All of the options provided could cause amenorrhoea and therefore need to be evaluated.

The luteinising hormone (LH) level reported here is exceedingly elevated. A patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is unlikely to have such a raised level, but it could be because of a LH-producing adenoma. Such tumours are, however, extremely rare.

Early pregnancy (correct answer) is the most likely cause of this woman’s elevated LH level. This would be due to the presence of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone that is produced during pregnancy.

LH and beta-HCG both have similar beta-subunits and cross-reactions are commonly noted in LH assays.

The serum prolactin (PRL) level is at the upper end of the normal range and this correlates to the levels observed in the early stages of pregnancy.

The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels remain low during early pregnancy.

If her amenorrhea had been caused by stress from her recent marriage, the LH level would have been normal or low.

If the cause was premature ovarian failure, the FSH level would have been significantly higher.

Indications for FBS:
1. Pathological CTG in labour (cervix dilated >3 cm)
2. Suspected acidosis in labour (cervix dilated >3 cm)
Contraindications to FBS:
– Maternal infection e.g. HIV, HSV and Hepatitis
– Known fetal coagulopathy
– Prematurity (< 34 weeks gestation)
– Acute fetal compromise

Proteinuria of more than 1+ on dipstick should be investigated to quantify the amount of proteinuria. A protein: creatinine ratio can be used to determine the severity of proteinuria, where levels of more than 30 mg/mmol indicate significant proteinuria.

For pregnant women who are screened and rubella antibody is not detected, rubella vaccination after pregnancy should be advised. Vaccination during pregnancy is contraindicated because of a theoretical risk that the vaccine itself could be teratogenic, as it is a live vaccine. No cases of congenital rubella syndrome resulting from vaccination during pregnancy have been reported. However, women who are vaccinated postpartum should be advised to use contraception for three months.

Call for help.
• Ensure personnel are available to ‘scribe’.
Document the time the head delivered, which shoulder is anterior (this is the arm most vulnerable to injury) and the times at which each manoeuvre is employed.
• Drop the level of the delivery bed as low as it will go, and flatten the back of the bed so the woman is completely flat. Remove the foot of the bed to allow access.
• Assess for and perform an episiotomy, if needed.
• Using one assistant on each of the mother’s legs, flex and abduct the legs at the hip (thighs to abdomen, known as McRoberts manoeuvre). This flattens the lumbosacral spine and will facilitate delivery is around 90 per cent of cases.
• If this fails, suprapubic pressure should be
applied by another assistant. This should be
applied over the posterior aspect of the anterior fetal shoulder and will act to push the shoulders together. It can be used in a constant and then rocking motion.
• If both these fail, then internal manoeuvres are necessary. The order of these will depend on the skill and experience of the person conducting the delivery and the individual case. These manoeuvres have been named after famous obstetricians, but it is the process rather than the name that is important:
• An attempt can be made to rotate the baby, so that the shoulders enter the diagonal to allow delivery. The first procedure is usually to insert a hand behind the anterior shoulder, and push it towards the chest (Rubin II). This will adduct the shoulders then push them into the diagonal. This can be combined with pressure on the
anterior aspect of the posterior shoulder
to aid rotation (Woods’ screw). If this fails,
an attempt can be made to rotate the baby
in the opposite direction (reverse Woods’
screw). Delivery of the posterior arm can be
attempted passing a hand into the vagina, in
front of the posterior shoulder and deliver
the posterior arm by swinging it in front of
the fetal chest.
If these all fail, the patient can be moved on to all fours as this increases the anterior–posterior diameter of the inlet. In this position, the posterior arm can be delivered.
After this, manoeuvres of last resort include a symphysiotomy, in which the maternal symphysis is divided, Zavanelli’s, in which the head is reduced back into the vagina and a Caesarean section performed and intentional fracture of the fetal
clavicle.

The Pudendal provides cutaneous innervation to the posterior external genitalia via one of its terminal branches called the perineal nerve (this further branches into the posterior labial nerves or posterior scrotal nerve in men). The ilioinguinal nerve provides anterior sensation via the anterior labial nerves (anterior scrotal nerve in men). The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve contributes some fibres to the skin of the mons pubis and labia majora in females. The posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh sometimes overlaps sensory areas.

World Health Organization (WHO) Group I ovulation disorder is due to hypothalamic pituitary failure. This is sometimes termed hypothalamic amenorrhoea or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Women can improve frequency of ovulation, conception and an uncomplicated pregnancy by increasing their body weight (if BMI of <19) and/or moderating their exercise levels (if they undertake high levels of exercise). GnRH and LH may be administered in these patients. PCOS falls under type II ovulation disorders. WHO Group III ovulation disorder is due to ovarian failure.

Unstable lie means that the foetus is still changing its position even at 36 weeks of gestation. A number of factors are responsible for this positioning such as multi gravida, placenta previa, prematurity and fibroids present in the fundus. Cervical fibroids have little association with unstable lie of the foetus.

Corpus albicans is the regressed form of the corpus leuteum. It is formed when the corpus leuteum is engulfed by macrophages and a scar or fibrous tissue is formed, called the corpus albicans.

There are several criteria that aid in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes in pregnancy including NICE, WHO and modified WHO:
GDM Diagnostic Criteria:
NICE: Immediate FBG >5.6, 2 hour glucose >7.8
WHO: Immediate FBG >6.1, 2 hour glucose >7.8
Modified WHO: Immediate FBG >7.1, 2 hour glucose >7.8

Random glucose and OGTT 2 hour readings of >11.1 are diagnostic of diabetes in non-pregnant states but are not part of the gestational diabetes criteria.