Obstetrics by Ten Teachers [20 ed.] 1498744605, 9781498744607

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OBSTETRICS

20th EDITION

by Ten Teachers

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OBSTETRICS

20th EDITION

by Ten Teachers Edited by Louise C Kenny MBChB (Hons), MRCOG, PhD Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University College Cork Cork, Ireland and Director The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT) Cork, Ireland

Jenny E Myers BMBS, BMedSci (Hons), MRCOG, PhD NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre University of Manchester Manchester, UK

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CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2017 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed on acid-free paper International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4987-4439-3 (Pack – Book and Ebook) International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4987-4460-7 (Paperback; restricted territorial availability) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. While all reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, neither the author[s] nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publishers wish to make clear that any views or opinions expressed in this book by individual editors, authors or contributors are personal to them and do not necessarily reflect the views/opinions of the publishers. The information or guidance contained in this book is intended for use by medical, scientific or health-care professionals and is provided strictly as a supplement to the medical or other professional’s own judgement, their knowledge of the patient’s medical history, relevant manufacturer’s instructions and the appropriate best practice guidelines. Because of the rapid advances in medical science, any information or advice on dosages, procedures or diagnoses should be independently verified. The reader is strongly urged to consult the relevant national drug formulary and the drug companies’ and device or material manufacturers’ printed instructions, and their websites, before administering or utilizing any of the drugs, devices or materials mentioned in this book. This book does not indicate whether a particular treatment is appropriate or suitable for a particular individual. Ultimately it is the sole responsibility of the medical professional to make his or her own professional judgements, so as to advise and treat patients appropriately. The authors and publishers have also attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint. Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers. For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright.com (http://www. copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-7508400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com

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Dedication This book is dedicated to my sons, Conor and Eamon (LCK) And to my children Owen and Bethan (JEM)

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Contents Preface���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix Contributors��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xi Abbreviations����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������xiii Video resources����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xvii CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16

Obstetric history and examination���������������������������������������������������������������������1

Louise C Kenny and Jenny E Myers

Antenatal care������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13

Fergus McCarthy and Lucy C Chappell

Normal fetal development and growth�������������������������������������������������������������27

Anna L David

Assessment of fetal wellbeing�������������������������������������������������������������������������45

Anna L David

Prenatal diagnosis������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������63

Anna L David

Antenatal obstetric complications�������������������������������������������������������������������79

Louise C Kenny

Multiple pregnancy���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������105

Fergus McCarthy

Preterm labour���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������117

Mark R Johnson

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy�������������������������������������������������������������133

Louise C Kenny

Medical complications of pregnancy�������������������������������������������������������������147

Jenny E Myers, David Williams and Louise C Kenny

Perinatal infections���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������173

Jenny E Myers

Labour: normal and abnormal����������������������������������������������������������������������193

Deirdre J Murphy

Operative delivery�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������233

Deirdre J Murphy

Obstetric emergencies����������������������������������������������������������������������������������255

Fergus McCarthy

The puerperium��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������273

Andrew D Weeks

The neonate�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������297

Mark A Turner

Index��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������331

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Preface Obstetrics by Ten Teachers is an iconic text. First published as Midwifery by Ten Teachers in 1917 under the editorship of Comyns Berkley (Obstetric and Gynaecological Surgeon to the Middlesex Hospital), the book is now in its 20th edition and has reached a landmark centenary, cementing its place as one of the oldest, most respected and most popular English language texts on the subject. As editors who were once students and readers of this textbook, we fully appreciate the responsibility of revising a much-loved classic. Befitting of the next century, the book has been almost completely rewritten by ‘Ten Teachers’, all internationally renowned experts in their fields and all intimately involved in the delivery of both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the UK and Ireland, to reflect the current undergraduate curriculum. This volume has been edited carefully to ensure consistency of structure, style and level of detail, in common with those of its sister text Gynaecology by Ten Teachers. The books can therefore be used together or independently as required. The aim of the book as detailed in the preface of the first edition, published 100 years ago, still pertains today: This book is frankly written for students preparing for their final examination and in the hope that it will be ­useful to them afterwards and to others who have passed beyond the stage of examination. Thus, while the 20th edition is written for medical students, we hope that the text retains its relevance for trainee obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives and other health care professionals with an interest in the field. Furthermore, in line with the popularity of this book elsewhere in the world and reflecting the fact that in 2017, the global burden of maternal morbidity and mortality is greatest in low resource settings, the 20th edition includes a global health perspective throughout. It has been a privilege and an honour to be the editors of this textbook as it reaches this important milestone; we echo a century of previous editors in hoping that this book will enthuse a new generation of ­doctors to become obstetricians and work to make pregnancy and childbirth an even safer and more fulfilling experience. Louise C Kenny Jenny E Myers 2017

ix

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Contributors Lucy C Chappell MB BChir, MRCOG, PhD NIHR Research Professor of Obstetrics King’s College London London, UK Anna L David MB ChB (Hons), FRCOG, PhD Professor and Consultant in Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine and Head of Research Institute for Women’s Health University College London London, UK Mark R Johnson MBBS, MRCP, MRCOG, PhD Professor of Clinical Obstetrics Imperial College School of Medicine Chelsea and Westminster Hospital London, UK Louise C Kenny MBChB (Hons), MRCOG, PhD Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University College Cork and Director The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT) Cork, Ireland

Fergus McCarthy MBBCh, BAO Dip, MSc, MRCPI, MRCOG, PhD Academic Clinical Lecturer King’s College London London, UK

Jenny E Myers BMBS, BMedSci(Hons), MRCOG, PhD NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre University of Manchester Manchester, UK

Mark A Turner BSc, MBChB (Hons), DRCOG, MRCP(UK), MRCPCH, PhD Senior Lecturer in Neonatology University of Liverpool and Honorary Consultant Neonatologist Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust Liverpool, UK

Andrew D Weeks MB ChB, MD, DCH, FRCOG Professor of International Maternal Health University of Liverpool and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust Liverpool, UK

David J Williams MB BS, PhD, FRCP Obstetric Physician Institute for Women’s Health University College London London, UK

Deirdre J Murphy MSc, MD, FRCOG

Professor of Obstetrics and Head of Department Trinity College Dublin and Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital Dublin, Ireland xi

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Abbreviations AA AABR AC ACE aCL ACOG

arachidonic acid/arterioarterial automated auditory brainstem response abdominal circumference angiotensin-converting enzyme anticardiolipin antibody American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACR American College of Rheumatology adrenocorticotrophic hormone ACTH AED antiepilepsy drug amniotic fluid index AFI AFP alpha-fetoprotein AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ALT alanine aminotransferase adenyl monophospate AMP ANA antinuclear antibody advanced neonatal nurse practitioner ANNP aOR adjusted odds ratio A–P anterior–posterior APH antepartum haemorrhage antiphospholipid syndrome APS ARM artificial rupture of membranes antiretroviral therapy ART aortic stenosis AS AT antithrombin AV arteriovenous AZT azidothymidine, also known as zidovudine (ZDV) BCG bacillus Calmette-Guérin BMI body mass index BPD biparietal diameter bpm beats per minute BPP biophysical profile BV bacterial vaginosis contraction-associated protein CAP CB cerebellum cystic fibrosis CF cerebral function monitoring CFM CHAOS congenital high airways obstruction syndrome CKD chronic kidney disease

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CLD chronic lung disease (of prematurity) CMV cytomegalovirus CNS central nervous system COX cyclooxygenase CP cerebral palsy continuous positive airways pressure CPAP cephalopelvic disproportion CPD cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR corticotrophin-releasing hormone CRH CRL crown–rump length clinical risk management CRM CRP C-reactive protein congenital rubella syndrome CRS combined spinal–epidural CSE cerebrospinal fluid CSF computed tomography CT CTG cardiotocograph CTPA computed tomography pulmonary angiogram CVP central venous pressure chorion villus sampling CVS dilation and curettage D&C direct antiglobulin testing DAT DDAVP desmopressin developmental dysplasia of the hip DDH Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy/ DMD disease-modifying drug DMSA dimercaptosuccinic acid deoxyribonucleic acid DNA DV ductus venosus DVT deep vein thrombosis ECG electrocardiogram ECV external cephalic version EDD estimated date of delivery (amplitude integrated) (a)EEG electroencephalography EF ejection fraction electronic fetal monitoring EFM estimated fetal weight EFW EIA enzyme immunoassay enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay ELISA

xiii

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xiv

Abbreviations

EMQ extended matching question examination of the newborn EON ERCS elective repeat caesarean section extended spectrum β-lactamase ESBL ETT endotracheal tube EUA examination under anaesthesia FBC full blood count fetal breathing movement FBM FBS fetal scalp blood sampling FDA Food and Drug Administration FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 second free fetal deoxyribonucleic acid ffDNA fFN fetal fibronectin fibroblast growth factor (receptor) FGF(R) female genital mutilation FGM fetal growth restriction FGR fetal heart rate FHR FISH fluorescent in situ hybridization femur length FL Family Origin Questionnaire FOQ functional residual capacity FRC fetal scalp electrode FSE FTA-abs fluorescent treponemal antibodyabsorbed (test) fetal varicella syndrome FVS GA1 glutaric aciduria type 1 group B streptococcus GBS Glasgow coma score GCS gestational diabetes GDM glomerular filtration rate GFR gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase GGT GnRH gonadotrophin-releasing hormone general practitioner GP glyceryl trinitrate GTN genitourinary medicine GUM HAART highly active antiretroviral therapy Hb haemoglobin HBA1C glycosated haemoglobin hepatitis B core antibody HBcAb fetal haemoglobin HbF HBsAb hepatitis B surface antibody HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen homozygous sickle cell disease HbSS HBV hepatitis B virus head circumference HC hCG human chorionic gonadotrophin HCU homocystinuria hepatitis C virus HCV

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haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and HELLP low platelets hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy HIE human immunodeficiency virus HIV herpes simplex virus HSV HZ herpes zoster intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis IAP IBD inflammatory bowel disease Ig immunoglobulin IGF insulin-like growth factor IL interleukin intermittent mandatory ventilation IMV international normalized ratio INR induction of labour IOL intelligence quotient IQ immune thrombocytopaenic purpura ITP isovaleric acidaemia IVA inferior vena cava IVC in vitro fertilization IVF intraventricular haemorrhage IVH lupus anticoagulant LA liver function test LFT large loop excision of the LLETZ transformation zone last menstrual period LMP low-molecular-weight heparin LMWH mean arterial pressure MAP middle cerebral artery MCA MCADD medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency M, C and S microscopy, culture and sensitivity mean corpuscular volume MCV MEOWS Modified Early Obstetric Warning System MI myocardial infarction MMR mumps, measles, rubella MoM multiples of median MRI magnetic resonance imaging manual removal of placenta MROP MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus multiple sclerosis MS Maternity Services Liaison MSLC Committee mid-stream urine specimen MSU MSUD maple syrup urine disease HDFN

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Abbreviations

MVP NCT NEC NFκB NHS NICE

maximum vertical pool National Childbirth Trust necrotizing enterocolitis nuclear factor kappa B National Health Service National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NICU NIPT non-invasive prenatal testing NO nitrous oxide NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug nuchal translucency NT NTD neural tube defect OA occipito-anterior obstetric anal sphincter injuries OASI OFD occipitofrontal diameter oral glucose tolerance test OGTT OP occipito-posterior OT occipito-transverse OT(R)(-A) oxytocin (receptor) (antagonist) OTC over-the-counter OVD operative vaginal delivery pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A PAPP-A primary biliary cirrhosis PBC patient-controlled analgesic device PCA polymerase chain reaction PCR patent ductus arteriosus PDA pulmonary embolism PE PEP polymorphic eruption of pregnancy PF pruritic folliculitis prostaglandin/pemphigoid gestationis PG PGDH 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase pulmonary hypertension PH pulsatility index PI PIE pulmonary interstitial emphysema PKU phenylketonuria placental growth factor PlGF PMA postmenstrual age PPH postpartum haemorrhage PPROM preterm premature rupture of membranes progesterone receptor PR PROM preterm rupture of membranes PT prothrombin time percutaneous transluminal coronary PTCA angioplasty PTD preterm delivery

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xv

parathyroid hormone PTH PTL preterm labour PTU propylthiouracil PVL periventricular leukomalacia rheumatoid arthritis RA Royal College of Midwives RCM Royal College of Obstetricians and RCOG Gynaecologists randomized controlled trial RCT RDS respiratory distress syndrome rapid eye movement REM RI resistance index ribonucleic acid RNA retinopathy of prematurity ROP rapid plasma reagin (test) RPR single best answer SBA sickle cell disease SCD surfactant deficient lung disease SDLD symphysis–fundal height SFH small for gestational age SGA sudden infant death syndrome SIDS systemic lupus erythematosus SLE spontaneous rupture of the SROM membranes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI (f)T4 (free) thyroxine TAMBA Twins and Multiple Birth Association TAPS twin anaemia–polycythemia sequence TB tuberculosis transcutaneous electrical nerve TENS stimulation thyroid function test TFT tumor necrosis factor TNF tracheo-oesophageal fistula TOF trial of labour after caesarean TOLAC T. pallidum haemagglutination assay TPHA TRH thyrotrophin-releasing hormone TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone transient tachypnoea of the newborn TTN TTTS twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome UDCA ursodeoxycholic acid unconjugated oestriol uE3 UFH unfractionated heparin urinary tract infection UTI VA venoarterial VACTERL vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheal, (o)esophageal, renal and limb VBAC vaginal birth after caesarean

