Lesson 7.4 - Medical care during pregnancy

Lesson 7.4 - Medical care during pregnancy

By Reham Alhosani

​Unit 7 - Healthy pregnancy

Learning objectives:

Identify medical needs during pregnancy including when emergency medical care is required.

Keywords:

• Blood pressure – the pressure of blood through the circulatory system

• Contractions – a movement of muscles in the womb when a woman is giving birth to a child

• Immediate – happening now

• Labour – the process of childbirth

Medical needs during pregnancy

• During pregnancy, there are lots of reasons why a woman might need medical care.

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• If she knows what to expect during her pregnancy, she might be able to identify when she needs medical attention.

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• ​If a woman believes that she needs medical attention, it is important to assist her to get the help she needs.

Medical needs during pregnancy

Medical needs during pregnancy

​1. Ultrasound scans:

• ​An ultrasound scans will let the doctor know if the foetus is growing and developing in a healthy rate.

• The scan will record the heart rate and breathing.

Medical needs during pregnancy

1. Hypertension:

• ​An ultrasound scans will let the doctor know if the foetus is growing and developing in a healthy rate.

• The scan will record the heart rate and breathing.

Multiple Choice

What will an ultrasound scan tell a doctor?

• What the mother has been eating. 

• If the foetus is growing and developing at a healthy rate. 

• If the mother should exercise more. 

Multiple Choice

What two things will an ultrasound scan record?

• Memory and intelligence

• Hair colour and eye colour 

• Heart rate and breathing 

Medical needs during pregnancy

​2. Hypertension:

• Women can experience hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.

• High blood pressure during pregnancy should be monitored by a healthcare professional.

Medical needs during pregnancy

​3. Gestational diabetes:

• Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy.

• Gestational diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra demands during pregnancy. This leads to glucose in the blood being too high.

• It is not a long-term condition, and it generally goes away after delivery of the baby.​

Multiple Choice

Finish the sentences about gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is not usually a:

• short-term condition. 

• long-term condition. 

• serious condition. 

Multiple Choice

Finish the sentences about gestational diabetes.  

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that sometimes develops during:

• pregnancy

• a general illness.

• the winter. 

Medical needs during pregnancy

​4. Other symptoms:

If a woman experiences these other symptoms during pregnancy, she can see her doctor but does not need emergency medical care:

• Back pain

• Low iron levels in the blood (anaemia)

• Constipation

• Fatigue (tiredness)

• Heartburn

• Morning sickness

• Swelling of the legs (oedema)

When to get an emergency medical care

Medical needs during pregnancy

When to get an emergency medical care:

If a pregnant woman experiences any of the following, she should get immediate medical attention.

• No movement from the foetus

• Excessive fatigue

• Excessive thirst

• Feeling of anxiety

• Heavy bleeding

• More than three contractions per hour

• Sudden loss of fluid

• Unexplained pains

Multiple Select

Select the conditions (from below) that a pregnant woman would need to get emergency medical attention for.

• Heavy bleeding. 

• Morning sickness 

• Unexplained pains 

• Sudden loss of fluid 

• Tiredness

Labour

​The process of childbirth

Labour

Labour or childbirth, is the process of the baby leaving the womb.

Sign of labour include:

• Low back pain

• Pain around the stomach

• The release of amniotic fluid known as the

  "water breaking"

• Contractions​

If a women thinks she is in labour, she should get medical attention.

Labour

​The process of childbirth

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Labour

Stage 1​

• During the first stage of labour, the women will feel contractions, which are the muscles in the womb tightening and relaxing.These can be identified by a "dull pain".

• During early labo​ur, women can time their contractions. They will be around five minutes apart.

Labour

Stage 2

• During this stage, the women will feel the urge to push.

• Contractions becomes stronger and last longer.

• The a​abdominal muscles help with the delivery of the baby during this stage.

• The second stage of labour lasts 1 - 2 hours.​

Labour

Stage 3

• After the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord is clamped (cut the umbilical cord)

• The placenta is delivered 5 - 20 minutes after the delivery of the baby.

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Lasts for approximately two hours

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Contractions around five minutes apart

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Placenta is delivered

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Contractions start

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Umbilical cord is clamped

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Multiple Choice

Identify the stages of the scenarios in the table and write, S1, S2 or S3 for each one. 

Urge to push

• Stage 1

• Stage 2

• Stage 3

Do you have any questions?

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