Question

Pathophysiology - PNUR 203 Assignment 1 Name ...... Student ID...... A 26-year-old woman is planning for her first pregnancy. She came to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic Human Embryonic and Foetal Development Fertiled egg -lage ge c e stage 16 celle Bastos Focus - 10 weeks Foetus 16 weeks Foetus. 20 weeks 1. What information would you give her regarding the effects of medications and drugs on the fetus? 2. What stage of fetal development is associated with the greatest risk? 3. Write down different methods used for prenatal screening and diagnosis? 4. Write down the Clinical features of Down syndrome.

with references

Answer 1

1. Information or Education that should be given regarding the effects of medications or drugs on Fetus

• Explain mother about the process how the drugs are transferred to the Fetus through placenta.
• Educate the mother regarding the changes or effects that takes place inside the uterus or Fetus. Such as drugs effects the muscles of the uterus and causes preterm labour.
• They also affects the blood supply of the mother which in turn affecting or reducing the blood supply to the Fetus.
• Explain mother about all the risks existed because of drugs.

2. Fetus is utmost risk in first trimester of pregnancy because All the vital organs such as brain, spinal cord, heart all other organs are developed in the first trimester and thus confirming as the high risk period.

3. Pre natal screening tests are a group of diagnostic procedures or lab findings that are performed over a mother to find out the birth defects of the Fetus.

• Glucose tolerance test - Gestational diabetes mellitus.
• Ultra sound - To find out the abnormalities in the growth and structure of the bones of the Fetus.This also checks about the fluid accumulated in the neck region which indicates Downs syndrome if present more than normal.
• Blood tests to find Rh incompatibility, Syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis B.
• Chorionic villas sampling : This a screening method where a small piece of placenta is collected in order to find out the genetic abnormalities such as Downs syndrome.
• Amniocentesis for identification of spina bifida.
• Now a days all fetal anomalies have been found in one test that is TIFFA scan (Targeted Imaging For Feral Anomalies)

4. Clinical features of Downs syndrome

• Developmental delay
• Short stature
• Brachycephaly
• Excess skin on the back of neck
• Low set ears
• Mouth breathing
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Hearing loss
• Flaccid muscles
• Obesity
• Thickening of skin on soles and palm
• Congenital heart diseases.

Reference : Text book of Obstetrics; DC Dutta 6th Edition.