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xvi

Abbreviations

VDRL Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF V/Q ventilation perfusion venous thromboembolism VTE VV venovenous VWF von Willebrand factor

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VZIG VZV WHO ZDV ZIG

varicella zoster immunoglobulin varicella zoster virus World Health Organization zidovudine, also known as azidothymidine (AZT) zoster immunoglobulin

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Video resources Chapter 1

Obstetric History and Examination

Video 1.1 How to measure blood pressure in pregnancy: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv1.1.php Examination of the pregnant abdomen: Video 1.2 http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv1.2.php Symphysis–fundal height (SFH) measurement: Video 1.3 http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv1.3.php

Chapter 5

Prenatal diagnosis

Video 5.1 Chorionic villus sampling: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv5.1.php Video 5.2 Amniocentesis: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv5.2.php

Chapter 6

Antenatal obstetric complications

Video 6.1 External cephalic version (ECV): http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv6.1.php Video 6.2 Animation of the mechanism of rhesus sensitization and fetal red cell destruction: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv6.2.php

Chapter 7

Multiple pregnancy

Video 7.1 Ultrasound scan of dichorionic and monochorionic twin pregnancies: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv7.1.php

Chapter 12 Labour: normal and abnormal Video 12.1 The mechanism of a spontaneous vaginal delivery: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv12.1.php

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xviii

Video resources

Chapter 13 Operative delivery Video 13.1 Repair of an episiotomy/second-degree perineal tear: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv13.1.php Operative vacuum delivery: Video 13.2 http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv13.2.php Video 13.3 Operative forceps delivery: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv13.3.php Video 13.4 Caesarean section delivery: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/tenteachers/obstetricsv13.4.php You can access the video clips that are referenced above and indicated in the text with the video icon by entering the URLs provided in the browser of your choice. In addition, the videos and images from this book can be accessed via the companion website that accompanies this textbook www.routledge.com/cw/kenny where you will also find resources for the sister volume, Gynaecology by Ten Teachers, 20th Edition. Additional video clips and still images will be added to this library over time.

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Obstetric history and examination

CHAPTER

1

LOUISE C KENNY AND JENNY E MYERS

Introduction.........................................................................1 Obstetric history..................................................................1 Obstetric examination..........................................................6

Presentation skills.............................................................11 History template................................................................11 Further reading..................................................................12

LEARNING OBJECTIVES • To understand the principles of taking an obstetric

history. • To understand the key components of an obstetric examination.

Introduction Taking a history and performing an obstetric examination are different compared with the history and examination in other specialities. The main difference is that the patient is normally a healthy woman undergoing a normal life event. Antenatal care is designed to support this normal physiological process and to detect early signs of complications. The type of questions asked during the history change with gestation, as does the purpose and nature of the examination. The history will often cover physiology, pathology and psychology and must always be sought with care and sensitivity.

• How to perform an appropriate obstetric

examination.

Obstetric history Introduction When meeting a patient for the first time, always introduce yourself; tell the patient who you are and why you have come to see them. Make sure that the patient is seated comfortably. Some women will wish another person to be present, even just to take a history, and this wish should be respected. The questions asked must be tailored to the purpose of the visit. At a booking visit, the history must be thorough and meticulously recorded. Once this baseline information is established, there

1

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2

Obstetric history and examination

is no need to go over this information at every visit. All women attend for routine antenatal visits (­usually performed by the midwife or general practitioner [GP]) and occasionally women attend for a specific reason or because a complication has developed. Some areas of the obstetric history cover subjects that are intensely private. In occasional cases there may be events recorded in the notes that are not known by other family members, such as previous terminations of pregnancy. It is vital to be aware of and sensitive to each individual situation.

Dating the pregnancy Pregnancy has been historically dated from the last menstrual period (LMP), not the date of c­ onception. The median duration of pregnancy is 280 days (40 weeks) and this gives the estimated date of delivery (EDD). This assumes that:

Figure 1.1  Gestation calendar wheel.

• The cycle length is 28 days. • Ovulation occurs generally on the 14th day of the cycle.

• The cycle was a normal cycle (i.e. not straight after stopping the oral contraceptive pill or soon after a previous pregnancy).

The EDD is calculated by taking the date of the LMP, counting forward by 9 months and adding 7 days. If the cycle is longer than 28 days, add the difference between the cycle length and 28 to compensate. In most antenatal clinics, there are pregnancy calculators (wheels) that do this for you (Figure 1.1). Pregnancy-calculating wheels do differ a little and may give dates that are a day or two different from those previously calculated. There is also an extensive range of pregnancy calculator Apps for smartphones available to download for free (Figure 1.2). However, almost all women who undergo antenatal care in the UK will have an ultrasound scan in the late first trimester or early second trimester. The purposes of this scan are to establish dates, to ensure that the pregnancy is ongoing and to determine the number of fetuses. If performed before 20 weeks, the ultrasound scan can be used for dating the pregnancy. After this time, the variability in growth rates of different fetuses makes it unsuitable for use in defining dates. It has been shown that ultrasounddefined dates are more accurate than those based on a certain LMP. This may be because the actual time

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Figure 1.2  Gestation calendar App on a smartphone. (Courtesy of Dr Andrew Yu, Yale University.)

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Obstetric history

of ovulation in any cycle is much less fixed than was previously thought. Therefore, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on Antenatal Care recommends that that pregnancy dates are set only by ultrasound using the crown– rump measurement between 10 weeks 0 days and 13  weeks 6 days, and the head circumference from 14  to 20 weeks. Regardless of the date of the LMP this EDD is used. It is important to define the EDD at the booking visit, as accurate dating is important in later pregnancy for assessing fetal growth. In addition, accurate dating reduces the risk of premature elective deliveries, such as induction of labour for postmature pregnancies and elective caesarean sections.

Social history The social history requires considerable sensitivity, but it is a vitally important part of the obstetric  history as social circumstances can have a dramatic influence on pregnancy outcome. The most recent report from the UK, Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity (2009–12) echoes previous reports and details that maternal mortality is higher amongst older women, those living in the most deprived areas and amongst women from some ethnic minority groups. Importantly, one-third of women who experience domestic violence are hit for the first time while pregnant and women are known to be at higher risk of domestic abuse, leading to homicide when pregnant or postpartum. Women who are experiencing domestic abuse, may be at higher risk of abuse during pregnancy and of adverse pregnancy outcome, because they may be prevented from attending antenatal appointments, may be concerned that disclosure of their abuse may worsen their situation and be anxious about the reaction of health professionals. Enquiring about domestic violence is extremely difficult. It is recommended that all women are seen on their own at least once during pregnancy, so that they can discuss this, if needed, away from an abusive partner. This is not always easy to accomplish. If you happen to be the person with whom this information is shared, you must ensure that it is passed on to the relevant team, as this may be the only opportunity the woman has to disclose it. Sometimes, younger

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3

women find medical students and young doctors much easier to talk to. Be aware of this. Smoking, alcohol and drug intake also form part of the social history. Smoking causes a reduction in birthweight in a dose-dependent way. It also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. There are interventions that can be offered to women who are still smoking in pregnancy (see Chapter 3, Normal fetal development and growth and Chapter 6, Antenatal obstetric complications). Complete abstinence from alcohol is advised, as the safety of alcohol is not proven. However, alcohol is probably not harmful in small amounts (less than one drink per day). Binge drinking is particularly harmful and can lead to a constellation of features in the baby known as fetal alcohol syndrome (see Chapter 3, Normal fetal development and growth and Chapter 6, Antenatal obstetric complications). Enquiring about recreational drug taking is more difficult. Approximately 0.5–1% of women continue to take recreational drugs during pregnancy. Be careful not to make assumptions. During the booking visit, the midwife should enquire directly about drug taking. If it is seen as part of the long list of routine questions asked at this visit, it is perceived as less threatening. However, sometimes this information comes to light at other times. Cocaine and crack cocaine are the most harmful of the recreational drugs taken, but all have some effects on the pregnancy, and all have financial implications (see Chapter 6, Antenatal obstetric complications). By the time you have finished your history and examination you should know the following facts that are important in the social history:

• Whether the patient is single or in a relationship and what sort of support she has at home.

• Generally whether there is a stable income coming into the house.

• What

sort of housing the patient occupies (e.g. a flat with lots of stairs and no lift may be problematic).

• Whether the woman works and for how long she is planning to work during the pregnancy.

• Whether the woman smokes/drinks or uses drugs. • If there are any other features that may be important.

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4

Obstetric history and examination

Previous obstetric history Past obstetric history is one of the most important areas for establishing risk in the current pregnancy. It is helpful to list the pregnancies in date order and to discover what the outcome was in each pregnancy. The features that are likely to have impact on future pregnancies include:

• Recurrent miscarriage (increased risk of miscarriage, fetal growth restriction [FGR]).

• Preterm delivery (increased risk of preterm delivery). • Early-onset pre-eclampsia (increased risk of pre-eclampsia/FGR). • Abruption (increased risk of recurrence). • Congenital abnormality (recurrence risk depends on type of abnormality). • Macrosomic baby (may be related to gestational diabetes). • FGR (increased recurrence). • Unexplained stillbirth (increased risk of gestational diabetes).

The method of delivery for any previous births must be recorded, as this can have implications for planning in the current pregnancy, particularly if there has been a previous caesarean section, difficult vaginal delivery, postpartum haemorrhage or significant perineal trauma. The shorthand for describing the number of previous pregnancies can be confusing: gravidity is the total number of pregnancies regardless of how they ended, parity is the number of live births at any gestation or stillbirths after 24 weeks. In terms of parity, twins count as 2. Therefore, a woman at 12 weeks in her first pregnancy who has never had a pregnancy before is gravida  1, para 0. If she delivers twins and comes back next time at 12 weeks, she will be gravida 2, para 2 (twins). A woman who has had  six miscarriages with only one live baby born at 32 weeks and is pregnant again will be gravida 8, para 1. Sometimes, this shorthand is also used to describe the number of pregnancies that did not result in live birth or stillbirth after 24 weeks. The last case would thus be defined as para 1+6. However, when presenting a history, it is much easier to describe exactly what has happened: for example,  ‘Mrs Jones is in her eighth pregnancy. She  has had six miscarriages at gestations of 8–12

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weeks and one spontaneous delivery of a live baby boy at 32  weeks. Baby Tom is now 2 years old and healthy.’

Past gynaecological history The regularity of periods used to be important in dating pregnancy (as above). Women with very long cycles may have a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is a complex endocrine condition and its relevance here is that some women with this condition have increased insulin resistance and a higher risk for the development of gestational diabetes. Contraceptive history can be relevant if conception has occurred soon after stopping the combined oral contraceptive pill or depot progesterone preparations, as again, this makes dating by LMP more difficult. Also, some women will conceive with an intrauterine device still in situ. This carries an increase in the risk of miscarriage. Previous episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease increase the risk for ectopic pregnancy. This is only of relevance in early pregnancy. However, it is important to establish that any infections have been adequately treated and that the partner was also treated. The date of the last cervical smear should be noted. Every year a small number of women are diagnosed as having cervical cancer in pregnancy, and it is recognized that late diagnosis is more common around the time of pregnancy because smears are deferred. If a smear is due, it can be taken in the first trimester. It is important to record that the woman is pregnant, as the cells can be difficult to assess without this knowledge. It is also important that smears are not deferred in women who are at increased risk of cervical disease (e.g. previous cervical smear abnormality or very overdue smear). Gently taking a smear in the first trimester does not cause miscarriage and women should be reassured about this. Remember that if it is deferred at this point, it may be nearly a year before the opportunity arises again. If there has been irregular bleeding, the cervix should at least be examined to ensure that there are no obvious lesions present. If a woman has undergone treatment for cervical changes, this should be noted. Knife cone biopsy is associated with an increased risk for both cervical incompetence (weakness) and stenosis (leading  to

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Obstetric history

preterm delivery and dystocia in labour, respectively). There is probably a very small increase in the risk of preterm birth associated with large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ); however, women who have needed more than one excision are likely to have a much shorter cervix, which does increase the risk for second and early third trimester delivery. Previous ectopic pregnancy increases the risk of recurrence to 1 in 10. Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy should be offered an early ultrasound scan to establish the site of any future pregnancies. Recurrent miscarriage may be associated with a number of problems. Antiphospholipid syndrome increases the risk of further pregnancy loss, FGR and pre-eclampsia. Balanced translocations can occasionally lead to congenital abnormality, and cervical incompetence can predispose to late second and early third trimester delivery. Also, women need a great deal of support during pregnancy if they have experienced recurrent pregnancy losses. Multiple previous first trimester terminations of pregnancy potentially increase the risk of preterm delivery, possibly secondary to cervical weakness. Sometimes, information regarding these must be sensitively recorded. Some women do not wish this to be recorded in their hand-held notes. Previous gynaecological surgery is important, especially if it involved the uterus, as this can have potential sequelae for delivery. In addition, the presence of pelvic masses such as ovarian cysts and fibroids should be noted. These may impact on delivery and may also pose some problems during pregnancy. Donor egg or sperm use is associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. However, legally, you should not write down in notes that a pregnancy is conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) or donor egg or sperm unless you have written permission from the patient. It is obviously a difficult area, as there is an increased risk of maternal problems in these pregnancies and therefore the knowledge is important. Generally, if the patient has told you herself that the pregnancy was an assisted conception, it is reasonable to state that in your presentation.

