Subscribe
19
Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
About me
Liu Wenli, female, master's degree student, associate chief physician, graduated from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Hebei Medical University, currently working at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Has attended and exchanged at conferences multiple times, and has published several papers in national core journals. One personal publication: "Clinical observation of the alleviation of cisplatin chemotherapy side effects by garlicin injection" published in the August 2008 issue of the 24th volume of "Chinese Journal of Misdiagnosis".
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of common and frequent diseases in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as gynecologic tumors, endocrine disorders, and minimally invasive procedures.
Voices
How to induce lactation in premature births
The lactation induction for premature births is actually the same as for full-term births. First and foremost, it starts with the individual. Through diet, the amount of breast milk can be increased, for example, by consuming more soups, such as rice porridge, noodle soup, milk, and soy milk. Since 90% of breast milk is water, replenishing water is essential for sufficient milk supply. Additionally, it is important to keep a pleasant mood. The mother should be happy and have enough sleep, as these factors can help increase milk production. Moreover, it is important to let the baby nurse more frequently and intensively, because the act of breastfeeding stimulates the breasts as a reflex. The more frequently and the more the baby nurses, the more milk is produced through this reflex. What should one do if the baby is premature and in pediatrics? In such cases, it's necessary to pump milk every 3 hours. Pumping itself also creates stimulation that promotes milk secretion.
How is preterm birth defined?
Premature birth means that the gestational period is not yet complete, and the baby is born before reaching full term, which is called preterm birth. Specifically, this ranges from more than 28 weeks but less than 37 weeks of gestation. Due to the incomplete development of premature infants, their organ functions are relatively poor. Therefore, caring for premature infants can be more challenging, often requiring pediatric care and enhanced nursing. Moreover, there are more complications, so it is important to try to prevent premature births as much as possible.
Premature rupture of membranes
Premature rupture of membranes means that the membranes have ruptured before the onset of labor, before the onset of regular abdominal pain, and the amniotic fluid has already flowed out. This condition is called premature rupture of membranes. Premature rupture of membranes can be harmful. Firstly, after the rupture of the membranes, the barrier of the membranes is gone, which can easily lead to infection. Additionally, after the rupture of the membranes, since the umbilical cord is still very slippery, it can easily fall out with the flow of the amniotic fluid. Once the umbilical cord prolapses, and if the fetal head compresses the umbilical cord, the fetus will not have blood supply, the fetal heart rate will slow down, or even cease, leading to fetal death in utero, etc. Therefore, after the occurrence of premature rupture of membranes, also commonly known as water breaking early, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
Premature birth: Cesarean section or natural delivery?
Whether to opt for cesarean or vaginal delivery for preterm birth needs a comprehensive grasp of the pregnant woman's entire condition before assessing and deciding on the mode of childbirth. First, it's necessary to check if the woman has any complications and the severity of these complications, as well as whether her physical condition allows for vaginal delivery. Additionally, the changes in fetal heart rate must be considered. If the fetal heart rate is particularly poor, and the duration of vaginal delivery is long such that the child cannot endure it, then a cesarean section may be needed. Beyond these conditions, it is also important to evaluate the state of the pelvis, the size of the fetus, and the condition of the cervix. Generally, if vaginal delivery is possible for preterm births, it is still encouraged.
Does placenta previa cause preterm birth?
Placenta previa is likely to lead to premature birth. Why is that? Placenta previa refers to the condition where the placenta is positioned lower in the uterus, and the most common symptom is recurrent, painless bleeding during pregnancy. This is because the low-lying placenta often leads to frequent bleeding. If the bleeding is minimal, there is still hope to maintain the pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow longer inside the uterus. However, in the event of heavy bleeding, if the baby remains in the uterus without delivery, a critical situation can arise due to blood loss, potentially leading to the disappearance of fetal heart activity. At this point, the pregnancy would need to be terminated, thus often resulting in premature birth.
Premature rupture of membranes is what symptom?
Premature rupture of membranes occurs when the amniotic sac breaks before regular contractions start. The most obvious symptom of this condition is vaginal discharge, which is involuntary, meaning it cannot be controlled, and the amount of fluid discharged is typically greater than normal vaginal discharge. Often, the fluid released after water breaking is clearer and thinner than normal vaginal discharge, which is typically thicker. The fluid can be colorless and transparent, indicating clarity, but it might appear slightly yellow if the amniotic fluid is not in good condition. Therefore, with these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention to determine if the water has broken.
Does postpartum hemorrhage affect appetite?
Postpartum hemorrhage can be significant, leading to anemia, which in turn affects appetite. After anemia occurs, the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract is reduced, causing relative hypoxia and impacting the function of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby affecting appetite. If the postpartum bleeding is minimal and consists only of normal lochia, it generally does not affect appetite. Furthermore, whether postpartum hemorrhage affects appetite also greatly depends on individual differences. Regardless of its impact on appetite, postpartum recovery requires comprehensive and adequate energy intake to ensure physical recovery and milk secretion. Therefore, it is important to eat more and include a diet rich in protein and nutrients for better recovery.
Is hospitalization necessary for embryonic arrest?
This is not necessarily the case; it depends on the specific situation. Firstly, we need to consider the timing of the embryo arrest. If the embryo arrest occurs within 70 days of pregnancy, generally, hospitalization is not needed, and a miscarriage can often be handled on an outpatient basis. However, if the embryo stops developing after 70 days of pregnancy, even reaching three or four months, then hospitalization is required for a induced labor. This is because the fetus is relatively larger, making outpatient treatment problematic and riskier. Additionally, we must also consider if the pregnant woman has any complications. If there are complications alongside the embryo arrest, it is generally safer to be hospitalized.
How to treat gestational diabetes?
The treatment principle for gestational diabetes is to control blood sugar and then ensure the normal development of the child. There are many methods to control blood sugar. First, it involves diet management guided by a doctor, adjusting the diet's structure and quantity, followed by post-meal exercise. If after a week of adjusted diet and post-meal exercise, blood sugar levels still do not meet the standards, insulin injections can be used to keep the pregnant woman's blood sugar within the prescribed range. This can help reduce the impact of diabetes on the fetus and the pregnant woman.
Does premature rupture of membranes require induction of labor?
The management of premature rupture of membranes varies depending on the gestational age. If the rupture occurs very early in pregnancy, the doctor will assess the maturity of the fetus. If it seems that the child still has a long way to mature, or it is difficult to conservatively maintain the pregnancy until maturity, induction of labor may be recommended. If the doctor feels that the fetus is mature enough, then induction of labor may be considered, which involves the administration of drugs to induce labor. If it is between these two scenarios, expectant management may be advised, which involves not inducing labor, along with infection prevention, bed rest, etc. Since infection can occur after a long duration of membrane rupture, it is important to closely monitor infection indicators during this period. If an infection is detected, labor may be induced using drugs to expedite delivery.