Table 1 “Obstetric Emergencies” clinical cases

CLINICAL CASE 1: pre-eclampsia

A 35-year-old patient who gave birth through a normal delivery 4 years ago; she is currently pregnant with 38 weeks (9 months) of gestational age; she asks for your service because she had delivery-related pain yesterday, which has become very frequent now. She then evolved to normal delivery. She had a male child that looks big and heavy.

Half an hour ago, while lying in her bed, it is noticed that she presents abundant bleeding, that she wets the bed, feels weak, looks sweaty and pale, and says that her heart is beating faster.

- What would you do in this situation?

- What would you do with Juanita?

- What would you look at (watch) in the patient?

- What do you think causes the bleeding?

- What would you do with Juanita to stop the bleeding?

- Would you subject her to any exam?

- What would you do with Juanita if the bleeding does not stop?

- Do you ask for help? To whom, and why?

CLINICAL CASE 2: postpartum hemorrhage

Primigravida patient with 9 months of gestational age, she has been having contractions for some days; but they have gained strength and become more painful now. She also says that her water broke approximately 2 hours ago. You ask her to lie down to examine her, and notice that the child is coming out. You ask her to push, the child’s head comes out, but something goes wrong and the rest of the body is stalled inside.

- How long would you wait for the child to come out?

- How do you realize that the child is not going to come out?

- What would you do in this situation?

- If the child doesn’t come out whatever your efforts, what would you do?

- Do you ask for help?

CLINICAL CASE 3: shoulder dystocia

Pregnant patient (9 months), you have been monitoring her. She comes to you today because she says that she feels unwell, tired, with a headache, and that she has seen little white lights in the morning. She also says that her hands and feet are too swollen these last days. She doesn’t have delivery-related pain.

What do you think of this case?

Would ask anything to the patient?

What would you do in this situation?

Would you subject her to any exam or test?

What do you think is the patient’s problem?

What would you do for Norma to get better?

Do you ask for help?