The major pre-existing diseases that impact on pregnancy and their potential effects are shown below (also see Chapter 10, Medical complications of pregnancy). Previous surgery should be noted. Occasionally, surgery has been performed for conditions that may continue to be a problem during pregnancy, such as Crohn’s disease. Psychiatric history is important to record. These enquiries should include the severity of the illness, care received and clinical presentation, and should be made in a systematic and sensitive way at the antenatal booking visit. If women have had children before, you can ask whether they had problems with depression or ‘the blues’ after the births of any of them. Women with significant psychiatric problems should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team, including the midwife, GP, hospital consultant and psychiatric team.

Medical and surgical history

Drug history

All pre-existing medical disease should be carefully noted and any associated drug history also recorded.

It is vital to establish what drugs a woman has been taking for their condition and for what duration.

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5

Major pre-existing diseases that impact on pregnancy

• Diabetes mellitus: macrosomia, FGR, con-

genital abnormality, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, neonatal hypoglycaemia.

• Hypertension: pre-eclampsia. • Renal disease: worsening renal disease, pre-eclampsia, FGR, preterm delivery.

• Epilepsy: increased fit frequency, congenital abnormality.

• Venous thromboembolic disease: increased

risk during pregnancy; if associated thrombophilia, increased risk of thromboembolism and possible increased risk of pre-eclampsia, FGR.

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

infection: risk of mother-to-child transfer if untreated.

• Connective tissue diseases (e.g. systemic

lupus erythematosus), pre-eclampsia, FGR.

• Myasthenia gravis/myotonic dystrophy: fetal neurological effects and increased maternal muscular fatigue in labour.

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6

Obstetric history and examination

This includes over-the-counter (OTC) medication and homeopathic/herbal remedies. In some cases, medication needs to be changed in pregnancy. For some women it may be possible to stop their medication completely for some or all of the pregnancy (e.g. mild hypertension). Some women need to know that they must continue their medication (e.g. epilepsy, for which women often reduce their medication for fear of potential fetal effects, with detriment to their own health). Very few drugs that women of childbearing age take are potentially seriously harmful, but a few are, and it is always necessary to ensure that drug treatment is carefully reviewed. Prepregnancy counselling is advised for women who are taking potentially harmful drugs such as some anticonvulsant drugs.

Family history Family history is important if it can:

• Impact on the health of the mother in pregnancy or afterwards.

• Have implications for the fetus or baby. Important areas are a maternal history of a firstdegree relative (sibling or parent) with:

• Diabetes (increased risk of gestational diabetes). • Thromboembolic disease (increased risk of thrombophilia, thrombosis).

• Pre-eclampsia (increased risk of pre-eclampsia). • Serious psychiatric disorder (increased risk of puerperal psychosis).

For both parents, it is important to know about any family history of babies with congenital abnormality and any potential genetic problems, such as haemoglobinopathies. Finally, any known allergies should be recorded. If a woman gives a history of allergy, it is important to ask about how this was diagnosed and what sort of problems it causes.

Obstetric examination While the incidence amongst the obstetric population is small, adherence to the principles of infection reduction is vital. In any clinical setting, arms

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should be bare from the elbow down. Alcohol gel should be used when moving from one clinical area to another (e.g. between wards), hands should always be washed or gel used before and after any patient contact. Before moving on to examine the patient, it is  important to be aware of the clinical context. The  examination should be directed at the presenting problem, if any, and the gestation. For instance, it is generally unnecessary to spend time defining the presentation at 24 weeks’ gestation unless the presenting problem is threatened preterm labour.

Maternal weight and height The measurement of weight and height at the initial examination is important, to identify women who are significantly underweight or overweight. Women with a body mass index (BMI) [weight (kg)/ height (m2)] of 30), the risks of gestational diabetes and hypertension are increased. Additionally, fetal assessment, both by palpation and ultrasound, is more difficult. Obesity is also associated with increased birthweight and a higher perinatal mortality rate. In women of normal weight at booking, and in whom nutrition is of no concern, there is no need to repeat weight measurement in pregnancy.

Blood pressure measurement Blood pressure measurement is one of the few aspects of antenatal care that is truly beneficial. The first recording of blood pressure should be made as early as possible in pregnancy and thereafter it should be performed at every visit. Hypertension diagnosed for the first time in early pregnancy (blood pressure >140/90 mmHg on two separate occasions at least 4 hours apart) should prompt a search for underlying causes (i.e. renal, endocrine and collagen-vascular disease). Although 90% of cases will be due to essential hypertension, this is a diagnosis of exclusion and can only be confidently made when other secondary causes have been excluded (see Chapter 9, Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy).

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Obstetric examination

How to measure blood pressure in pregnancy

• Measure the blood pressure with the woman seated or semi-recumbent.

• Use an appropriately sized cuff. Large

women will need a larger cuff. Using one too small will over-estimate blood pressure.

• If using an automated device, check it has been validated for use in pregnancy.

• Ensure that manual devices have been recently calibrated.

• Convention is to use Korotkoff V (i.e. disappearance of sounds), as this is more reproducible than Korotkoff IV.

• Deflate the cuff slowly so that you can record the blood pressure to the nearest 2 mmHg.

• Do not round up or down. VIDEO 1.1

How to measure blood pressure in pregnancy: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/ tenteachers/obstetricsv1.1.php

Urinary examination All women should be offered routine screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria by midstream urine culture early in pregnancy. Identification and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria reduces the risk of pyelonephritis. The risk of ascending urinary tract infection in pregnancy is much higher than in the non-pregnant state. Acute pyelonephritis increases the risk of pregnancy loss/premature labour and is associated with considerable maternal morbidity. At repeat visits, urinalysis using automated reagent strip readers should be performed. If there is any proteinuria, a thorough evaluation with regard to a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia should be undertaken.

General medical examination In fit and healthy women presenting for a routine visit there is little benefit in a full formal physical examination. However, when a woman presents with a problem, or in women in certain at-risk groups, there may be a need to undertake a much more thorough physical examination.

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7

Cardiovascular examination Routine auscultation for maternal heart sounds in asymptomatic women with no cardiac history is unnecessary. However, if a woman has previously lived in an area where rheumatic heart disease is prevalent and/or has a known history of heart murmur or heart disease, she should undergo cardiovascular examination during pregnancy.

Breast examination Formal breast examination is not necessary. Women should, however, be encouraged to perform selfexamination at regular intervals.

Examination of the pregnant abdomen This is a critical part of routine antenatal care and is an essential skill to learn as a medical student. Always have a chaperone with you to perform this examination and before starting, ask about pain and areas of tenderness. To examine the abdomen of a pregnant woman, place her in a semi-recumbent position on a couch or bed. In late pregnancy women should never lie completely flat; the semi-prone position or a left lateral tilt will avoid aortocaval compression. The abdomen should be exposed from just below the breasts to the symphysis fundus.

VIDEO 1.2 Examination of the pregnant abdomen: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/ tenteachers/obstetricsv1.2.php

Inspection

• Assess

the shape of the uterus and note any asymmetry.

• Look for fetal movements. • Note any signs of pregnancy such as striae gravi-

darum (stretch marks) or linea nigra (the faint brown line running from the umbilicus to the symphysis pubis).

• Look for scars. The common areas to find scars are: • suprapubic (caesarean section, laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy or ovarian masses);

• sub-umbilical (laparoscopy); • right iliac fossa (appendicectomy); • right upper quadrant (cholycystectomy).

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8

Obstetric history and examination

Palpation The purpose of palpating the pregnant abdomen is to assess:

• The number of babies. • The size of the baby. • The lie of the baby. • The presentation of the baby. • Whether the baby is engaged. Symphysis–fundal height measurement Symphysis–fundal height (SFH) should be measured and recorded at each antenatal appointment from 24 weeks’ gestation. Most UK hospitals now use customized SFH charts, which are generated at the first antenatal visit and are customized to each individual, taking into account the height, weight, ethnicity and parity of the woman (Figure 1.3). Using two standard deviations of the mean, it is possible to

define the 10th and 90th centile values and these are normally marked on the chart. Feel carefully for the top of the fundus and for the upper border of the symphysis pubis. Place the tape measure on the symphysis pubis and, using a tape measure with the centimetre marks face down, measure to the top of the fundus. Turn the tape measure over and read the measurement. Plot the measurement on an SFH chart. The mean fundal height measures approximately 20 cm at 20 weeks and increases by 1 cm per week so that at 36 weeks the fundal height should be approximately 36 cm. However, the value of customized charts is that they are more sensitive and specific and serial measurements are of greater value in detecting growth trends than one-off measurements. A large SFH raises the possibility of:

• A multiple pregnancy. • Macrosomia. • Polyhydramnios.

Fundal height (cm)

Weight based on scan (g)

44

5000

42

4500

40

4000

38

3500

36

3000

34 2500 32 2000

30

1500

28

1000

26 Centile lines 90th 50th 10th

24

24 25 26 27 28 Tuesday... 12 19 26 03 10 Apr Apr Apr May May 16 16 16 16 16

29

30

31 32 33 Gestation (wks) 17 24 31 07 14 May May May Jun Jun 16 16 16 16 16

34

35

36

37

38

21 28 Jun Jun 16 16

05 Jul 16

12 Jul 16

19 Jul 16

39

40 EDD 26 02 Jul Aug 16 16

41

500

42

0

09 16 Aug Aug 16 16

Figure 1.3  A customized symphysis–fundal height chart illustrating the 10th, 50th and 90th centiles and normal fetal growth. (Courtesy of Perinatal Institute.)

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Obstetric examination

A small SFH raises the possibility of:

• FGR. • Oligohydramnios. VIDEO 1.3

Symphysis–fundal height (SFH) measurement: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/ tenteachers/obstetricsv1.3.php

Fetal lie, presentation and engagement After measuring the SFH, next palpate to count the number of fetal poles (Figure 1.4). A pole is a head or a bottom. If you can feel one or two, it is likely to be a singleton pregnancy. If you can feel three or four, a twin pregnancy is likely. Sometimes large fibroids can mimic a fetal pole; remember this if  there is a history of fibroids. Next assess the fetal lie and presentation. This is only necessary in late pregnancy as the likelihood of labour increases (i.e. after 36 weeks in an uncomplicated pregnancy). If there is a pole over the pelvis, the lie is longitudinal regardless of whether the other pole is lying more to the left or right. An oblique lie is where the leading pole does not lie over the pelvis, but just to one side; a transverse lie is where the fetus lies directly across the abdomen. Presentation can either be cephalic (head down) or breech (bottom/feet down). Using a two-handed approach and watching the woman’s face, gently feel for the presenting part. The head is generally much firmer than the bottom, although even in

9

experienced hands it can sometimes be very difficult to tell. At the same time as feeling for the presenting part, assess whether it is engaged or not. If the whole head is palpable and it is easily movable, the head is likely to be ‘free’. This equates to 5/5th palpable and is recorded as 5/5. As the head descends into the pelvis, less can be felt. When the head is no longer movable, it has ‘engaged’ and only 1/5th or 2/5th will be palpable (Figure 1.5). Do not use a one-handed technique, as this is much more uncomfortable for the woman. It can be helpful to determine the fetal position (i.e. whether the fetal head is occipito-posterior, lateral or anterior) as this will make auscultating the fetal heart beat easier. Auscultation If the fetus has been active during your examination and the mother reports that the baby is active, it is not necessary to auscultate the fetal heart. Mothers do like to hear the heart beat though and therefore using a hand-held device can allow the mother to hear the heart beat. If you are using a Pinard stethoscope, position it over the fetal shoulder. Hearing the heart sounds with a Pinard takes a lot of practice. If  you cannot hear the fetal heart, never say that you cannot detect a heart beat; always explain that a different method is needed and move on to using a hand-held Doppler device. If you have begun the process of listening to the fetal heart, you must proceed until you are confident that you have heard the heart. With twins, you must be confident that both have been heard.

