place the woman in a lateral, not supine position to avoid pressure in the vena cava.

2.     Monitor fetal heart sounds.

3.     Monitor maternal vital signs to establish baseline data.

4.     Avoid performing any vaginal or abdominal examinations to prevent further injury to the placenta.

Preeclampsia,

 formerly called toxemia, is when pregnant  women have high blood pressure, protein in their urine, and swelling in  their legs, feet, and hands. It can range from mild to severe. It usually  happens late in pregnancy, though it can come earlier or just after  delivery.

 Preeclampsia Causes:

       poor nutrition or high body fat 

       A lack of blood flow to the uterus 

       Genes 

       High Blood Pressure Disorders in Pregnancy

Preeclampsia is one of four blood pressure disorders in pregnant  women. The other three are: 1. Gestational hypertension. 

2.               Chronic hypertension which is: high blood pressure that starts before  a woman gets pregnant or before the 20th week of pregnancy.

3.               Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. This is  chronic high blood pressure that gets worse as pregnancy goes on,  causing more protein in urine and other complications.

  Symptoms  :

o Preeclampsia sometimes develops without any symptoms. 

-        High blood pressure may develop slowly, or it may have a sudden onset.

-        Blood pressure that exceeds 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater 

-        documented on two occasions, at least four hours apart is abnormal.

Other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia may include:

        Excess protein in your urine (proteinuria) or additional signs of kidney problems.

        Severe headaches.

        Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity

        Upper abdominal pain, usually under your ribs on the right side

        Nausea or vomiting

        Decreased urine output

        Decreased levels of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia)

        Impaired liver function

        Shortness of breath, caused by fluid in your lungs

        Sudden weight gain and swelling (edema)  particularly in face and hands  may occur with preeclampsia. But these also occur in many normal pregnancies, so they're not considered reliable signs of preeclampsia.

 Risk factors:

1.     History of preeclampsia: A personal or family history of  preeclampsia significantly raises your risk of preeclampsia.

2.     Chronic hypertension: If you already have chronic hypertension, you  have a higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

3.     First pregnancy: The risk of developing preeclampsia is highest  during your first pregnancy.

4.     New paternity: Each pregnancy with a new partner increases the risk  of preeclampsia more than does a second or third pregnancy with the  same partner

5.     Age: The risk of preeclampsia is higher for very young pregnant 

women as well as pregnant women older than 35.

6.     Race: Black women have a higher risk of developing preeclampsia  than women of other races.

7.     Obesity: The risk of preeclampsia is higher if you're obese.

8.     Multiple pregnancy: Preeclampsia is more common in women who  are carrying twins, triplets or other multiples.

9.     Interval between pregnancies: Having babies less than two years or  more than 10 years apart leads to a higher risk of preeclampsia.

10. History of certain condition: Having certain conditions before you  become pregnant — such as chronic high blood pressure, migraines,  type 1 or type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, a tendency to develop blood  clots, or lupus — increases your risk of preeclampsia.

11. In vitro fertilization: Your risk of preeclampsia is increased if your  baby was conceived with in vitro fertilization.

 Prevention:

a. magnesium sulfate:

The only treatment to stop progression and lead to resolution of  preeclampsia is delivery of the baby and placenta. Waiting to deliver  can increase risk of complications but delivering too early in the  pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth. minimize those  risks. 

Depending on the severity of the disease and gestational age,  doctors may recommend women with often for outpatient prenatal visits, or possibly be admitted to the hospital. They’ll likely perform more frequent blood and urine tests.  They may also prescribe:

medications to lower blood pressure

corticosteroids to help mature the baby’s lungs and improve the  mother’s health

In severe cases of preeclampsia, doctors often recommend antiseizure  medications, such as magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is a mineral  that reduces seizure risks in women with preeclampsia. A healthcare  provider will give the medication intravenously.

Sometimes, it’s also used to prolong pregnancy for up to two days. This  allows time for corticosteroid drugs to improve the baby’s lung function.

Magnesium sulfate usually takes effect immediately. It’s normally given  until about 24 hours after delivery of the baby.

