Medical consultations on the labour ward: assessment and management of common medical presentations

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are a time of significant physiological adaptations that can impact on the presentation, assessment and diagnosis of common medical problems. Physicians can have limited postgraduate obstetric experience and yet be called upon to assess a pregnant woman in the context of new or pre-existing medical disease on the labour ward. This article reviews the evaluation and management of breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations, seizures, headache, acute kidney injury and sepsis. Through comprehensive assessment that is cognisant of normal pregnancy physiology, and by using the excellent resources now available from specialist organizations, physicians can offer a unique and valuable perspective for the multidisciplinary care of pregnant individuals.