Pelvic examination Routine pelvic examination during antenatal visits is not necessary. However, there are circumstances in which a vaginal examination is necessary (in most cases a speculum examination is all that is needed). These include:

• Excessive or offensive discharge. • Vaginal bleeding (in the known absence of a placenta praevia).

• To perform a cervical smear. • To confirm potential rupture of membranes. • To confirm and assess the extent of female genital Figure 1.4  Palpation of the gravid abdomen.

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mutilation (FGM) in women who have been subjected to this.

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10

Obstetric history and examination

1 2 3

1 2 3 4

4 5 fifths palpable

1 2

1

3

2

1

Figure 1.5  Palpation of the fetal head to assess engagement.

Before commencing the examination, consent must be sought and a female chaperone (nurse, midwife, etc. and never a relative) must be present (regardless of the sex of the examiner). Assemble everything you will need (swabs, etc.) and ensure the light source works. Position the patient semi-recumbent with knees drawn up and ankles together. Ensure that the patient is adequately covered. If performing a speculum examination, a Cusco speculum is usually used (Figure 1.6). Select an appropriate size. Proceed as follows:

• Wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. • If the speculum is metal, warm it slightly under warm water first.

• Apply sterile lubricating gel or cream to the blades

of the speculum. Do not use antiseptic cream if taking swabs for bacteriology.

• Gently part the labia. • Introduce the speculum with the blades in the vertical plane.

• As

the speculum is gently introduced, aiming towards the sacral promontory (i.e. slightly downward), rotate the speculum so that it comes

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Figure 1.6  A Cusco speculum.

to lie in the horizontal plane with the ratchet uppermost.

• The blades can then slowly be opened until the cervix is visualized. Sometimes minor adjustments need to be made at this stage.

• Assess the cervix and take any necessary samples. • Gently close the blades and remove the specu-

lum, reversing the manoeuvres needed to insert it. Take care not to catch the vaginal epithelium when removing the speculum.

A digital examination may be performed when an assessment of the cervix is required. This can

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History template

provide information about the consistency and effacement of the cervix that is not obtainable from a speculum examination. The contraindications to digital examination are:

• Known placenta praevia or vaginal bleeding when the placental site is unknown and the presenting part unengaged.

• Prelabour rupture of the membranes (increased risk of ascending infection).

The patient should be positioned as before. Examining from the patient’s right, two fingers of the gloved right hand are gently introduced into the vagina and advanced until the cervix is palpated. Prior to induction of labour, a full assessment of the Bishop’s score can be made (see Chapter 12, Labour: normal and abnormal).

Other aspects of the examination In women with suspected pre-eclampsia, the reflexes should be assessed. These are most easily checked at the ankle. The presence of more than three beats of clonus is pathological (see Chapter 9, Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy). Oedema of the extremities affects 80% of term pregnancies and is not a good indicator for preeclampsia as it is so common. However, the presence of non-dependent oedema such as facial oedema should be noted.

KEY LEARNING POINTS • • • • • •

Always introduce yourself and say who you are. Make sure you are wearing your identity badge. Wash your hands or use alcohol gel. Be courteous and gentle. Always ensure the patient is comfortable and warm. Always have a chaperone present when you examine patients.

• Tailor your history and examination to find the key information you need.

• Adapt to new findings as you go along. • Present in a clear way. • Be aware of giving sensitive information in a public setting.

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11

Presentation skills Part of the art of taking a history and performing an examination is to be able to pass this information on to others in a clear and concise format. It is not necessary to give a full list of negative findings; it is enough to summarize negatives, such as, there is no important medical, surgical or family history of note. Adapt your style of presentation to meet the situation. A very concise presentation is needed for a busy ward round. In an examination, a full and thorough presentation may be required. Be very aware of giving sensitive information in a ward setting where other patients may be within hearing distance. The following template will prove useful for ensuring that you capture all the relevant history.

History template Demographic details Name. Age. Occupation. Make a note of ethnic background. Presenting complaint or reason for attending.

This pregnancy Gestation, LMP or EDD. Dates as calculated from ultrasound. Single/multiple (chorionicity). Details of the presenting problem (if any) or reason for attendance (such as problems in a previous pregnancy). What action has been taken? Is there a plan for the rest of the pregnancy? What are the patient’s main concerns? Have there been any other problems in this pregnancy? Has there been any bleeding, contractions or loss of fluid vaginally?

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Obstetric history and examination

Ultrasound

Family history

What scans have been performed?

Diabetes, hypertension, genetic problems, ­psychiatric problems, etc.

Why? Were any problems identified?

Past obstetric history List the previous pregnancies and their outcomes in order.

Gynaecological history Periods: regularity. Contraceptive history. Previous infections and their treatment. When was the last cervical smear? Was it normal? Have there ever been any that were abnormal? If yes, what treatment has been undertaken? Previous gynaecological surgery.

Past medical and surgical history Relevant medical problems. Any previous operations: type of anaesthetic used, any complications.

Psychiatric history Postpartum blues or depression. Depression unrelated to pregnancy. Major psychiatric illness.

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Social history Smoking/alcohol/drugs. Marital status. Occupation, partner’s occupation. Who is available to help at home? Are there any housing problems?

Drugs All medication including OTC medication. Folate supplementation.

Allergies To what? What problems do they cause?

Further reading National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Antenatal care. Available at http://www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/qs22 (last accessed 01.02.2016). Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care. Surveillance of maternal deaths in the UK 2011–13 and lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland. Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2009-13. MBRRACE-UK Available at https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/downloads/files/ mbrrace-uk/reports/MBRRACE-UK%20Maternal%20 Report%202015.pdf (last accessed 23.03.2016).

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CHAPTER

Antenatal care

2

FERGUS McCARTHY AND LUCY C CHAPPELL

Overview...........................................................................13 The development of antenatal care....................................13 Overview of antenatal care................................................15 Identification of high-risk women......................................22

Governance of maternity care...........................................23 Further reading..................................................................24 Self assessment................................................................25

LEARNING OBJECTIVES • To understand the principles of routine antenatal

care. • To be aware of the rationale for, and purpose of, clinical investigations during each trimester.

Overview Every year in England and Wales approximately 700,000 babies are delivered. The majority of these women are healthy low-risk women with no pre-­ existing medical problems and have spontaneous vaginal deliveries. A minority will have pre-existing medical conditions that may be affected by pregnancy or may affect the course of pregnancy and require specialist input. The purpose of antenatal care is to optimize pregnancy outcomes for women and their babies through providing support and reassurance to low-risk women and by stratifying care, allowing those at high risk of adverse pregnancy events to receive specialized care in a timely manner. This chapter provides information on best p ­ ractice for baseline care of all pregnancies and comprehensive information on the antenatal care of the healthy woman with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy.

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• To differentiate normal pregnancy symptoms from

potential underlying pathology.

It provides evidence-based information on baseline investigations that are performed and indications for referral to specialist care.

The development of antenatal care Modern maternity care has evolved over more than 100 years. Many of the changes have been driven by political and consumer pressure and a recognition of the need to align appropriate care to optimal outcomes. Antenatal care continues to evolve with the ongoing publication of good quality research directed at optimizing perinatal outcomes for women and their babies, but the scope and delivery of antenatal care varies widely across the globe, with maternal mortality rates varying substantially between low- and high-income countries. In  2016,

13

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14

Antenatal care

approximately 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth; 99% of all these maternal deaths occur in lowincome countries.

History of maternity care in the UK In 1929, the government in the UK released a document that stated a minimum standard for antenatal care that was so prescriptive in its recommendations that until very recently it was practised in many regions, despite the lack of research to demonstrate effectiveness. The National Health Service Act 1946 came into effect on 5 July 1948 and created the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales. The introduction of the NHS provided for maternity services to be available to all without cost. As part of these arrangements, a specified fee was paid to the general practitioner (GP) depending on whether he or she was on the obstetric list (undertaking pregnancy care). This encouraged a large number of GPs to take an interest in maternity care, reversing the previous trend to leave this work to midwives. Antenatal care became perceived as beneficial, acceptable and available for all. This was reinforced by the finding that the perinatal death rate seemed to be inversely proportional to the number of antenatal visits. In 1963, the first perinatal mortality study showed that the perinatal mortality rate was lowest for those women attending between 10 and 24 times in pregnancy. This failed to take into account prematurity and poor education as reasons for decreased visits and increased mortality. However, antenatal care became established, and with increased professional contact came the drive to continue to improve outcomes, with an emphasis on decreasing maternal and perinatal mortality. The development and introduction of ultrasound to antenatal care late in the 1960s had a considerable influence on antenatal care, initially limited to confirming multifetal pregnancies, but later being used increasingly for detection of fetal anomalies. This new intervention became quickly established but limited evidence exists supporting its routine regular use. The move towards hospital deliveries began in the early 1950s. At this time, with limited hospital maternity facilities, 1 in 3 were planned home deliveries. The Cranbrook Report in 1959

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recommended sufficient hospital maternity beds for 70% of all deliveries to take place in hospital, and the subsequent Peel Report (1970) recommended that a bed should be available for every woman to deliver in hospital if she so wished. Obstetricians were not alone in the movement towards hospital deliveries. Women themselves were pushing to at least be allowed the choice to deliver in hospital. By 1972, only 1 in 10 deliveries were planned for home, and the publication of the Social Services Committee report in the Short Report (1980) led to further centralization of hospital delivery. It made a number of recommendations. Among these were:

• An increasing number of women should be delivered in large units; selection of women should be improved for smaller consultant units and isolated GP units and home deliveries should be phased out further.

• It

should be mandatory that all pregnant women  be seen at least twice by a consultant obstetrician – preferably as soon as possible after the first visit to the GP in early pregnancy and again in late pregnancy.

This and subsequent reports including UK government reports in 1982, 1984 and 1985, ‘Birth to Five’ (Department of Health, 2005) and the 2012/13 Choice Framework (Department of Health, 2012) led to a policy of increasing centralization of units for delivery and, consequently, maternity care. The gradual decline in maternal and perinatal mortality was thought to be due in greater part to hospital deliveries, although proof for this was lacking. Indeed, the decline in perinatal mortality was least in those years when hospitalization increased the most. As other new interventions became available and were increasingly used, such as continuous fetal monitoring and induction of labour, a change in practice began to establish these as the norm for most women, without robust evaluation of their impact through randomized controlled trials or other highquality research methodology. In England and Wales between 1966 and 1974, the induction rate rose from 12.7% to 38.9%. During the 1980s, with increasing consumer awareness, the unquestioning acceptance of unproven technologies was challenged. Women, led by groups such as the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), began to question not only the need for any intervention but also the need to come to the hospital

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Overview of antenatal care

at all. The professional bodies also began to question the effectiveness of antenatal care. The government set up an expert committee to review policy on maternity care and to make recommendations. This committee produced the document Changing Childbirth (Department of Health, Report of the Expert Maternity Group, 1993), which provided purchasers and providers with a number of action points aiming to improve choice, information and continuity for all women. It outlined a number of indicators of success to be achieved within 5 years:

• The carriage of hand-held notes by women. • Midwifery-led care in 30% of pregnancies. • A known midwife at delivery in 75% of cases. • A reduction in the number of antenatal visits for low-risk mothers.

This landmark report provided a new impetus to examine the provision of maternity care in the UK and enshrined choice as a concept in maternity care. More recently, government documents on maternity care such as Maternity Matters (2007) aimed to address inequalities in maternity care provision and uptake; it enables commissioners to assess maternity care in their area and to ensure that safe and effective care is available to all women. Maternity care now centres on increased choices for women and empowerment of couples, including birth at home or in a stand-alone midwifery unit. The most recent Maternity Review (2016) emphasized the following principles:

• Personalized woman-centred care. • Continuity of carer. • Better postnatal and perinatal mental health care. • A fairer payment system for different types of care.

• Safer care, with multiprofessional working and

training and measurement of performance using routinely collected data

Overview of antenatal care The aims of antenatal care are:

• To optimize pregnancy outcomes for women and babies.

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15

• To prevent, detect and manage those factors that adversely affect the health of mother and baby.

• To

provide advice, reassurance, education and support for the woman and her family.

• To deal with the ‘minor ailments’ of pregnancy. • To provide general health screening.

Antenatal care aims to make the woman the focus. Women should be treated with kindness and dignity at all times, and due respect given to personal, cultural and religious beliefs. Services should be readily accessible and there should be continuity of care. There is a need for high-quality, culturally appropriate, verbal and written information on which women can base their choices, through a truly informed decision-making process, which is led by them. In the UK and many countries worldwide, maternity care for an individual woman is provided by a community-based team of midwives and family practitioners (such as GPs), a hospital consultant team or a combination of the two. Some women have complex pregnancies and in these instances a hospital-based obstetric team leads their antenatal care and they are said to have consultant care. Many more women have pregnancies where there are no overtly complicating factors and these women usually have community-based care and are said to be under midwifery care. A further group have risk factors identified at booking, for example previous caesarean section, which mandate clinical input by obstetricians but where the majority of routine care can still be provided by the community team. This is referred to as shared care.