Women receiving magnesium sulfate are hospitalized for close  Monitoring of the treatment. o Magnesium sulfate can be beneficial to some with preeclampsia. But  there’s a risk of magnesium overdose, called magnesium toxicity.  Taking too much magnesium can be life-threatening to both mother  and child. In women, the most common symptoms include: nausea,  diarrhea, or vomiting ,large drops in blood pressure slow or irregular  heart rate and breathing problem Treatment of magnesium toxicity:

 Doctors treat magnesium toxicity with: giving an antidote , fluids , breathing support , dialysis

To prevent magnesium toxicity from happening in the first place, your  doctor should closely monitor your intake. They may also ask how  you’re feeling, monitor your breathing, and check your reflexes often. The risk of toxicity from magnesium sulfate is low if you’re dosed  appropriately and have normal kidney function.

 

       Nursing roles:

Patients with preeclampsia require close monitoring. A thorough initial  assessment of the woman with possible preeclampsia should include a  complete history, a complete physical exam with close attention to  preeclampsia symptoms including unremitting headaches, edema, visual  changes, and epigastric pain, fetal activity, and vaginal bleeding. The  RN should review baseline BPs throughout pregnancy, medications  and/or drugs throughout pregnancy (illicit & OTC). The patient should  have current vital signs, including O2 saturation. The RN should also  review current and past fetal assessment: FHR monitoring results  estimated fetal weight and recent biophysical profile. Labs that should  be drawn are CBC, platelets, LDH, liver function tests, electrolytes,  BUN and creatinine, and a urine sample sent for a protein/creatinine  ratio.

The nursing assessments needed vary depending on the diagnosis. 

-        Women with preeclampsia without severe features need vital signs,  including pulse ox, and lung sounds every 4 hours. Level of consciousness, edema, and assessment for headache, visual  disturbances, epigastria pain should occur every 8 hours. Intake and  output should be monitored hourly. Fetal monitoring should be done as  ordered.

-        Women with preeclampsia with severe features OR women on  magnesium sulfate need vital signs, including pulse ox every 30 minutes  (should be done every 5 minutes during loading dose of magnesium  sulfate). These women need lung sounds assessed every 2 hours. Level  of consciousness, edema, and assessment for headache, visual  disturbances, epigastric pain should occur every 8 hours. Strict (hourly)  intake and output should be monitored, and intake should be ≤ 125  mL/hour.

-        Fetal monitoring should be continuous as ordered.4 Once the  woman is stable without severe features and not on magnesium sulfate,  she may be monitored as a patient with preeclampsia without severe fever. Eclampsia

Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia. It’s a rare but serious condition where high blood pressure results  in seizures during pregnancy. Definition  are periods of disturbed brain activity that can cause episodes of staring, decreased alertness, and convulsions (violent shaking)

Signs and symptoms :-

Patients with eclampsia can have the same symptoms  of preeclampsia or may even present with no symptoms prior to the onset of eclampsia. The following are common symptoms of eclampsia:

       seizures

       loss of consciousness

       agitation causes:-

       Doctors don’t know for sure what causes preeclampsia, but it’s thought to result from abnormal formation and function of the placenta. They can explain how the symptoms of preeclampsia may lead to eclampsia.

       High blood pressure

       Proteinuria

 

Who is at risk for eclampsia?

       Previous history of  preeclampsia

Other risk factors for developing eclampsia during pregnancy include:

       gestational or chronic hypertension (high blood pressure)

       being older than 35 years or younger than 20 years

       pregnancy with twins or triplets

       first-time pregnancy

       diabetes 

       kidney disease 

       Women who have long term high blood pressure before becoming pregnant have a greater risk of pre-eclampsia.

       women with other pre-existing vascular diseases (diabetes or nephropathy) or thrombophilic diseases such as the antiphospholipid syndrome are at higher risk to develop pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

       Having a large placenta (multiple gestation, hydatidiform mole) also predisposes women to eclampsia.

       In addition, there is a genetic component: a woman whose mother or sister had the condition is at higher risk than otherwise.

       Women who have experienced eclampsia are at increased risk for preeclampsia/eclampsia in a later pregnancy.

Complications

The development of complications depends on a number of factors, including the degree of vulnerability, susceptibility, age, health status, and immune system condition.

ü    Renal insufficiency and acute renal failure.

