Emergency Birth Management in Disaster
Chapter from the book: Şimşek Küçükkelepçe, D. & Nacar, G. (eds.) 2025. Perinatal Period in Disasters: Challenges and Management Approaches.

Gurbet Yetişkin Eroğul
İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Synopsis

The evaluation of pregnant individuals in disaster settings depends on the type of disaster, the stage of intervention, available resources, and the patient's medical history. The assessment process should be conducted in a secure environment that ensures privacy. Key components of the medical history include the date of the last menstrual period, pregnancy-related symptoms, medical and surgical history, medication use, immunization status, obstetric history, and socioeconomic background. Physical examination should focus on measuring uterine size and assessing fetal heart rate. Gestational age can be estimated based on fundal height. Although laboratory testing may be limited, complete blood counts, HIV testing, and pregnancy tests can be performed. For imaging, portable ultrasound is typically used; in emergencies, ionizing radiation may be necessary. Common obstetric issues in disaster situations include preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, and intrauterine fetal death. Preeclampsia management may involve magnesium sulfate and antihypertensive medications. Delivery should ideally take place in safer healthcare facilities when possible. Pregnant individuals are also at increased risk for mental health challenges in disaster contexts. Disasters affect not only physical health but also have serious psychological impacts. Therefore, both medical and psychosocial aspects must be considered in the assessment of pregnant individuals.

How to cite this book

Yetişkin Eroğul, G. (2025). Emergency Birth Management in Disaster. In: Şimşek Küçükkelepçe, D. & Nacar, G. (eds.), Perinatal Period in Disasters: Challenges and Management Approaches. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub784.c3285

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Published

June 28, 2025

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