ABSTRACT
Obstetric reasons are usually: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and postpartum haemorrhage. Intensive care unit obstetric admissions are usually postnatal and may be for obstetric or non-obstetric reasons. Normal physiological changes during pregnancy favour foetal growth but place stress on the mother's body, altering many "normal" biochemical/ haematological values from nonpregnant levels. Obstetric emergencies can be psychologically traumatic for staff, most nurses being female, often of similar ages, and possibly planning or raising families of their own. Post-traumatic stress disorder frequently occurs in most patients discharged from the intensive care unit, but there can be additional psychological stressors during maternity. Oral anticoagulants are contraindicated because they cross the placenta and may cause placental/foetal haemorrhage. Thromboembolism remains the single main direct cause of obstetric deaths, usually from pulmonary emboli. Amniotic fluid embolus usually causes: respiratory failure, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and fitting.