ü    Fetal changes – IUGR, abruption placentae, oligohydramnios.

ü    Hepatic damage and rarely hepatic rupture.

ü    Hematologic compromise and DIC How is eclampsia diagnosed?

If you already have a preeclampsia diagnosis or have a history of it, your doctor will order tests to determine if your preeclampsia has happened again or gotten worse. If you don’t have preeclampsia, your doctor will order tests for preeclampsia as well as others to determine why you’re having seizures. These tests can include:

CBC

Creatinine test

Urine tests for protein 

What are the treatments for eclampsia?

-        Delivering your baby and placenta are the recommended treatment for preeclampsia and eclampsia. 

-        doctor will consider the severity of the disease and how mature baby is when recommending timing of delivery.

-        If diagnoses with mild preeclampsia, they may monitor your condition and treat you with medication to prevent it from turning into eclampsia. Medications and monitoring will help keep your blood pressure within a safer range until the baby is mature enough to deliver.

-        If you do develop severe preeclampsia or eclampsia, your doctor may deliver your baby early. Your care plan will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and the severity of your disease. You will need to be hospitalized for monitoring until you deliver your baby.

 

Medications

Medications to prevent seizures, called anticonvulsants drugs, may be necessary. You may need medication to lower blood pressure if you have high blood pressure. You may also receive steroids, which can help your baby’s lungs mature prior to delivery. Gestational hypertension

To remember: Physiological blood pressure changes During pregnancy

Early in the first trimester there is a fall in blood pressure caused by active vasodilatation, 

 After this, there is a gradual increase in blood pressure until term when prepregnancy levels are attained.

Immediately after delivery blood pressure usually falls Definition  having a HTN( higher than 140/90measured on two separate occasions, more than 6 hours apart) alone (without protein in urine) after 20 weeks of gestation and returning to normal postpartum. The difference between it and preeclampsia

 chronic HTN: occur before conception or before 20 week's gestation

Pre-eclampsia: presence of protein in urine Causes 

        Unknown but risk factors of

        having previous HTN before pregnancy

        Having kidney disease.

        Having diabetes.

        Being younger than 20 years of age or older than 40 years of age.

        Bring pregnant with multiples, such as twins or triplets.

Symptoms

Symptoms can occur but sometimes no The main symptoms is high blood pressure

        Headache that doesn't go away.

        Edema (swelling)

        Sudden weight gain.

        Vision changes, such as blurred or double vision.

        Nausea or vomiting.

        Pain in the upper right side of your belly, or pain around your stomach.

        Making small amounts of urine Diagnosis

        Checking for swelling

        Checking weight gain

        Blood pressure readings

        Urine testing to check for protein. This is a sign that kidneys aren’t working well

        Liver and kidney function tests

        Blood clot test

Compilation 

a.     decrease blood flow in mother's liver, kidneys, brain, uterus, and placenta

b.     Placental abruption. This is when the placenta pulls away from the uterus too early.

c.     Poor fetal growth (intrauterine growth restriction)

d.     Stillbirth

e.     can lead to pre-eclampsia or Seizures (eclampsia)

f.      Death of the mother and baby

Treatment

        Blood pressure monitoring

        Fetal monitoring  to check the health of the baby may include  Fetal movement counting

Mother will  keep track of her baby’s kicks and movements. A change in the number of kicks or how often  baby kicks may mean  baby is under stress.

        Non stress testing. 

measure baby’s heart rate in response to his movements. Biophysical profile.

 combines a non-stress test with an ultrasound to watch the baby.

        Doppler flow studies

A type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to measure the flow of baby’s blood through a blood testing

        Lab testing

Such as urine and blood test to make sure that mother's conditions isn't getting worse

        Medicine

 corticosteroids can help  baby’s lungs form.

Combination of  Prazosin & Captopril as antihypertensive drugs

        Nursing care 

Nursing care for PIH involves providing adequate nutrition, good prenatal care, and control of pre-existing hypertension during pregnancy decrease the incidence and severity of preeclampsia. Early recognition and prompt treatment of preeclampsia can prevent progression to eclampsia.

