South West Maternal Medicine Network
49 videos • 615 views • by North Bristol NHS Trust A selection of videos from the South West Maternal Medicine Network with general advice and information about how certain medical conditions can affect pregnancy and how pregnancy can affect these conditions. Glossary of terms used in the videos: Anaemia – Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by lack of iron and is common during pregnancy. Symptoms can include tiredness, shortness of breath and pale skin. It is treated with iron tablets and by eating iron rich foods. Congestive heart failure – Heart failure means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly. It usually happens because the heart has become too weak. Symptoms can include breathlessness, feeling tired, feeling lightheaded and swollen ankles and legs. Diabetic retinopathy – is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. Gestational diabetes – is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after giving birth. It can happen at any stage of pregnancy but is more common in the second or third trimester. Growth restriction – fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a condition where a baby is smaller than expected or when a baby’s growth stops or slows during pregnancy. HbA1c – the HbA1c test measure the amount of glucose being carried by the red blood cells in the body and is used to monitor diabetes. Induction – an induced labour is one that is started artificially and will usually be planned in advance. If you are being induced, you will go into the hospital maternity unit and be looked after by midwives and obstetricians. A small balloon inserted into your cervix is used to ripen and soften the cervix to enable your waters to be broken. This is the most common way induction of labour is performed in most units in the South West. Other common ways include having a tablet (pessary) and/or a gel inserted into your vagina- this will soften the cervix to enable your waters to be broken, and possibly start contractions. Induction of labour can take a while, and you will usually stay in the maternity unit while you wait for it to work. Intrapartum – is the time period from the start of labour to the delivery of the placenta after the baby has been born. Pre-eclampsia - is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy or soon after the baby has been born. Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure and protein in your urine. Symptoms can include severe headache, vision problems, vomiting, and sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet. If you notice any symptoms of pre-eclampsia, seek medical advice immediately. Progesterone – is a hormone that plays an important role in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. Higher levels of progesterone during pregnancy can cause constipation for pregnant women. Spina bifida – is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. Most people with spina bifida are able to have surgery to close the opening in the spine. TSH – or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, is used to measure thyroid function.