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Obstetrical#triage#labor#rom#dfm#bleeding#antepartumPGY 1/2/3/4

Obstetric Triage Workups

Term labor evaluation, term ROM, decreased fetal movement, vaginal bleeding >20w, non-labor abdominal pain DDx — common triage presentations.

Source: OB Days handoff (Jasmine Arrington-Okoreeh, MD)

Everyone — initial workup:

  • GPs and GA
  • Last note for pregnancy complications, medical / surgical / social history, allergies
  • Placenta location
  • Delivery history
  • Triage vitals and NST
  • Presentation with BSUS
  • The 4 Q’s: bleeding, cramping, loss of fluid, movement
  • Clean up speculum, ultrasound, and swabs.
  • Exam and confirm presentation.
  • Be ready with a one-liner, brief HPI, exam (vitals, NST, SVE when appropriate), and your suggestion for plan / disposition.

Term labor evaluation:

  • NST — fetal wellbeing (reactive?) / contractions?
  • SVE
  • Ultrasound for fetal position
  • Collect GBS if not on file
  • History of C-section → determine candidacy/desire for TOLAC; TOLAC patients need a separate consent on admission
  • Disposition: <3 cm → home with labor precautions · 2–4 cm → recheck in 1–2 hr · ≥5 cm → admit to L&D

Term rupture of membranes:

  • Speculum exam (don’t use gel — risk for false positive): pooling, nitrazine (blood and semen → false positives), slide for ferning
  • SVE / ultrasound to check for position
  • If rupture confirmed → admit to L&D for induction / augmentation. History of C-section → TOLAC consent vs. repeat C-section consent

Decreased fetal movement:

  • NST
  • AFI
  • If term → consider delivery
  • If preterm → consider in-triage monitoring vs. admission (based on NST)

Vaginal bleeding (3rd trimester):

  • Ask about recent intercourse.
  • ROM workup.
  • Each Fox swab is 5 mL.
  • DDx: UTI, abruption (ask about drug use), ROM, labor, nothing.

Non-labor abdominal pain:

Consider: biliary issue, appendicitis, pancreatitis, pyelo, UTI, abruption, labor, round ligament pain.

Referenced by handoffs