Advice, reassurance and education Pregnancy is a time of great uncertainty and stress and this is compounded by the many physical changes experienced by the woman during her pregnancy. Common symptoms include nausea, heartburn, constipation, shortness of breath, dizziness, swelling, backache, abdominal discomfort and headaches. Generally, these reflect physiological adaptations to pregnancy but may become extremely debilitating for the pregnant woman. Occasionally they will represent the first presentation of a more serious problem.

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Information regarding smoking, alcohol consumption and the use of drugs (both legal and illegal) during pregnancy is extremely important. In some populations almost one-third of women smoke during pregnancy, despite its association with fetal growth restriction, preterm labour, placental abruption and intrauterine fetal death. A major role of antenatal care is to help women limit these harmful behaviours during pregnancy, for example by inclusion in smoking cessation programmes. Alcohol or illegal substance misuse may require more specialized skills from support services including perinatal mental health teams. The information given should be of high quality and evidence based. It should be provided in a manner appropriate to the woman and in different formats (e.g. written information) where appropriate and possible. Parentcraft education is the term often used to describe formal group discussion of issues relating to pregnancy, labour and delivery and care of the newborn. These sessions offer an opportunity for couples to meet others in the same situation and help to establish a network of social contacts that may be useful after the delivery. They may include a tour of the maternity department, the aim of which is to lessen anxiety and increase the sense of maternal control surrounding delivery.

assessed and women counselled accordingly. If the BMI is more than 35 kg/m2, it is recommended that the woman is reviewed by an obstetric consultant or other healthcare professional who can provide appropriate advice on the increased pregnancy risks (Table 2.1) and interventions to minimize excessive gestational weight gain. The Institute of Medicine have guidelines on recommended weight increase in pregnancy. For normal weight women (BMI 18.5– 24.9  kg/m2) the recommended total weight gain in pregnancy is 11–16 kg (25–35 lb); for overweight women (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2) 7–11 kg (15–25 lb); and for obese (≥30 kg/m2) women 5–9 kg (11–20 lb). Women with raised BMI should be counselled regarding appropriate weight in pregnancy and counselled regarding the risks. In general, the risks increase as BMI rises.

First trimester

• Base your meals on starchy foods such as pota-

When a woman becomes pregnant one of the first interactions with the health services is known as the booking visit. At this point, or shortly afterwards, a midwife will take a detailed history, examine the woman and perform a series of routine investigations (with the woman’s consent) in order that appropriate care can be offered. If risk factors are identified that may potentially impact on the pregnancy outcome, the midwife will access specialized services on behalf of the woman. This may mean referral to a hospital consultant obstetric clinic or other specialist services as appropriate. Medical or psychosocial issues raised at the booking visit may need to be explored in some depth.

General pregnancy dietary advice The Royal College of Obstetricians and G ­ ynaecologists (RCOG) provides the following dietary advice for optimal weight control in pregnancy:

• Do not eat for two; maintain your normal portion size and try and avoid snacks.

• Eat fibre-rich foods such as oats, beans, lentils, grains, seeds, fruit and vegetables as well as whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta.

toes, bread, rice and pasta, choosing whole grain where possible.

• Restrict intake of fried food, drinks and confectionary high in added sugars, and other foods high in fat and sugar.

• Eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day.

• Dieting in pregnancy is not recommended but

controlling weight gain in pregnancy is advocated.

It may be difficult for pregnant women to make these changes to their diets for the first time in their adult life, and further work is needed to determine how to enable pregnant women to follow this guidance.

Body mass index and weight assessment

General exercise advice

Height and weight should be measured at the booking visit, body mass index (BMI) calculated and

Aerobic and strength conditioning exercise in pregnancy is considered safe and beneficial. It may help

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Overview of antenatal care

17

Table 2.1  Maternal and neonatal complications associated with increased BMI in pregnancy Maternal

Fetal

Antenatal

Difficulty accurately assessing growth and anatomy of fetus

Increased congenital malformations; if BMI >40 kg/m2, risk of neural tube defects is three times that of a woman with a BMI 30 kg/m2, high-dose folic acid (5 mg once daily) is recommended prepregnancy and for first 12 weeks’ gestation

Increased risk of GDM: three times more likely to Macrosomia and associated complications develop GDM than women whose BMI 30 kg/m2 Stillbirth: doubling of stillbirth risk from 0.5% to 1 in 100 (1%) Intrapartum

Difficulty with analgesia (epidurals and spinal) and general anaesthesia if needed Difficulty with monitoring in labour Increased instrumental delivery rate Increased caesarean section rate Macrosomia and shoulder dystocia: risk of macrosomia (neonatal weight >4 kg) increases from 7% to 14% compared to women with a BMI of between 20 and 30 kg/m2 Postnatal

VTE risk Wound breakdown and infection Postnatal depression Increased risk of childhood obesity and diabetes in later life BMI, body mass index; GDM, gestational diabetes; VTE, venous thromboembolism.

recovery following delivery, reduce back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and contribute to overall wellness. The aim of exercise during pregnancy is to stay fit, rather than to reach peak fitness. Contact sports should be avoided and if the pregnant woman has any coexisting medical conditions, a more tailored exercise programme may be needed. However, there are very few pregnant women for whom some exercise is not appropriate and health care professionals

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can encourage women to maintain walking, swimming and other forms of non-contact exercise. Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy and immediately after birth may reduce the risk of urinary and faecal incontinence in the future. Following delivery, generally it is safe to resume exercise gradually as soon as the woman feels ready. The RCOG provides modified heart rate target zones for exercise in pregnancy. These are age

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Antenatal care

dependent and are as follows: women 40 years of age: 125–140 bpm.

Breastfeeding education Breastfeeding protects against diarrhoea and common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, and may also have longer-term health benefits for the mother and child, such as reducing the risk of obesity later in life. Breastfeeding has also been associated with a higher intelligence quotient (IQ) in children, although it is not clear whether this is a result of confounding. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and continued breastfeeding beyond 6 months and at least up to 2 years of age. Although evidence for interventions to promote breastfeeding are limited, a recent systematic review demonstrated that the greatest improvements in initiation and continuation of breastfeeding were seen when education was provided concurrently across the various settings including home, community and the health system. Baby-friendly hospital support in the health system was the most effective intervention to improve rates of any breastfeeding. As a result, early education in pregnancy about breastfeeding is advocated to improve uptake and engage pregnant women with breastfeeding services to allow them to be fully prepared.

Options for pregnancy care Following the booking visit and assessment of potential risks a woman may discuss their expectations for the pregnancy and discuss where they would like to receive their antenatal care and deliver their baby. Provided that there are no contraindications to midwifery-led care (such as medical comorbidities or previous obstetric complications that may warrant consultant-led care), the options available for delivery include:

• Home birth: according to the Birthplace Study, in England and Wales approximately 2% of women opt to deliver at home, cared for by a midwife. The advantages of home birth include familiar surroundings, no interruption of labour to go to

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hospital, no separation from other children or the woman’s partner during or after birth, continuity of care and reduced interventions. The disadvantages are that 45% of first time mothers (and 12% of multiparous mothers) planning home birth are transferred to hospital and a poor perinatal outcome occurs in approximately twice as many first time home birth mothers compared with first time mothers delivering in hospital (9.3 vs. 5.3 adverse perinatal events/1,000 births; adjusted odds ratio 1.75, 95% confidence intervals 1.07–2.86). Other disadvantages include limited analgesic options (e.g. no epidurals are available).

• Midwifery units or birth centres: these may be

stand-alone where they are located on a separate site to hospital birth centres or adjacent to hospitals (‘co-located’) with access to obstetric, neonatal and anaesthetic care. Advantages of midwifery units may include continuity of care, fewer interventions and convenience of location. Disadvantages include transfer out to a hospital birth centre (40% nulliparous women and 10% of multiparous women) and limited access to certain analgesic options. There was no difference in the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes between midwifery units and hospital units (4.5 adverse perinatal events/1,000 births in freestanding midwifery unit vs. 4.7 events/1,000 in alongside midwifery unit vs. 5.3 events/1,000 in obstetric unit).

• Hospital birth centre: in hospital birth centres

midwives continue to provide care during labour but doctors are available should the need arise. There is direct access to obstetricians, anaesthetists and neonatologists. Disadvantages include lack of continuity of care and a greater likelihood of intervention (compared to midwifery units and home birth).

Antenatal urine tests Asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery and the development of pyelonephritis during pregnancy. A midstream specimen of urine (MSU) should be sent for culture and sensitivity at the booking visit to screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Urinalysis is performed every antenatal visit. Urine is screened for protein (to detect renal disease or pre-eclampsia), persistent glycosuria (to detect pre-existing diabetes

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Overview of antenatal care

or gestational diabetes [GDM]) and nitrites (to detect urinary tract infections). If nitrites are detected on urine dipstick testing, a MSU is sent for microscopy, culture and sensitivity to detect asymptomatic bacteria and appropriate treatment initiated if a positive culture is identified.

Blood pressure assessment Blood pressure falls by a small amount (a few mmHg) in the first trimester and increases to prepregnancy levels by the end of the second trimester. First trimester blood pressure assessment also allows the detection of previously unrecognized chronic hypertension; this enables early initiation of treatment including antihypertensive agents (to reduce episodes of severe hypertension in the mother) and low-dose aspirin, which improves maternal (reduced pre-eclampsia) and fetal (decreased perinatal mortality) outcomes in women with chronic hypertension.

Booking tests in pregnancy Table 2.2 lists the booking tests often performed at the booking visit.

Full blood count Full blood count (FBC) measurement allows identification of women with anaemia, to allow early initiation of treatment. Anaemia in pregnancy is defined as a haemoglobin (Hb) 3 risk factors consider extending thromboprophylaxis with LMWH

Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2) Parity ≥3 Smoker

Two or more risk factors

Elective caesarean section Family history of VTE Low-risk thrombophilia

Fewer than three risk factors

Gross varicose veins Current systemic infection Immobility (e.g. paraplegia, PGP, long-distance travel)

Multiple pregnancy IVF/ART LOWER RISK Mobilization and avoidance of dehydration

APL, antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, β2-glycoprotein 1 antibodies); ART, assisted reproductive technology; BMI based on booking weight; DM, diabetes mellitus; FHx, family history; gross varicose veins, symptomatic, above knee or associated with phlebitis/oedema/skin changes; high-risk thrombophilia, antithrombin deficiency, protein C or S deficiency, compound or homozygous for low-risk thrombophilias; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; immobility, ≥ 3 days; IVDU, intravenous drug user; IVF, in vitro fertilisation; LMWH, low-molecularweight heparin; long-distance travel, >4 hours; low-risk thrombophilia, heterozygous for factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A mutations; OHSS, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; PGP, pelvic girdle pain with reduced mobility; PPH, postpartum haemorrhage; thrombophilia, inherited or acquired; VTE, venous thromboembolism.

Current pre-eclampsia

Fewer than two risk factors

Multiple pregnancy Preterm delivery in this pregnancy (24 hours)

LOWER RISK Early mobilization and avoidance of dehydration

PPH >1 litre or blood transfusion Antenatal and postnatal prophylactic dose of LMWH Weight 170 kg = 0.6 mg/kg/day enoxaparin/ 75 u/kg/day dalteparin/ 75 u/kg/day tinzaparin

Figure 6.2  Obstetric thromboprophylaxis risk assessment and management. (Adapted from RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 37a, April 2015.)

Substance abuse in pregnancy

Transient risk factors: Dehydration/hyperemesis; current systemic infection; long-distance travel

At least 6 weeks’ postnatal prophylactic LMWH

Age >35 years

Age >35 years Smoker

Low-risk thrombophilia + FHx

Readmission or prolonged admission (≥3 days) in the puerperium

OHSS (first trimester only)

Parity ≥3

High-risk thrombophilia

BMI ≥40 kg/m2

Single previous VTE related to major surgery High-risk thrombophilia + no VTE Medical comorbidities (e.g. cancer, heart failure, active SLE, IBD or inflammatory polyarthropathy, nephrotic syndrome, type I DM with nephropathy, sickle cell disease, current IVDU)

HIGH RISK

Anyone requiring antenatal LMWH

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each year (about 1% of all deliveries). Multidisciplinary care is often necessary to optimize outcomes because the financial, psychological, social and domestic problems associated with drug misuse are often greater than the physical and medical concerns.

Problems frequently encountered amongst drug addicts

• Social problems: housing, crime, other ­children in care or abused.

• Coexistent addictions: alcohol and smoking. • Malnutrition: especially iron, vitamins B and C. • Risk of viral infections (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] or hepatitis B).

• Specific fetal and neonatal risks.

