Normal Pregnancy + Fetal Risk Assessment pt 3

Discomfort of Pregnancy

First Trimester

  • Urinary Frequency (Can be 1st sign)

  • Fatigue

  • N/V

  • Breast Tenderness

  • Constipation

  • Nasal stuffiness, Bleeding gums, epistaxis (Nose bleeds)

  • Increase cravings

  • Leukorrhea (Acidic white discharge)

Second Trimester - lots of baby growth

  • Backache

  • Varicosities of the vulva and legs

  • Hemorrhoids: varicosities of rectum

  • Flatulence/bloating

Third Trimester

  • Return of 1st trimester discomforts

  • shortness of breath/dyspnea

  • heartburn/indigestion

  • dependent edema - raise extremities, TEDs

  • Braxton Hicks contractions

    • starts at back - build to front

BACKACHES

B - Backaches, breast tenderness

A - Anorexia, N&V in first trimester

C - constipation

K or C = contractions = braxton Hicks

A - Anemia

C - Cramping in legs

H - Heartburn, has urinary frequency, hemorrhoids

E - Edema in lower extremities, epistaxis

S - Shortness of breath, supine hypotension

Nursing Management to promote care

  • personal hygiene/perineal care/ breast care/ clothing

  • Avoidance of sauna & hot tubs \

  • Sleep and rest

  • dental care (NO X-rays)

  • Sexual activity/sexuality

  • Travel

  • Exercise

    • best: walking + swimming

  • seat belt safety

  • employment

  • vaccines/immunizations/medication use

Preparation for labor & Birth

  • perinatal education

  • Childbirth education

    • Lamaze: psychoprophylactic method: focus os on the fear-tension-pain cycle while breathing/relaxation tech’s

    • Bradley: partner-coached childbirth method; focus is on exercise, breathing & Relaxation

    • Dick-Read: natural childbirth method; focus is on fear reduction with knowledge and abdominal breathing techniques

  • BIrth setting

    • Home birth, birthing centers, or hospital birth

  • care providers

    • obstetrician, midwife, doula

  • Feeding options

    • breastfeeding, bottle feeding

  • Final preparation for birth

    • transportation, suitcase, home/pet/child care, support person, birth plan

Fetal RIsk Assessment

  • Ultra-sound (US)

  • Doppler Flow studies

  • Nuchal Translucency

  • Amniocentesis

  • CHronic VIlli Sampling (CVS)

  • Percutaneous Umbilical COrd Sampling (PUBS)

  • Non-stress est (NST) & Contraction stress test (CST)

  • Fetal kick counts

  • Biophysical Profile

Ultrasound

  • uses high-frequency sound waves to observe fetal organs/structures

  • Used for diagnostic and evaluative purposes

  • Done 2 ways: abdominally or vaginally

  • transabdominal/pelvic US

  • Transvaginal US: 1st trimester

  • uses a transducer

  • used to:

    • validate the pregnancy/confirm viability

    • determine dates

    • anatomy scan 18-20 weeks

    • check fo fetal anomalies/abnormalities

    • observe the placenta location/fetal growth

    • measure AFI (Amniotic fluid index)

    • biophysical profile

Second & Third Trimester US (transabdominal)

  • confirm fetal viability

  • anatomy scan

  • determine gestational age

  • evaluate amniotic fluid level

  • assess serial growth

  • Twins - Compare growth, AFI

  • placenta location

  • BPP

  • presentation

  • fetal ling maturity

Chronic Villus sampling (CVS)

  • A sample of chorionic Villus from the placenta; done transabdominally or transcervically

    • prenatal diagnosis (10-13 wks)

    • Benefits: earlier than amnio, early dx

    • risks: infection, bleeding, miscarriage, limb deformity if done before 9 weeks, more difficult to do, contraindicated with Rh sensitization

    • checks genetic make up/information

    • a catheter is placed vaginally with ultrasound guidance

    • must consider risk/benefit ratio

Amniocentesis

  • Amniocentesis; amniotic fluid is aspirated from the amniotic sac

  • evaluates genetic well being, disorders, or lung maturity

    • 1st trimester (11-14 weeks) for genetic anomalies

    • 2nd trimester (15-20 weeks) to detect chromosomal abnormalities

    • 3rd trimester after 35 weeks to determine fetal lung maturity via analysis of lecithin-to-sphingomeylin ratios to determine eligibility for induction of labor prior to 39 weeks or for cesarean delivery

  • empty bladder prior to procedure

  • educate about risks vs benefits

  • Risks: infection, bleeding, preterm labor, PROM, fetal loss

  • Benefits: early dx, decrease maternal stress, care plan for anomalies/fetal death, abortion

  • for RH- mothers, administer RhoGAM r/t risk of maternal and fetal blood mixing

Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS)

  • used for prenatal dx: fetal hemolytic disease, fetal infections, chromosomal or genetic disease, fetal hypoxia, blood factor abnormalities.

