Complications, obstetrics and nursing relating to Pregnancy
1.
2. INTRODUCTION
•It’s a process or series of changes that take place in
a woman’s organs and tissues as a result of a
developing fetus.
•The entire process from birth to fertilization takes
an average of 266 - 270 days or about 9 months.
3. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
•Nausea
•Missed periods
•Fullness and
tenderness of breasts
•But the positive and
certain signs of gestation
are the sounds of the
fetal heartbeat which are
audible with a
stethoscope between the
16th and the 20th week
of pregnancy.
4.
5. HOW DOES A PREGNANCY TEST
WORK?
•A pregnancy test works by measuring the amount of HCG
hormone. HCG levels increase during pregnancy.
•HCG can be present in the blood and unrine around 10 to
14 days after conception. It peaks between 8 weeks and
11 weeks of gestation.
•A negative HCG result is a level less than 5mIU/ml
•A postive HCG result for pregnancy os greater than or
equal to 25mIU/ml.
6. HOW TO TAKE IT?
•Pregnancytests involve testing urine or blood.
A urine test can be self administeredat home but
a bloodtest should be performedby a medical
professional.
7. URINE TESTING
• Urine testing involves placing the
urine on a chemical strip.
• The results should be ready in
around 1 to 2 minutes.
8.
9. INSTRUCTIONS
• Remove the plastic cap to expose the absorbent window .
• Point the absorbent tip directly into the urine stream. Take the sample
for at least 7 to 10 seconds to ensure that an adequate sample is
collected by the testing device. Re cap the device and place it
horizontally on a clean surface . Wait for 5 minutes for the test to
finish processing.
10. CONT’D
•For a negative result only one colour band
appears on the C region. There should be no
apparent band on the test region.
•For a posItive result distinct and consistent
colour bamds appear on the C and T regions .
The intensity of the bands may vary
depending on the HCG concentration.
11. STORAGE
•Pregnancy test kits should be stored at
normal room temperature. Discard
unused kits after the expiration date
which is stamped on each seal of the
kit.
•Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.
12. MEDICATIONS THAT AFFECT
THE RESULTS
1. Promethazine
2. Antipsychotics
3. Sleeping tablets
4. Diuretics
5. Tranquilizers
13. FACTORS THAT AFFECT HCG
1. A deficiency of immunoglobulin A
2. Gestational trophoblastic disease
3. Gestational trophoblastic
neoplasms
14. References
• BetterHealth Channel. (n.d.). Pregnancy testing. Victoria State
Government.https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/pregnanc
y-testingCleveland Clinic. (2021).
• Causes of a False Positive Pregnancy Test.https://health.clevelandclinic.org/false-
positive-pregnancy-test/Gnoth, C., & Johnson, S. (2014).
• Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments.
Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 74(7), 661-669.https://doi.org/10.1055/s-
0034-1368589Johnson, S. (2020). Chapter 2.4 –
• The home pregnancy test. In L. A. Cole & S. A. Butler (Eds.), 100 Years of Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin (pp. 107-121). Elsevier.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820050-6.00010-2The Royal
College of Pathologists of Australasia. (2019).
• Beta hCG quantitation.https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Manuals/RCPA-
Manual/Pathology-Tests/B/Beta-HCG- quantitationOffice on Women's Health.
(2019).
• Knowing if you are pregnant. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get- pregnant/knowing-if-you-
are-pregnant