 

Diabetes Mellitus 

• describes a • metabolic (endocrine ) disorder resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both classification Diabetes in pregnancy  1) pre-existing diabetes:

 The women has diabetes before pregnancy. And this can be subdivided to a) pre-existing insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) it encompasses the majority of cases that are primarily due pancreatic is let beta-cell destruction and It is characterized by absolute insulin deficiency,

b) pre-existing non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) - is the major of diabetes, which results from defects in insulin secretion, always with a • major contribution from insulin resistance  2) Gestational diabetes.  the pregnant women develops diabetes during the course of her pregnancy.

 

Risk factors for the development of diabetes in pregnancy *Called potentially diabetics.

1-    family history. 

2-    obesity. 

3-    previous baby>4.5kg. 

4-    previous unexplained stillbirth. 

5-    previous fetal congenital malformations

Influence of Diabetes on Pregnancy  During pregnancy : 

       Mother: 

a.       Abortion. 

b.      Pre-eclampsia.

c.       Polyhylramnios.

d.      Increase Incidence of cesarean section.

       Fetus

a.       TUGR. 

b.      TUFD.

a.              Congenital anomalies. 

b.              Abnormal presentation During Labor:

       Mother: 

Obstructed labor. 

       Fetus: 

a.       Prematurity. 

b.       Neonatal hypoglycemia. 

c.       Respiratory distress.

d.       Macrosomia Postpartum

e.       Infection. 

f.        Postpartum hemorrhage

management Pre-pregnancy management

-        pre pregnancy glycemic control should be optimal before pregnancy 

-        -diabetic should be educated regarding the need for tight control and screened and treated from diabetic complications like retinopathy and nephropathy

-        general advice should be given concerning diet and the need for folic acid before pregnancy and during the first trimester - diet :

-        supply 30 to 35 kcal/kg/day

-        -avoid sugar, decrease fat and increase fibers  - insulin :

• Dose is calculated based on body weight

-  first trimester0.6

-  second trimester 0.7 unit/kg 

-  third trimester 0.8 unit/kg 

Multiple Short acting is given before meals and intermediate acting insulin at bed time Prevention

Maintain a healthy weight before pregnancy

If you have made a decision to try to have a baby, try to maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant. If you are overweight, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop gestational diabetes, but it does increase the risk. Having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 makes you three times more likely to develop gestational diabetes than having a BMI of 25 or less.  Diet :

        measuring out smaller portion sizes

        avoiding packaged food and ―junk food‖

        replacing candy with fruit

        eating more lean protein, such as fish and tofu, to stay fuller for longer

        increasing fiber intake by eating plenty of vegetables and whole grains

        replacing juices, dairy-laden coffee drinks, and sodas with herbal tea, black coffee, or sparkling water with lemon or lime slices Exercise :

        Exercise is a vital part of maintaining a healthy weight. Both before and during pregnancy, exercise can help prevent gestational diabetes. Exercise helps the body become more sensitive to the insulin that the pancreas creates, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Anemia

-Is a reduction in the number of RBCs and haemoglobin content with a corresponding reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. -Anemia in pregnancy is defined as a hemoglobin concentration of less than 110 g/L (less than 11 g/dL) in venous blood.

• Types 

a.     Iron-deficiency anemia.

b.     Folate-deficiency anemia.

c.     Vitamin B12 deficiency.

 

1-Iron-deficiency anemia

 This type of anemia occurs when the body doesn't have enough iron to produce adequate amounts of hemoglobin. That's a protein in red blood cells.

It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

-In iron-deficiency anemia, the blood cannot carry enough oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

-Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy.

2-Folate-deficiency anemia. 

Folate is the vitamin found naturally in certain foods like green leafy vegetables A type of B vitamin, the body needs folate to produce new cells, including healthy red blood cells.

During pregnancy, women need extra folate. But sometimes they don't get enough from their diet. When that happens, the body can't make enough normal red blood cells to transport oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

Man-made supplements of folate are called folic acid.

Folate deficiency can directly contribute to certain types of birth defects, such as neural tube abnormalities (spina bifida) and low birth.

3-Vitamin B12 deficiency. 

The body needs vitamin B12 to form healthy red blood cells. When a pregnant woman doesn't get enough vitamin B12 from their diet, their body can't produce enough healthy red blood cells. Women who don't eat meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs have a greater risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency, which may contribute to birth defects, such as neural tube abnormalities, and could lead to preterm labor.

