This single centre case series describes the presentation and management of six cases of peripartum hyponatraemia in women who were otherwise deemed low-risk at delivery. It highlights presenting symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and seizures as well as the effects on the neonate. It also focuses on areas of interest such as fluid intake, hormonal effects of ADH and oxytocin and the association with birthing pools for future research.
BurtRLOliverKLWhitenerDL. Water intoxication complicating elective induction of labor at term: report of a patient who survived. Obstet Gynecol1969; 34: 212–214.
2.
PaechMJ. Convulsions in a healthy parturient due to intrapartum water intoxication. Int J Obstet Anesth1998; 7: 59–61.
3.
SolomonNManyAOrbachR, et al.Maternal and neonatal hyponatraemia during labor: a case series. J Matern Neonatal Med2019; 32: 2711–2715.
MunroJJokinenM. Nutrition in labour. Evidence based guidelines for midwifery-led care in labour. Royal College of Midwives, 2012.
14.
ChezRACurcioFD. Ketonuria in normal pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol1987; 69: 272–274.
15.
MitchellRThomasSDLangloisNE. How sensitive and specific is urinanalysis “dipstick” testing for detection of hyperglycaemia and ketosis? An audit of findings from coronial autopsies. Pathology2013; 45: 587–590.
16.
HigginsJGleesonRHolohanM, et al.Maternal and neonatal hyponatraemia: a comparison of hartmanns solution with 5% dextrose for the delivery of oxytocin in labour. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol1996; 68: 47–48.
17.
HofmeyrGJCynaAMMiddletonP. Prophylactic intravenous preloading for regional analgesia in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2004; 4: CD000175.
18.
MehrotraPSaltRKukrejaY, et al.Reducing the risk of peri-partum hyponatraemia: an evaluation of fluid administration in labour. IJOA2019; 38: S7–62.
19.
WalmsleyCWongTChilversJ. Does the use of a birthing pool in labour contribute to maternal hyponatraemia? Two case reports. J Obstet Anaesth Crit Care2017; 7: 54–55.
BallSBarthJLevyM, et al. Society for endocrinology, endocrine emergency guidance: Emergency management of severe hyponatraemia in adult patients, https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-16-0058 (accessed 13 October 2021).
26.
AlmondCSDShinAYFortescueEB, et al.Hyponatraemia among runners in the Boston marathon. N Engl J Med2005; 352: 1550–1556.
27.
MoenVBrudinLEbberydA. Hyponatraemia reversibly affects human myometrial contractility. An in vitro pilot study. PLoS One2020; 15: 1–12.