Opioids, especially heroin, remain the most commonly used drugs in the UK, although many drug users take combinations of drugs that often include cocaine or crack cocaine. Amphetamines, benzodiazepines and cannabis are also common. Most problem drug users smoke tobacco and are heavy users of alcohol and cannabis. Taking drugs in combination greatly increases the unpredictability of their effect on the user. Intravenous injection of drugs also puts drug users at greater risk of infection with blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B and C and HIV). Many drug users live in disadvantaged communities in conditions of poverty and social exclusion. Many have had poor parenting experiences, poor education and significant mental health problems. The aims of management are to stabilize the mother’s drug-taking habits and ensure contact with social/care workers and psychiatric/drug liaison services as appropriate. It is important not to try to reduce the opiate dose too rapidly in pregnancy. Sudden detoxification (‘cold turkey’) can be dangerous for the baby, especially in the third trimester when even mild maternal withdrawal is associated with fetal stress, fetal distress and stillbirth; the principle is to administer the lowest effective dose of methadone liquid in three divided doses every day. Screening for infections such as hepatitis B and HIV is routinely offered in the UK. In many cases, multidisciplinary case conferences should be held to make arrangements and decisions for when the baby is delivered.

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Alcohol There is much debate about what a ‘safe’ dose of alcohol is during pregnancy. What is likely is that an intake of less than 100  g per week (approximately two drinks per day; for example, two medium glasses of wine or one pint of beer) is not associated with any adverse effects. Doses greater than this have been related to fetal growth restriction (FGR). Massive doses, in excess of 2  g/kg of body weight (17 drinks per day), have been associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. However, the syndrome is not seen consistently in infants born to women who are heavy consumers of alcohol, and occurs only in approximately 30–33% of children born to women who drink about 2  g/kg of body weight per day (equivalent to approximately 18 units of alcoholic drink per day). The differing susceptibility of fetuses to the syndrome is thought to be multifactorial and reflects the interplay of genetic factors, social deprivation, nutritional deficiencies, tobacco and other drug abuse, along with alcohol consumption. If alcohol abuse is suspected, it may be necessary to involve social workers and arrange for formal psychiatric/addiction assessment. It is extremely difficult to ‘test’ for alcohol abuse, as even markers such as mean corpuscular volume and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) are not reliable in pregnancy. Malnutrition is very likely in heavy alcohol abuse and requires B vitamin supplements and iron. A common problem is that many women who abuse alcohol and other drugs not only do not take their medicines but also default antenatal appointments.

Smoking and pregnancy Smoking acutely reduces placental perfusion. Overall perinatal mortality is increased, babies are smaller at delivery and there is a higher risk of placental abruption in smokers compared with nonsmokers. It is estimated that a baby will weigh less than its target weight by a multiple of 15 g times the average number of cigarettes a woman smokes per day; smoking fewer than five cigarettes per day has a barely discernible obstetric effect and quitting by 15 weeks’ gestation reduces the risk as much as quitting before pregnancy. Consequently, all women should be counselled regarding smoking cessation at their booking visit.

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Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios

Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios Amniotic fluid is produced almost exclusively from fetal urine from the second trimester onwards. It serves a vital function in protecting the developing baby from pressure or trauma, allowing limb movement, hence normal postural development, and permitting the fetal lungs to expand and develop through breathing.

Too little production Maternal drugs (e.g. NSAIDs)

Possible causes of oligohydramnios and anhydramnios Too little production

Diagnosed by

Renal agenesis Ultrasound: no renal tissue, no bladder Multicystic kidneys

Ultrasound: enlarged kidneys with multiple cysts, no visible bladder

Urinary tract abnormality/ obstruction

Ultrasound: kidneys may be present, but urinary tract dilatation

FGR and placental insufficiency

Clinical: reduced SFH, reduced fetal movements, possibly abnormal CTG, Ultrasound: FGR, abnormal fetal Doppler wave forms

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Diagnosed by Withholding NSAIDs may allow amniotic fluid to reaccumulate

Post-dates pregnancy Leakage

Diagnosed by

PPROM

Speculum examination: pool of amniotic fluid on posterior blade

Oligohydramnios Too little amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) is commonly defined as amniotic fluid index (AFI) less than the 5th centile for gestation. The AFI is an ultrasound estimation of amniotic fluid derived by adding together the deepest vertical pool in four quadrants of the abdomen. The AFI (in cm) is therefore associated with some degree of error. In general, however, it is possible to differentiate subjectively on ultrasound between ‘too much’, ‘too little’ and ‘normal looking’. Oligohydramnios may be suspected antenatally following a history of clear fluid leaking from the vagina; this may represent PPROM (see Chapter 8, Preterm labour). Clinically, on abdominal palpation the fetal poles may be very obviously felt and ‘hard’, with a small for dates uterus.

89

NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; SFH, symphysis–fundal height.

The fetal prognosis depends on the cause of oligohydramnios, but both pulmonary ­hypoplasia and limb deformities (contractures, talipes) are common to severe early-onset (95th centile for gestation on ultrasound estimation). It may present as severe abdominal swelling and discomfort. On examination,  the abdomen will appear distended out of proportion to the woman’s gestation (increased SFH). Furthermore, the abdomen may be tense and tender and the fetal poles will be hard to palpate. The condition may be caused by maternal, placental or fetal conditions.

Causes of polyhydramnios Maternal

• Diabetes. • Placental. • Chorioangioma. • Arteriovenous fistula.

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Fetal

• Multiple gestation (in monochorionic twins it may be twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome). • Idiopathic. • Oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula. • Duodenal atresia. • Neuromuscular fetal condition (preventing swallowing). • Anencephaly.

is a flexed (complete) breech (Figure 6.3B); and least common is footling breech, in which a foot presents at the cervix (Figure  6.3C). Cord and foot prolapse are risks in this situation.

Predisposing factors for breech presentation Maternal

• Fibroids. • Congenital uterine abnormalities (e.g. bicornuate uterus).

• Uterine surgery. The management of polyhydramnios is directed towards establishing the cause (and hence determining fetal prognosis), relieving the discomfort of the mother (if necessary by amniodrainage) and assessing the risk of preterm labour due to uterine overdistension. Polyhydramnios due to maternal diabetes needs urgent investigation, as it often suggests high maternal blood glucose levels. In this context, polyhydramnios should correct itself when the mother’s glycaemic control is optimized. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare cause of acute polyhydramnios in the recipient sac of monochorionic twins. It is associated with oligohydramnios and a small baby in the other sac. The condition may be rapidly fatal for both twins; amniodrainage and removal by laser of the placental vascular connections are two therapeutic modalities employed in dealing with this condition. This is discussed further in Chapter 7, Multiple pregnancy.

Fetal malpresentation at term Malpresentation is a presentation that is not cephalic. Breech presentation is the most commonly encountered malpresentation and occurs in 3–4% of term pregnancies, but is more common at earlier gestations. Similarly, oblique and transverse positions are not uncommon antenatally. They only become a problem if the baby (or first presenting baby in a multiple gestation) is not cephalic by 37 weeks’ gestation.

Breech presentation There are three types of breech: the commonest is extended (frank) breech (Figure 6.3A); less common

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Fetal/placental

• Multiple gestation. • Prematurity. • Placenta praevia. • Abnormality (e.g. anencephaly or hydrocephalus).

• Fetal neuromuscular condition. • Oligohydramnios. • Polyhydramnios. Antenatal management of breech presentation If a breech presentation is clinically suspected at or after 36 weeks, this should be confirmed by ultrasound scan. The scan should document fetal biometry, amniotic fluid volume, the placental site and the position of the fetal legs. The scan should also look for any anomalies previously undetected. The three management options available at this point should be discussed with the woman. These are external cephalic version (ECV), vaginal breech delivery and elective caesarean section. A previous large multicentre randomized controlled trial suggested that planned vaginal delivery of a breech presentation is associated with a 3% increased risk of death or serious morbidity to the baby. Although this trial did not evaluate long-term outcomes for child or mother, it has led to the recommendation that the best method of delivering a term breech singleton is by planned caesarean section. Despite this, either by choice or as a result of precipitous labour, a small proportion of women with breech presentations will deliver vaginally. It therefore remains important that clinicians and hospitals are prepared for vaginal breech delivery.

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Fetal malpresentation at term

A

B

D

91

C

E

Figure 6.3  (A) Frank breech (also known as extended breech) presentation with extension of the legs; (B) breech presentation with flexion of the legs; (C) footling breech presentation; (D) transverse lie; (E) oblique lie.

External cephalic version ECV is a relatively straightforward and safe technique and has been shown to reduce the number of caesarean sections due to breech presentations. Success rates vary according to the experience of the operator but in most units are around 50% (and are higher in multiparous women who tend to have lax abdominal musculature). The procedure is performed at or after 37 completed weeks’ gestation by an experienced obstetrician at or near delivery facilities. ECV should be performed with a tocolytic (e.g. nifedipine) as this has been shown to improve the success rate. The woman is laid flat with a left lateral tilt having ensured that she has emptied her bladder and is comfortable. With ultrasound guidance, the breech is elevated from the pelvis and one hand is used to

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VIDEO 6.1 External cephalic version (ECV): http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/ tenteachers/obstetricsv6.1.php

manipulate this upward in the direction of a forward role whilst the other hand applies gentle pressure to flex the fetal head and bring it down to the maternal pelvis (Figure 6.4). The procedure can be mildly uncomfortable for the mother and should last no more than 10 minutes. If the procedure fails, or becomes difficult, it is abandoned. A fetal heart rate trace must be performed before and after the procedure and it is important to administer anti-D if the woman is rhesus negative.

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A

B

C

D

Figure 6.4  External cephalic version. (A) The breech is disengaged from the pelvic inlet; (B) version is usually performed in the direction that increases flexion of the fetus and makes it do a forward somersault; (C) on completion of version, the head is often not engaged for a time; (D) the fetal heart rate should be checked after the external version has been completed.

Contraindications to ECV

Risks of ECV

• Fetal abnormality (e.g. hydrocephalus). • Placenta praevia. • Oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. • History of antepartum haemorrhage. • Previous caesarean or myomectomy scar on

• Placental abruption. • Premature rupture of the membranes. • Cord accident. • Transplacental haemorrhage (remember

• Multiple gestation. • Pre-eclampsia or hypertension. • Plan to deliver by caesarean section anyway.

• Fetal bradycardia.

the uterus.

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anti-D administration to rhesus-negative women).

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Fetal malpresentation at term

Mode of delivery If ECV fails, or is contraindicated, and caesarean section is nor indicated for other reasons, then women should be counselled regarding elective caesarean section and planned vaginal delivery. Although evidence suggests that it is probably safer for breech babies to be delivered by caesarean section, there is still a place for a vaginal breech delivery in certain circumstances. Maternal choice and the failure to detect breech presentation until very late in labour mean that obstetricians need to be expert in the skills of breech vaginal delivery and aware of the potential complications.

Pre-requisites for vaginal breech delivery Feto-maternal

• The presentation should be either extended (hips

flexed, knees extended) or flexed (hips flexed, knees flexed but feet not below the fetal buttocks).

• There should be no evidence of feto-pelvic disproportion with a pelvis clinically thought to be adequate and an estimated fetal weight of All offspring Rh-neg D gene

CE gene

dd

Homozygous rhesus D positive D gene

CE gene

D gene

CE gene

Heterozygous rhesus D positive D gene

dd

dd

dd

Rh-neg Rh-pos father mother (heterozygote) dd Dd => Half offspring Rh-pos dd

Dd

dd

Dd

Rh-neg Rh-pos father mother (homozygote) dd DD

CE gene CE gene

=> All offspring Rh-pos

Rhesus D negative Dd

Dd

Dd

Dd

CcEe gene CcEe gene

Figure 6.8  The parental genotype determinants of rhesus phenotype. Feto-placental circulation

Maternal circulation d

D

D

A

d

D

D

d

Fetal red cells with ‘D’ antigen (Rh-positive)

Next pregnancy

Maternal red cells without ‘D’ antigen (Rh-negative)

D D

B D

Maternal antibodies produced against fetal red cells

Maternal anti-D antibodies produced that pass across placenta, causing fetal red cell lysis

Figure 6.9  The mechanism of rhesus sensitization (A) and fetal red cell destruction (B).

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Rhesus isoimmunization

to carry a rhesus-positive fetus. Rhesus disease is commonest in countries where anti-D prophylaxis is not widespread, such as the Middle East and Russia.

Preventing rhesus isoimmunization The process of isoimmunization can be prevented by the intramuscular administration of anti-D immunoglobulins to a mother. Anti-D immunoglobulins ‘mop up’ any circulating rhesus-positive cells before an immune response is excited in the mother. It is normal practice to administer anti-D as soon as possible after any potential sensitizing events that may cause feto-maternal haemorrhage and preferably within 72  hours of exposure to fetal red cells. However, if, exceptionally, this deadline cannot be met, some protection may still be offered if anti-D Ig is given up to 10 days after the sensitizing event. The exact dose is determined by the gestation at which sensitization has occurred and the size of the feto-maternal haemorrhage. A Kleihauer test of maternal blood determines the proportion of fetal cells present in the maternal sample. It relies on the ability of fetal red blood cells to resist denaturation by alcohol or acid and it allows calculation of the size of the feto-maternal transfusion and the amount of extra anti-D Ig required.