• Causes 

The cause of anemia truly comes down to how many red blood cells are being produced in the body and how healthy they are. 

1- Nutritional deficiency

The most cases anemia is caused by not having enough iron in diet before and/or during  pregnancy.

a lack of iron in the diet as a result of not eating enough iron-rich foods or the body’s inability to absorb the iron being consumed.

2-    vitamin deficiency (B12 or folic acid).

3-    Acute or chronic blood loss. bleeding due  to an ulcer or polyp, or blood donation causes red blood cells to be destroyed faster than they can be replenished.

        Risk factors

ý pregnant with multiples

ý -have two or more pregnancies in quick succession

ý -aren’t eating enough foods rich in iron

ý -experienced heavy periods before becoming pregnant

ý -are routinely vomiting as a result of morning sickness

        Symptoms

While mild cases of anemia may have no symptoms at all, moderate to severe conditions may present themselves with the following symptoms:

ü feeling excessively fatigued or weak

ü becoming pale

ü experiencing shortness of breath

ü heart palpitations

ü chest pain

ü feeling lightheaded

ü hands and feet become cold

ü having cravings for nonfood items like dirt, clay, or cornstarch

• Risks of Anemia during Pregnancy “Complications”

(1) Severe or untreated iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy can increase risk of having:

-  A preterm or low-birth-weight baby

-  A blood transfusion (if you lose a significant amount of blood during delivery)

-  Postpartum depression

-  A baby with anemia

-  A child with developmental delays

(2) Untreated folate deficiency can increase risk of having a:

-  Preterm or low-birth-weight baby

-  Baby with a serious birth defect of the spine or brain (neural tube defects)

(3)Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can also raise risk of having a baby with neural tube defects leading to spina bifida.

Diagnosis

Tests for Anemia

ý Hemoglobin test.

ý Hematocrit test.

•Management

(1)  Medical  anemia during  pregnancy, need to start taking an iron supplement and/or folic acid supplement in addition to prenatal vitamins. and  add more foods that are high in iron and folic acid to the diet.

(2)  Nutritional supplements. 

-                   Anemia during pregnancy can easily be treated by adding iron or vitamin supplements to the daily routine.

-                   Use of nutritional supplements should be appropriately taught to the pregnant women and the family because too much intake cannot improve anemia.

(3)   Blood transfusion. 

Patients with acute blood loss or severe hemolysis may have decreased tissue perfusion from decreased blood volume or reduced circulating erythrocytes, so transfusion of blood would be necessary.

(4)   Intravenous fluids.

 Intravenous fluids replace the lost volumes of blood or electrolytes to restore them to normal levels.

N.B To treat vitamin B12 deficiency, doctor may recommend  take a vitamin B12 supplement and may also recommend that diet includ meat eggs ,dairy products.

(5)   Nursing Management

1- Take History

ý  Family history. 

Assessment of family history is important because certain anemias are inherited

ý  Health history and physical exam. 

Both provide important data about the type of anemia involved, the extent and type of symptoms it produces, and the impact of those symptoms on the patient’s life.

ý  Diet. 

The nurse should encourage a healthy diet that is packed with essential nutrients.

ý  Provide client and family teaching. 

Discuss using iron supplements and increasing dietary sources of iron as indicated.

4- Blood transfusion monitoring. 

The nurse should monitor the patient’s vital signs and pulse oximeter readings closely.

Prepare for blood-typing and crossmatching, and for administering packed PBCs during labor if the client has severe anemia.

                  Prevention during pregnancy:make sure you get enough iron  ،Eat well-balanced meals and add more foods that are high in iron to your diet.

Aim for at least three servings a day of iron-rich foods, such as: lean red meat, poultry, and fish leafy, dark green vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, and kale) iron-enriched cereals and grains

beans, lentils, and tofu nuts and seeds eggs

Foods that are high in vitamin C can help your body absorb more iron. These include:

ü citrus fruits and juices

ü strawberries

ü kiwis

ü tomatoes

ü bell peppers

Try eating those foods at the same time that you eat iron-rich foods. For example, you could drink a glass of orange juice and eat an iron-fortified cereal for breakfast.

