Fetal Monitors

Juliet Cohen asked:


Eclampsia is the occurence of seizures in a pregnant woman. Usually eclampsia occurs after the onslaught of pre-eclampsia though sometimes no pre-eclamptic symptoms are recognisable. The reason of eclampsia is not easily understood. Researchers believe a person’s genes, diet, blood vessels, and neurological factors may play a role. However, no theories have yet been proven. Eclampsia follows preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy marked by high blood pressure, weight gain, and protein in the urine. Women with very high blood pressure, headaches, vision changes, or abnormal blood tests have severe preeclampsia and are at high risk for seizures. The disease process can begin mild and stay mild, or can be initially diagnosed as eclampsia without prior warning. Eclampsia is more common in young women and those older than age 35.

The trademark of eclampsia is seizures. Similar to preeclampsia, new changes and symptoms may be existing and change according to the organ structure or systems that are affected. These changes can affect the mother only, baby only, or more commonly affect both mother and baby. The majority of cases are heralded by pregnancy-induced hypertension and proteinuria but the only true sign of eclampsia is an eclamptic convulsion, of which there are four stages. Symtoms of preeclampsia include swelling of hands and face, gaining more than 2 pounds per week, headache, vision problems, and stomach pain. Patients with edema and oliguria may develop renal failure or pulmonary edema. There is no known prevention. However, it is important for all pregnant women to get early and ongoing medical care. This allows for the early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as preeclampsia.

A woman with eclampsia should be continously monitored. Delivery is the handling of selection for eclampsia in a pregnancy over 28 weeks. Prevention of paroxysm is normally done using magnesium sulfate with a loading of magnesium sulfate 20% resolution, 4 g IV over 5 minutes. Women may be given medicine to prevent seizures. Magnesium sulfate is a safe drug for both the mother and the baby. Delivery should take place as soon as the woman’s condition has stabilized. Delaying delivery to increase fetal maturity is unsafe for both the woman and the fetus, after delivery the womans health relative to the condition is improved drastically. Delivery should occur regardless of the gestational age. Medication may be used to lower the high blood pressure. The condition is then relieved with the delivery of the baby. Delivery may be induced if blood pressure stays high despite medication.



Kristen

–Kelli–Kaiya’s Mommy asked:


Do you like it? I cant seem to hear anything with it. I can hear my own heartbeat, but not the babies. Any thuds I hear are from moving the monitor. I can hear an ocassional kick. Besides that it seems to be a waste of money.

Judy

Naka asked:


At my clinic, I was put on the fetal monitor that checks the baby’s heartbeat and your contractions. When I got home, I noticed I had three red circles on my belly, like some kind of irritation. And when I returned for my next appointment a week later, I mentioned it to the nurse and she tried a different gel. But the same thing happpened! Does anyone know why I got that, or how to prevent it?

Dorothy