  • can be used to txt the fetus; transfusion, administer drugs

  • blood withdrawn from umbilical cord by U/S guidance after 20 weeks

  • risks: same as Amnio and CVS

Fetal movement/kick counts

  • maternal report of fetal movement

  • done after 28 weeks

  • procedure is safe, simple, cost free, & non-invasive

    • good predictor of fetal well being

    • decrease or no movement = cause for concern

    • movement is affected by drugs, sleep states, maternal glucose and maternal hydration status

    • evaluate 1 hour after meal, side-lying, 3X/day; Sanovsksky’s protocol: 4+ movements in 30 min

    • Kick count - maternal perception of movements

    • count to 10 - should feel 10 distant movements in a 1-2 hour period

    • if decreased fetal movements perceived, drink something cold and sweet, lie on left side in a quite place and count movements.

      • if 6-10 movements are not felt in 1-hour call your provider

Non-stress Test (NST)

  • evaluates fetal heart response to fetal movement non-invasive; use EFM

  • indications: postadtes, PIH, DM, IUGR, decreased fetal movement

  • rective = two or more accelerations of 15 bpm lasting at least 15 seconds within 15-20 minutes (the “15 X 15 rule”)

  • Nonreactive = FHR fails to demonstrate the above in a 40 minute time frame; needs further evaluation (CST, BPP)

    • no fetal movement @ same time as acelerations

  • FHR can be affected by: smoking, fetal sleep, meds, & fetal anomalies

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

  • It’s all or none

  • uses US to evaluate 5 fetal variabel to assess fetal risk; good predictor of fetal well being or distress

  • scoring 0-2 for a total of 10

    • fetal breathing movements: one or more in 30 minutes; none=0, present = 2

    • gross body/limb movements

      • three or more in 30 minutes; non=0, present = 2

    • fetal muscle tone

      • +1 episodes of flexion/extension in 30 min; none=0, present =2

    • AFV: at least one fluid pocket of 2 cm; none = 0, present = 2

    • reactive NST = 2

    • nonreactive NST = 0

  • score of 8-10 is normal in the absence of oligohydramnios

    • oligohydramnios = low amniotic fluid

  • 6 is equivocal; repeat testing

  • 4 or less is abnormal

Contraction Stress Test (CST)

  • used to assess fetal response to contraction

  • sometimes called oxytocin challenge test (OCT)

    • done in hospital with EFM with oxytocin or nipple stim

    • contraindications: placental problems, previous uterine surgery, previous classical c-section, < 37 weeks, multiples, risk of PTL

    • Negative test: no late or variable decelerations

      • nothing bad happens - want to see accels with contractions

    • Positive test: persistent late decels with 50% or more of the contractions

      • something bad happens

        • 1. ger patient to left side/reposition

        • 2. open primary IV (LR)

        • 3. get simple mask with 8-10L oxygen

        • 4. If PITT is on - turn it off

Doppler Flow studies

  • ultrasound evaluation of the feus using 2D color doppler

  • prenatal diagnosis of structural anomalies, rhythm abnormalities, altered fetal circulation

  • detects fetal compromise in high risk pregnancies and abnormalities in diastolic flow in umbilical vessels

Electronic fetal monitoring

  • showing baby HR and contractions on one strip

  • Nadir = lowest point of deccel

  • Late decels = the fetal heart tones return to the baseline after end of contraction

Internal fetal monitoring

  • fetal scalp electrode (FSE)= an internal fetal heart monitor

  • Intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) = an internal contraction monitor

VEAL CHOP

V - Variable C - cord compression

E- earlu H - head

A - Acceleration O - oxygenation

L - Late P - placenta/uterine insufficiency

Nuchal Cord Translucency

  • 1st trimester test between 11-14 weeks

  • done during US

    • identifies an increase in nuchal translucency due to a subcutaneous accumulation of fluid behind the fetal neck

  • allows early detection and diagnosis of some fetal chromosomal and structural abnormalities, genetic syndromes, high risk of abortion and fetal death

  • increased nuchal cord translucency is associated with chromosomal abnormalities such as:

    • trisomy 21, 18, 13

    • diaphragmatic hernias

    • cardiac defects

    • fetal skeletal and neurologic abnormalities