Whew, that pretty much answers all of my questions! Thanks very much for taking the time to share your knowledge & experience, Jenny.
Whoops, thought of another question! Black outs reminds me... I have a friend who had a black out when she was about 30/40 during a long day of shopping. She was having an uneventful pregnancy, normotensive, etc. Had lots of baby movements both before & after the blackout. But was understandably freaked out after the blackout. If you were her midwife & she rang you describing this, what would you suggest to her? She went on to have a gorgeous baby at term in a birth centre. Jen --- Jenny Cameron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Most unusual. Usual practice would assume eclampsia > until proven otherwise. > I once had a woman, normotensive, postdates & > multigravid have a grand mal > seizure immediately following an ARM for induction > of labour. Fortunately > the Obs was just outside the door washing his hands. > On questioning she gave > a history of frequent blackouts during pregnancy. > Didn't think to report it! > Subsequently diagnosed as epileptic. The actual > seizure is not a problem for > the woman (we need to protect her from physical > injury). It is certainly a > problem if the baby is still in utero as he will be > anoxic for the period of > the seizure. The major morbidity for the woman > arises from the ischaemic > cerebral damage and possible stroke from the > hypertension. Never, ever > underestimate pre-eclampsia. Beware of the woman > with upper epigastric pain > and be very wary of the 'twitchy' woman. New grads > don't be afraid but be > vigilant. Women rarely become eclamptic without some > warning. Medical > science is very good at detecting pre-eclampsia. The > management of > pre-eclampsia has changed dramatically over the > period of time I have been a > midwife. It so much better now. > > As far as midwifery responsibility, if a woman > seizures, you need to > 1) Call for urgent medical help > 2) Protect her from injury > 3) Take BP. > 4) Prepare for medication to lower hypertension.. > 5) Monitor the baby...N.B.mother takes priority. If > she is well oxygenated > the baby will be. Therefore sort her out first. > Happy midwifing > Jenny > > Jennifer Cameron FRCNA FACM > ProMid > Professional Midwifery Education Service > 0419 528 717 Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