The management of sensitizing events in the rhesus-negative pregnant woman

• In the first trimester of pregnancy, because the volume of fetal blood is so small, it is unlikely that sensitization would occur, and anti-D is only indicated following ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, therapeutic termination of pregnancy and in cases of uterine bleeding where this is repeated, heavy or associated with abdominal pain. The dose that should be given is 250 IU.

• For potentially sensitizing events between 12 and 20 weeks’ gestation, a minimum dose of 250 IU should be administered within 72 hours of the event and a Kleihauer test should be performed. Further anti-D can be given if indicated by the Kleihauer test.

• For potentially sensitizing events after

20 weeks’ gestation, a Kleihauer test is required and pending the result, a minimum anti-D Ig dose of 500 IU should be administered within 72 hours of the event. Further anti-D can be given if indicated by the Kleihauer test.

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A small number of rhesus-negative women become sensitized during pregnancy despite the administration of anti-D at delivery and without a clinically obvious sensitizing event. The likelihood is that a small feto-maternal haemorrhage occurs without any obvious clinical signs; therefore, prophylactic anti-D would reduce the risk of isoimmunization from this event. Current UK guidelines suggest that all rhesus-negative pregnant women who have not been previously sensitized should be offered routine antenatal prophylaxis with anti-D, either with a single dose regimen at around 28 weeks or a two-dose regimen given at 28 and 34 weeks’ gestation.

Signs of fetal anaemia Note: clinical and ultrasound features of fetal anaemia do not usually become evident unless fetal haemoglobin is more than 5 g/dl less than the mean for gestation. Usually, features are not obvious unless the fetal haemoglobin is less than 6 g/dl.

• Polyhydramnios. • Enlarged fetal heart. • Ascites and pericardial effusions. • Hyperdynamic fetal circulation (can be

detected by Doppler ultrasound by measuring increased velocities in the middle cerebral artery or aorta).

• Reduced fetal movements. • Abnormal CTG with reduced variability, eventually a ‘sinusoidal’ trace.

The management of rhesus disease in a sensitized woman Once a woman who is D-rhesus negative has been sensitized to the D-rhesus antigen, no amount of anti-D will ever turn the clock back. In a subsequent pregnancy, close surveillance is required. Rhesus disease gets worse with successive pregnancies, so it is important to note the severity of the disease in previous pregnancies. The management depends on the clinical scenario. The father of the next baby is D-rhesus negative. In this situation there is no risk that the baby will be D-rhesus positive and therefore there is no chance of rhesus disease.

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The father of the next baby is D-rhesus positive. He may be heterozygous and in this situation determining the paternal phenotype is useful in anticipating the likely fetal phenotype and, thus, the potential for development of HDFN. However, it is important to bear in mind that there are issues regarding paternal testing, and assuming paternity runs the risk of false prediction. Not withstanding this issue, paternal blood grouping is frequently used and often useful. In a sensitized woman, if the father is D-rhesus positive or unknown, standard management involves monitoring antibody levels every 2–4 weeks from booking. Antibody levels or quantity can be described using the titre or by using IU (international units) as a standard quantification method. The titre simply refers to the number of times a sample has been diluted before the amount of antibody becomes undetectable; titre of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, etc. Each time a sample is tested it should be checked in parallel with the previous sample to ensure the detection of significant changes in the antibody level. However, titrations of anti-D do not correlate well with the development of HDFN, and the standard quantification method (IU/ml) gives more clinically relevant levels (Table 6.2). If antibody levels rise, the baby should be examined for signs of anaemia. In the past, the bilirubin concentration of amniotic fluid was determined optically to give an indirect measure of fetal haemolysis. This involved an invasive procedure with the attendant risks of miscarriage/preterm labour and further boosting of the alloimmune response. In the last decade, middle cerebral artery (MCA) Dopplers (peak velocity measurement) have been shown to correlate reliably with fetal anaemia. In practice, this means that the use of invasive tests to monitor disease progression once a critical antibody level has been reached have been replaced by non-invasive

Table 6.2  Anti-D-rhesus titration Anti-D level

Outcome

15 IU/ml

High risk of hydrops fetalis

HDFN, haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

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assessment using MCA Doppler. There are now substantial data to support the use of peak MCA velocity as a correlate of fetal anaemia. The sensitivity is reported at 100% with a false-positive rate of 12% (Figure 6.10). A fetus with a raised peak MCA velocity has a high probability of anaemia. These cases are not common and the treatment should be in, or guided by, tertiary fetal medicine centres. Treatment options include delivery or fetal blood transfusion. Delivery of the fetus is an option if the fetus is sufficiently mature. However, delivery of an anaemic, rapidly haemolysing premature baby is a significant risk and should not be undertaken lightly. Delivery must take place in a unit where adequate neonatal support and expertise is available, and generally delivery should not be before 36–37 weeks’ gestation unless there are specific reasons such as special difficulty with fetal transfusion. Fetal blood transfusion is life saving in a severely anaemic fetus that is too premature for delivery to be contemplated. The aim is to restore haemoglobin levels, reversing or preventing hydrops or death. A  side-effect is that transfusion will also suppress fetal erythropoiesis, which reduces the concentration of antigen-positive cells available for haemolysis. Blood can be transfused into a fetus in various ways depending on the gestation, the site of the cord insertion and the clinical situation. Routes of administration include:

• Into the umbilical vein at the point of the cord

insertion (ideally through the placenta and not through the amniotic sac).

• Into the intrahepatic vein. • Into the peritoneal cavity

(not as effective but some blood is absorbed and this may be the only option, for example in early gestations).

• Into the fetal heart.

Once a decision has been made that the fetus is severely anaemic and requires a blood transfusion, the invasive procedure aims to first take a sample to confirm the anaemia and then infuse the blood during a single puncture. Transfused blood is:

• RhD negative. • Crossmatched with a maternal sample.

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Rhesus isoimmunization

101

A

B

Figure 6.10  Middle cerebral artery Doppler waveform analysis (A) of a fetus with anaemia secondary to Rhesus disease demonstrating an increased peak systolic velocity, and the same fetus (B) 48 hours following an intrauterine transfusion.

• Densely

packed (haemoglobin usually around 30 g/l) so that small volumes are used.

• White cell depleted and irradiated. • Screened for infection including cytomegalovirus (CMV).

At delivery If the baby is known to be anaemic or has had multiple transfusions, a neonatologist must be present at delivery should exchange transfusion be required. Blood must therefore always be ready for the delivery. All babies born to rhesus-negative women should have cord blood taken at delivery for a blood count, blood group and indirect Coombs test.

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KEY LEARNING POINTS • Rhesus disease gets worse with successive pregnancies.

• If the father of the fetus is rhesus negative, the fetus cannot be rhesus positive.

• If the father of the fetus is rhesus positive, he may be a heterozygote (50% likelihood that the baby is D-rhesus positive) or a homozygote (100% likelihood).

• Anti-D is given only as prophylaxis and is useless once sensitization has occurred.

• Prenatal diagnosis for karyotype, or attempts at determining fetal blood group by invasive testing (e.g. chorion villus sampling), may make the antibody levels higher in women who are already sensitized.

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ABO incompatibility ABO blood group isoimmunization may occur when the mother is blood group O and the baby is blood group A or B. Anti-A and anti-B antibodies are present in the maternal circulation naturally, usually secondary to sensitization against A or B substances in food or bacteria. This means that ABO incompatibility may occur in a first pregnancy. In this situation, anti-A or anti-B antibodies may pass to the fetal circulation, causing fetal haemolysis and anaemia. However, most anti-A and anti-B antibodies are mainly IgMs that do not cross the placenta. In addition, A and B antigens are not fully developed in the fetus. Therefore, ABO incompatibility generally causes mild haemolytic disease of the baby, but may sometimes explain unexpected jaundice in an otherwise healthy term infant.

New developments When a fetus is at risk of HDFN in a sensitized rhesus-negative mother, the genotype of the fetus is very important. When the father is heterozygous for rhesus D, there is a 50% chance that the fetus will be rhesus positive. In this situation it is important to establish the fetal blood group to determine whether or not the baby is at risk. This can now be done non-invasively by examining cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) present in a maternal blood sample. Accuracies close to 100% are reported for rhesus genotyping. A similar approach can be used to prevent unnecessary prophylaxis. Currently in the UK, all rhesus-negative pregnant women are offered anti-D. However, the disadvantage of this approach is that

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approximately 40% of D-negative women who are carrying a rhesus-negative child will be given routine prophylactic anti-D unnecessarily. This equates to approximately 40,000 women in the UK who are receiving prophylaxis unnecessarily each year. Fetal blood group genotyping using cffDNA from maternal blood samples taken between 16 and 20  weeks’ gestation have made it possible to determine the fetal rhesus genotype type. Routine fetal rhesus typing for all rhesus-negative pregnant women has been introduced in Denmark and The Netherlands to allow selective use of anti-D, though this has not yet been recommended in the UK.

Further reading Qureshi H, Massey E, Kirwan D, et al. (2014). BCSH guideline for the use of anti-D immunoglobulin for the prevention of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Transfusion Medicine 24:8–20.doi: 10.1111/ tme.12091. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Clinical Guideline No. 20a. External Cephalic Version and Reducing the Incidence of Breech Presentation. Published December 2006 and Reviewed 2010. https:// www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/ gt20aexternalcephalicversion.pdf. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Clinical Guideline No. 20b. The Management of Breech Presentation. Published 1999 and Revised in 2001 and 2006. https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/­ documents/guidelines/gtg-no-20b-breech-­ presentation.pdf. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Clinical Guideline No. 37a. Reducing the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism during Pregnancy and the Puerperium. Published April 2015. https://www.rcog. org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg-37a. pdf.

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Self assessment

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Self assessment CASE HISTORY The community midwife refers a 25-year-old woman in her second pregnancy to the antenatal clinic at 37 weeks’ gestation. Clinical examination has shown the fetus to be in a breech position. An ultrasound scan confirms an extended breech presentation. You are asked to counsel this

woman as to the possible options that are available for her management.

ANSWERS

ECV is carried out at 36–37 weeks’ gestation. The procedure has been shown to reduce the number of caesarean sections due to breech presentation. Contraindications to ECV are placenta praevia, oligohydramnios, previous caesarean section, multiple gestation and pre-eclampsia. The risks of the procedure, which need to be outlined, are placental abruption, premature rupture of the membranes, cord accident, ­transplacental haemorrhage and fetal bradycardia. Vaginal breech delivery is still an acceptable option if the mother understands the increased risks to the fetus. There are a number of factors that increase the likelihood of a successful vaginal beech delivery: normal sized baby, flexed neck, multiparous, deeply engaged breech and positive mental attitude of the woman.

A There are three available management options that need to be discussed with this woman. These are: • Elective caesarean section. • External cephalic version (ECV). • Vaginal breech delivery. B Firstly, a brief history should be taken to determine whether there are any factors in the history that would be a contraindication to vaginal breech delivery or ECV. The Term Breech Trial demonstrated that there was reduction in the perinatal mortality and morbidity with elective caesarean section over vaginal breech delivery. However, there are some factors that would increase and decrease the strength of the recommendation for a caesarean section, such as previous obstetric history and the presence of a large or small baby.

A What are the available options? B What are the advantages and risks of each option?

EMQ A B C D E

No intervention required. Lifelong anticoagulation. IV unfractionated heparin for 24 hours. LMWH for 6 weeks postnatally. Discussion with haematologist for specialist advice.

F G H I

LMWH for 10 days postnatally. Early mobilization and hydration. Antenatal prophylaxis with LMWH. None of the above.

For each description, choose the SINGLE most appropriate answer from the list of options. Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all. 1 A woman attends for booking at 6 weeks’ gestation. She has had a previous metallic mitral valve replacement. 2 A 28-year-old woman who has had an emergency caesarean section in labour for fetal distress. She had a DVT in a previous pregnancy.

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3 A healthy 30-year-old woman with a normal body mass index (BMI) who had a normal vaginal delivery of her fourth child 4 hours ago. 4 A healthy 36-year-old woman with a normal BMI who had a normal vaginal delivery of her fourth child 4 hours ago.

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ANSWERS 1B Thromboprophylaxis in pregnancy and the puerperium in the UK is usually based on the RCOG 2015 guidelines (Figure 6.2). The woman has a metallic mitral valve and should be on lifelong anticoagulation. This is usually achieved with warfarin but may be switched to LMWH in pregnancy. 2D The woman requires at least 6 weeks of postnatal prophylactic LMWH as she had a previous thrombotic event. 3G The woman has single risk factor for VTE (parity >3) and therefore only needs sensible precautions. 4F The woman has an additional risk factor being aged >35 and therefore needs postnatal LMWH for 10 days.