 

Also, choose foods that are high in folate to help prevent folate deficiency.

These include:

ü leafy green vegetables

ü citrus fruits and juices

ü dried beans

ü breads and cereals fortified with folic acid

Follow your doctor's instructions for taking a prenatal vitamin that contains a sufficient amount of iron and folic acid.

Vegetarians and vegans should talk with their doctor about whether they should take a vitamin B12 supplement when they're pregnant and breastfeeding

 

 

Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy

ð Pregnancy stresses the cardiovascular system, often worsening known heart disorders. Stresses include decreased hemoglobin and increased blood volume, stroke volume, and eventually heart rate. 

ð Cardiac output increases by 30 to 50%. These changes become maximal between 28 and 34 weeks gestation.

ð During labor, cardiac output increases about 20% with each uterine contraction; other stresses include straining during the 2nd stage of labor and the increase in venous blood returning to the heart from the contracting uterus. Cardiovascular stresses do not return to prepregnancy levels until several weeks after delivery.

v Incidence: 

ü World Health Organization estimates cardio vascular disease accounts for 1 to4% in pregnant women globally. Maternal mortality in South Africa is rising, and heart conditions currently account for 41 per cent of indirect causes of deaths. Little is known about the burden of heart disease in pregnant South Africans.

ü The overall prevalence of pregnant women with heart disease was 9.3% in Egypt (Soliman et al., 2016).  In Egypt 16% of maternal deaths are due to heart diseases during pregnancy. This percentage means that heart disease during pregnancy is the fourth most common cause of maternal death (Soliman et al.,2016)  

ü Cardiac disease is a leading cause of maternal death in pregnancy in many developed countries, including the UK.

However, there is a lack of evidence-based guidelines to assist in planning the management of affected pregnancies.

                  Guidelines for management of heart disease during pregnancy:  

General Guidelines to management

ý Activity restrictions 

ý Diet modifications

ý Infection control 

ý Immunizations, prophylaxis against Rheumatic fever 

ý Interruption of pregnancy 

ý Counseling 

ý Contraception 

ý CV surgery 

ý CV drugs

Rh ISO immunization

ISO immunization is defined as the development of antibodies against the antigens of another individual of the same species. 

Rh iso immunization is when the blood from the baby makes the mother's body create antibodies that can harm the baby's blood cells.

Causes

Rh iso immunization can happen if the baby's Rh positive blood enters the mother's blood flow. This may happen during:

ü Miscarriage

ü Trauma

ü Ectopic pregnancy

ü Induced abortion

ü Amniocentesis or other pregnancy procedures—rare

Risk Factors

The risk of Rh incompatibility is higher in an Rh-negative pregnant woman who:

-        Had a prior pregnancy with a baby that was Rh positive.

-        Had a prior blood transfusion or amniocentesis

-        Did not get an Rh immunization during a prior pregnancy with an Rhpositive bab

Symptoms

Symptoms will only be in the baby. They can be mild to severe, such as:

ü •Anemia —red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made

ü •Jaundice —a buildup of a substance in the blood that causes the skin to look yellow

ü •Swelling of the body, which can lead to heart failure or breathing problems.

ü Diagnosis

A woman's Rh factor is tested at routine visits. 

1- Blood tests will be done to:

ü  Find out if the mother is Rh positive or Rh negative

ü  Look for Rh antibodies

ü  Keep track of antibody levels

ý An amniocentesis may also be done. It removes and tests a small amount of the fluid that surrounds the baby to find out if the baby is Rh positive.

Management

There is a wide spectrum of severity of neonatal Rh disease. A careful prenatal history, physical examination, and laboratory studies are important in evaluating the neonate. Treatment of hydrops fetalis is difficult. Phototherapy and exchange transfusion remain the mainstays of therapy for hyperbilirubinemia. Additional therapies may include phenobarbital, heme oxygenase inhibitors, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and erythropoie-tin for late, hyporegenerative anemia.

Prevention

Rhesus disease can  largely be prevented by having an injection of a medication called anti-D immunoglobulin. This can help to avoid a process known as sensitization, which is when a woman with RhD negative blood is exposed to RhD positive blood and develops an immune response to it.

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