Question

A 35-year-old woman presented to the prenatal clinic after missing her last two menstrual cycles. Her home pregnancy test was positive and an ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy. Gestational age was calculated to be at 10 weeks. An initial assessment of the woman’s medical and obstetric history included the following: She smoked tobacco for 15 years and currently smokes one pack per day; she had recently used cocaine but stated it is not frequent; she denied alcohol use. Her obstetric/gynecologic history included an uncomplicated spontaneous vaginal delivery at 35 weeks’ gestation 4 years ago and 2 years later a cesarean section at 36 weeks’ gestation for nonre- assuring fetal heart tones. Her medical history included chronic hypertension and a history of asthma, for which she had never been intubated or hospitalized. Her vital signs were as follows: temperature 36.7°C, respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute, heart rate of 86 beats per minute, BP 142/79 mm Hg. Lab results: hemoglobin 13.0 g/dL, hematocrit 37%, white blood cell count 8000, blood type A–, Rh antibody screen positive. She was negative for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.

1. What puts this patient at high risk for pregnancy complications?

Answer 1

Her smoking behaviour,hyper tension,coccain use ,Asthma all are leads to the pregnancy complications,like fetal death,preeclampsia and eclampsia,respiratory problems and fetal distress,the hypertesnsion causes low blood flow to the placenta if the placenta does not get enough blood baby become hypoxic and fewer nutrients,it may cause intra uterine death.The smoking affects the pregnancy by preterm birth,birth defects and also causes sudden infant death syndrome,The symptoms of asthma worsen during pregnancy,The coccaine causes miscarriage.