Pregnancy Childbirth and Complications A presentation by Danielle

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Complications A presentation by Danielle Johnson

Pregnancy- vs- Childbirth The difference in pregnancy vs birth no doubt influenced by factors such as abortion, miscarriage, and stillbirth. On average about 6. 7 million women become pregnant each year in the US and of that amount 4. 3 million live births occur as a result that same year

Stages of Pregnancy is normally a ten month process Stages include: Conception and Implantation First Trimester (weeks 1 -12) Second Trimester (weeks 13 -27) Third Trimester(weeks 28 -40) During each stage the woman's body changes drastically, often characterized by varying degrees of symptoms. Just like it’s mother’s body on the outside, the fetus inside is growing and changing rapidly from conception to delivery.

Complications During Pregnancy Ectopic Pregnancy RH Negative Disease Preterm Labor Gestational Diabetes Preeclampsia Pre-term Labor STD’s during pregnancy Infections This is not a complete list

Complications during Childbirth Failure to Progress (Prolonged Labor) ◦ A small percentage of women, mostly first-time mothers, may experience a labor that lasts too long. Abnormal Presentation ◦ Presentation refers to the position the fetus takes as your body prepares for delivery, and it could be either vertex (head down) or breech (buttocks down) Umbilical Cord Prolapse & Cord Compression ◦ Sometimes before or during labor, the umbilical cord can slip through the cervix, preceding the baby into the birth canal. It may even protrude from the vagina. This is dangerous because the umbilical cord can get blocked and stop blood flow through the cord. ◦ the umbilical cord gets stretched and compressed during labor, leading to a brief decrease in the flow of blood within it. This can cause sudden, short drops in the fetal heart rate, called variable decelerations

Types of Childbirth Vaginal Delivery ◦ Preferred method of birth, occurs during 38 -41 week, has many benefits, shorter hospital stay, lower infection rates, quicker recovery, less baby respiratory problems C-Section ◦ Women having multiples, large babies, breech babies, placenta previa, fibroids, or uterine condition can benefit from csection VBAC ◦ Vaginal Birth after C-Section Vacuum Extraction & Forceps Delivery

Maternal Morbidity in the United States Maternal morbidity includes physical and psychologic conditions that result from or are aggravated by pregnancy and have an adverse effect on a woman’s health. The most severe complications of pregnancy, generally referred to as severe maternal morbidity (SMM), affect more than 50, 000 women in the United States every year. Based on recent trends, this burden has been steadily increasing. Rises in SMM are likely driven by a combination of factors, including increases in maternal age, prepregnancy obesity, pre-existing chronic medical conditions, and cesarean delivery. The consequences of the increasing SMM prevalence are wide-ranging and include higher health service use, higher direct medical costs, extended hospitalization stays, and long -term rehabilitation. The review of SMM cases provides an opportunity to identify points of intervention for quality improvements in maternal care

ALLOW CHILDBIRTH TO OCCUR NATURALLY Mothers are encouraged to see an Obstetrician as early as possible, are given labs and radiological tests throughout their pregnancies. In the U. S. Pregnant women are also encouraged to have their babies in a hospital setting. They are advised to be induced, and have their water broken artificially, to take pain relieving drugs as opposed to going through labor drug free. Laboring mothers are not permitted to eat or drink, are non-ambulatory, and give birth lying on their backs which has been proven to slow or stall labor. What’s worse they are often given painful episiotomies, and major abdominal cesarean surgeries. This has been my experience, having been given four cesarean’s myself.

The Role of EMT in Pregnancy and Childbirth According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most deliveries in the United States still occur in a hospital, with doctors and nurses in attendance. Occasionally, the birth process moves faster than the pregnant woman expects, or she’s unable to get to a hospital. Decisions that you need to make as an EMT include: Should you assist the delivery on the scene or transport the patient to the hospital? Are there other factors that affect this decision, such as trauma, weather, and distance to the hospital?

This means in some cases as an EMT we may have to assist a women in childbirth, possibly in her home, car, or wherever a scene presents. We may also have to bear in mind the possible risks and complications. Hopefully we can do so carefully, safely, and knowledgably. THE END