SBA QUESTION On routine antenatal investigation, a 30-year-old woman is found to be rhesus negative. Which piece of advice regarding the management of her pregnancy is correct? Choose the single best answer. A Her fetus will also be rhesus negative. B If she experiences vaginal bleeding later in pregnancy, a Keilhauer test should be performed. C She should have a routine dose of anti-D at 23 weeks’ gestation.

D Once she has had two doses of anti-D, further administration will not be required. E If this pregnancy is not affected by rhesus disease, there should be no problem in subsequent pregnancies.

ANSWER B Approximately 15% of the Caucasian population are rhesus negative. The rhesus status of the fetus depends on the father’s blood type. Exogenous anti-D immunoglobulin is administered in an attempt to prevent the manufacture of the endogenous antibody by the mother, as this would sensitize the immune system and put subsequent fetuses at risk, Routine doses of anti-D are normally given between 28 and 34 weeks’ gestation, but should be considered after every sensitizing event. The Keilhauer test determines the portion of fetal cells within the maternal circulation and hence helps determine anti-D dosage.

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CHAPTER

Multiple pregnancy

7

FERGUS McCARTHY

Introduction.....................................................................105 Epidemiology...................................................................105 Aetiology.........................................................................106 Care of women with a multiple pregnancy.......................107 Complications of multiple pregnancy...............................107

Antenatal care................................................................. 110 Delivery........................................................................... 111 Higher order multiples..................................................... 112 Further reading................................................................ 113 Self assessment.............................................................. 113

LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Understand classification of multiple pregnancies. • Understand risk factors for multiple pregnancies

and why prevalence is increasing.

• Understand the increased complications that occur

in multiple pregnancies. • Understand the antenatal care of women with

multiple pregnancies.

Introduction Rates of multiple pregnancies continue to increase and now constitute approximately 3% of live births. The high prevalence of multiple pregnancy is explained predominantly by increasing use of assisted fertility, with rates of multiple pregnancy being directly proportional to the number of embryos transferred. Regardless of chorionicity and amnionicity, complications in multiple pregnancies are higher than for singleton pregnancies and include preterm birth, fetal growth restriction (FGR), cerebral palsy and stillbirth. The maternal risks are also increased and include hypertensive and thromboembolic disease and antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage.

Epidemiology The incidence of multiple pregnancy varies worldwide, with rates varying from approximately 6 per 1,000 births in Japan to rates of approximately 40 per 1,000 births in Nigeria. In the UK the rates of multiple pregnancy are approximately 16 per 1,000 births. The majority (97–99%) of these were twin pregnancies with the remainder being predominantly triplet pregnancies. Increasing maternal age is one of the key risk factors for multiple pregnancy, with multiple pregnancy occurring in approximately 1 in 10 women aged over 45 giving birth in the UK. Assisted conception is also responsible for the increasing incidence of multiple pregnancies, with approximately 1 in 5 successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) 105

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Multiple pregnancy

Voluson E8

1,000 Twins 700 Dizygotic

300 Monozygotic 100 Dichorionic

700 DCDA

100 190 DCDA MCDA

DCDA twins

200 Monochorionic 10 Monoamniotic

350 350 100 190 9 1 Different Same Same Same Non-conjoined Conjoined sex sex sex sex

Lambda sign

A

Figure 7.1  Incidence of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pregnancies. DCDA, dichorionic diamniotic; MCDA, monochorionic diamniotic.

procedures resulting in multiple pregnancy. In the USA over one-third of twin pregnancies and approximately 80% of triplet (and higher order) pregnancies occur following treatment for ­infertility. Figure 7.1 shows the relative contributions of the different types of twins to a hypothetical random selection of 1,000 twin pairs.

Aetiology Multiple pregnancy may be classified according to:

• Number of fetuses: twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. • Number of fertilized eggs: zygosity. • Number of placentae: chorionicity. • Number of amniotic cavities: amnionicity. Twin pregnancy may be dizygotic (70%) or monozygotic (30%). Dizygotic twins (non-identical) occur from ovulation and subsequent fertilization of two oocytes. This results in dichorionic diamniotic twins, where each fetus has its own placenta and amniotic cavity. Although they always have two functionally separate placentae (dichorionic), the placentae can become anatomically fused together and appear to the naked eye as a single placental mass. They always have separate amniotic cavities (diamniotic) and the two cavities are separated by a thick three-layer membrane (fused amnion in the middle with chorion on either side; Figure 7.2A). The fetuses can be either same-sex or different-sex pairings.

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Absent twin peak B

Figure 7.2  Ultrasound appearance of dichorionic (A) and monochorionic (B) twin pregnancies at 12 weeks’ gestation. Note that there appears to be a single placental mass but in the dichorionic type there is an extension of placental tissue into the base of the inter-twin membrane, forming the lambda sign.

VIDEO 7.1 Ultrasound scan of dichorionic and monochorionic twin pregnancies: http://www.routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/ tenteachers/obstetricsv7.1.php

Monozygotic (identical) pregnancies result from fertilization of a single ovum with subsequent division of the zygote. If the zygote splits shortly after fertilization, the twins will each have a separate placenta and thus will be dichorionic diamniotic. Monochorionic diamniotic (20%) pregnancies occur when division of the zygote occurs between days four and eight postfertilization. The vast majority of monochorionic twins have two amniotic cavities (diamniotic) but the

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Complications of multiple pregnancy

dividing membrane is thin, as it consists of a single layer of amnion alone (Figure 7.2B). Monochorionic monoamniotic (1%) pregnancy occurs when division occurs between days 8 and 12 postfertilization and finally conjoined twins occur when division of the zygote happens after day 13.

Care of women with a multiple pregnancy According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, treatment and care should take into account a woman’s needs and preferences. Due to an increased risk of pregnancy complications, women with multiple pregnancies that involve a shared amnion should be offered individualized care in a tertiary level fetal medicine.

• Women

with multiple pregnancies should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a core team of named specialist obstetricians, specialist midwives and ultrasonographers. • Regular ultrasound assessment is used to date the pregnancy, perform first trimester screening and to monitor growth. Abdominal palpation or symphysis–fundal height (SFH) measurements should not be used to predict FGR. • There is no benefit in using untargeted administration of corticosteroids. • Gestation and mode of delivery depends on the type of multiple pregnancy. • Women with multiple pregnancies should receive the same advice about diet, lifestyle and nutritional supplements as in routine antenatal care. • Women with multiple pregnancies are at higher risk of anaemia compared with singleton ­pregnancies and a full blood count should be checked at 20 and 28 weeks’ gestation and supplementation with iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 initiated.

Complications of multiple pregnancy All the physiological changes of pregnancy, including increased cardiac output, volume expansion, relative haemodilution, diaphragmatic splinting,

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107

weight gain and lordosis, are exaggerated in multiple gestations. This results in much greater stresses being placed on maternal reserves. The ‘minor’ symptoms of pregnancy may be exaggerated, such as nausea and vomiting and heartburn. However, for women with pre-existing health problems, such as cardiac disease, a multiple pregnancy may substantially increase their risk of morbidity. One of the commonest and most serious complications of dichorionic diamniotic pregnancies is preterm delivery, either spontaneous or iatrogenic due to the occurrence of other adverse pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia or FGR (Figure 7.3). Overall, approximately 60% of twin pregnancies result in spontaneous birth before 37 weeks’ gestation. In a dichorionic pregnancy, the chance of late miscarriage is 2%. In 15% of cases, delivery will be very preterm. For monochorionic twins, the chance of preterm delivery is increased even further, with 12% born before viability and 25% delivering between 24 and 32 weeks. With two or more babies resulting from each delivery, multiple gestations account for 20–25% of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions. In addition to the other complications of twin pregnancy described above, monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies are  also at risk of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and, more rarely, twin anaemia–polycythaemia sequence (TAPS).

%

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

Gestation (weeks) Singleton

Twin

Triplet

Figure 7.3  Gestational age distribution at delivery of singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies.

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Perinatal mortality Overall perinatal mortality for monochorionic twins is estimated at 30 per 1,000 (compared with 3.8 per 1,000 among dichorionic twins). The overall infant mortality rate for twins is approximately 5.5 times higher than for singletons, mainly as a result of extreme prematurity. The survival at any given gestation is similar for singletons and multiple pregnancies. The stillbirth rate is 12 per 1,000 twin births and  31 per 1,000  triplet births. This compares with about five in 1,000 singleton pregnancies. With the increasing use of early pregnancy scanning, it has been recognized that up to 25% of twins may suffer an early demise and subsequently ‘vanish’ well before they would have previously been detected. After the first trimester, the intrauterine death of one fetus in a twin pregnancy may be associated with a poor outcome for the remaining co-twin. Maternal complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation have been reported, but the incidence of this appears to be very low. In dichorionic twins, the second or third trimester intrauterine death of one fetus may be associated with the onset of labour, although in some cases the pregnancy may continue uneventfully and even result in delivery at term. Careful fetal and maternal monitoring is required. By contrast, fetal death of one twin in monochorionic twins may result in immediate complications in the survivor. These include death or brain damage with subsequent neurodevelopmental handicap. Acute hypotensive episodes, secondary to placental vascular anastomoses between the two fetuses, result in haemodynamic volume shifts from the live to the dead fetus. The acute release of vasoactive substances into the survivor’s circulation may also play a role. Death or handicap of the co-twin occurs in up to 30% of cases.

Fetal growth restriction Compared to singletons, the risk of FGR is higher in each individual twin alone and substantially raised in the pregnancy as a whole. This increased incidence of growth restriction creates several management difficulties as the interpretation of and performing detailed Doppler studies, including ductus venosus (DV) and middle cerebral artery Dopplers, become increasingly difficult as gestation progresses. When a fetus is growth restricted, the main aims of antenatal care become prediction of the severity of

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impaired fetal oxygenation and selecting the appropriate time for delivery. In singletons, this is a balance between the relative risks of intrauterine death versus the risk of neonatal death or handicap from elective preterm delivery. The situation is much more complicated in twin pregnancies. The potential benefit of expectant management or elective delivery for the small fetus must also be weighed against the risk of the same policy for the normally grown co-twin. In a dichorionic pregnancy, each fetus runs twice the risk of a low birthweight and there is a 25% chance that at least one of the fetuses will be small for gestational age. The chance of suboptimal fetal growth for monochorionic twins is almost double that for dichorionic twins. In dichorionic twin pregnancies where one fetus has growth restriction, elective preterm delivery may lead to iatrogenic complications of prematurity in the previously healthy co-twin. In general, delivery should be avoided before 28–30 weeks’ gestation, even if there is evidence of imminent intrauterine death of the smaller twin; however, this may not be applicable in the management of monochorionic twins. The death of one of a monochorionic twin pair may result in either death or handicap of the co-twin because of acute hypotension secondary to placental vascular anastomoses between the two circulations. As the damage potentially happens at the moment of death of the first twin, the timing of delivery may be a very difficult decision. Below 30 weeks’ gestation, the aim is to prolong the pregnancy as far as possible without risking the death of the growthrestricted twin.

Complications unique to monochorionic twin pregnancies Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome Unique to monochorionic pregnancy is a complication involving the development of abnormal unbalanced vascular anastomoses leading to the development of TTTS. Although vascular connections are found in nearly all monochorionic twins, approximately 10% of monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies and 5% of monoamniotic pregnancies will subsequently develop TTTS. Four types of vascular connections have been identified in monochorionic pregnancies: arteriovenous (AV), venoarterial (VA), arterioarterial (AA) and venovenous (VV).

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Complications of multiple pregnancy

If the connections are unbalanced with more AV connections occurring in one direction than the other, alterations in the hydrostatic and osmotic forces occur, resulting in the manifestations seen in TTTS. An equal number of bidirectional anastomoses results in balanced connections and TTTS does not occur under these circumstances. AA anastomoses are protective against the development of TTTS. TTTS is diagnosed based on the following ultrasound criteria:

• Single placental mass. • Concordant gender. • Oligohydramnios with maximum vertical pool

(MVP) less than 2 cm in one sac and polyhydramnios in the other sac (MVP >8 cm).

• Discordant bladder appearances. • Haemodynamic and cardiac compromise.

TTTS may be graded in severity according to the widely accepted Quintero staging:

• Stage

I: Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios sequence and the bladder of the donor twin is ­v isible. Dopplers in both twins are normal.

• Stage II: Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios

sequence, but the bladder of the donor is not visualized. Dopplers in both twins are normal.

• Stage III: Oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios

sequence, non-visualized bladder and abnormal Dopplers. There is absent/reversed end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery, reversed flow in a-wave of the DV or pulsatile flow in the umbilical vein in either fetus.

• Stage IV: One or both fetuses show signs of hydrops. • Stage V: One or both fetuses have died.

TAPS is a rarer chronic form of TTTS in which a large inter-twin haemoglobin difference occurs but the oligohydramnios polyhydramnios sequence that is observed with TTTS is not seen. It is thought to occur from residual small (