Mel's Ob Nursing Definitions From Unit 1

Front 1

Abortion

Back 1

Loss of pregnancy before the fetus is viable outside the uterus; miscarriage

Front 2

Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP)

Back 2

A fetal protein produced in the yok sac for the first 6 weeks of gestation and then by the fetal liver

Front 3

Amenorrhea

Back 3

Suppression or absence of menstruation

Front 4

Amniocentesis

Back 4

Removal of amniotic fluid by insertion of a needle into the amniotic sac; amniotic fluid is used to assess fetal health or maturity

Front 5

Amnion

Back 5

The inner of the two membranes that form the sac containing the fetus and the amniotic fluid

Front 6

Areola

Back 6

Pigmented ring surrounding the nipple of the breast

Front 7

Ballotement

Back 7

A technique of palpation to detect or examine a floating object in the body; in obstetrics, the fetus, when pushed, floats away and then returns to touch the examiner's fingers

Front 8

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Back 8

Intermittent painless contractions of the uterus that may occur every 10 - 20 minutes. They occur more frequently toward the end of the pregnancy and are sometimes mistaken for true labor signs

Front 9

Cervix

Back 9

The "neck" between the external os and the body of the uterus. The lower end of the cervix extends into the vagina.

Front 10

Chadwicks Sign

Back 10

Violet bluish color of the vaginal mucous memberane caused by increased vascularity; visible from about the fourth week of pregnancy.

Front 11

Chloasma

Back 11

Brownish pigmentation over the bridge of the nose and the cheeks during pregnancy and in some women who are taking oral contraceptives. Also called the mask of pregnancy.

Front 12

Chorion

Back 12

The fetal membrane closest to the intrauterine wall that gives rise to the placenta and continues as the outer membrane surrounding the amnion.

Front 13

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Back 13

Procedure in which a specimen of the chorionic villi is obtained from the edge of the developing placenta at about 8 weeks gestation. The sample can be used for chromosomal enzyme, and DNA tests.

Front 14

Chromosomes

Back 14

Threadlike structures within the nucleus of a cell that carry the genes.

Front 15

Colostrum

Back 15

Secretion from the breast before the onset of true lactation; contains many serum and white blood corpuscles. It has a high protein content, provides some immune properties and cleanses the newborn's intestinal tract of mucus and meconium.

Front 16

Conception

Back 16

Union of male sperm and female ovum; fertilization

Front 17

Contraction Stress Test (CST or OST)

Back 17

A method of assessing the reaction of the fetus to the stress of uterine contractions. This test may be utilized when contractions are occurring spontaneously or when contractions are artificially induced by oxytocin challenge test (OCT) or breast self stimulation test (BSST).

Front 18

Diameters of the inlet of pelvis: True Conjugate or Conjugate Vera

Back 18

Important diameter of the pelvis, measured from the center of the promontory of the sacrum to the back of the pubic symphysis (middle of the pubic crest)--estimated measurement

Front 19

Diameters of the inlet of the pelvis: Transverse Diameter

Back 19

Largest diameter of the inlet; determines shape of the pelvis

Front 20

Diameters of the outlet of the pelvis: Transverse Diameter

Back 20

Distance between the inner surface of one ischial tuberosity to the other

Front 21

Diameters of the outlet of the pelvis: Anterior-Posterior Diameter

Back 21

Distance from front to back including the mobility of the coccyx

Front 22

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)also known as consumption coagulopathy

Back 22

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), also called consumptive coagulopathy, is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. This depletes the body of its platelets and coagulation factors, and there is a paradoxically increased risk of hemorrhage.
Prolonged retention of a dead fetus may lead to DIC

Front 23

Doppler Ultrasound

Back 23

Handheld ultrasound device

Front 24

Eclampsia

Back 24

A major complication of pregnancy (cause unknown); it occurs more often in primigravida and is accompanied by elevated blood pressure, albuminuria, oliguria, tonic and clonic convulsions and coma. It may occur during pregnancy (usually after 20th week of gestation) or within 48 hours after childbirth.

Front 25

Ectopic Pregnancy (aka oocyesis)

Back 25

Implantation of the fertilized ovum outside the uterine cavity; common sites are the abdomen, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Front 26

Embryo

Back 26

The early stage of development of the young of any organism; In humans, the embryonic period is from about 2 - 8 weeks' gestation and is characterized by cellular differentiation and predominantly hyperplastic growth.

Front 27

Estimated Date of Birth (EDB)

Back 27

During a pregancy, the approximate date when the childbirth will occur; the "due date"

Front 28

Fetal Heart Rate (FHR)

Back 28

The number of times the fetal heart beats per minute; normal range is 120- 160

Front 29

Fundal Height (McDonald's Method)

Back 29

Tape measure is used to measure the distance from the top of the symphysis pubis over the curve to the top of the uterine fundus; generally correlates well with the weeks of gestation between 24 - 34 weeks

Front 30

Fundus

Back 30

The upper portion of the uterus between the fallopian tubes

Front 31

Gestation

Back 31

Period of intratuterine development from conception through birth

Front 32

Goodell's Sign

Back 32

Softening of the cervix that occurs during the second month of pregnancy

Front 33

Gravida (Multigravida, nulligravida, primigravida)

Back 33

A pregnant woman; 2nd or greater pregnancy, never been pregnant, first pregnancy

Front 34

Hegar's Sign

Back 34

A softening of the lower uterine segment found upon palpation in the second or third month of pregnancy

Front 35

HELLP Syndrome

Back 35

A cluster of changes including: HEMOLYSIS, ELEVATED LIVER ENZYMES, and LOW PLATELET COUNT; sometimes associated with preeclampsia

Front 36

Hemorrhagic Shock

Back 36

Inadequate tissue perfusion to major organs due to blood loss; s/s: hypotension, tachycardia, altered mental staus, etc.

Front 37

Hirsuitism

Back 37

Excess hair growth (can be caused by ovarian tumors)

Front 38

Hydramnios (aka polyhydramnios)

Back 38

Excess of amniotic fluid leading to the overdistention of the uterus. Frequently seen in diabetic women, even if there is no coexisting fetal anomaly.

Front 39

Hydatiform Mole

Back 39

Degenerative process in chorionic villi, giving rise to multiple cysts and rapid growth of the uterus, with hemorrhage

Front 40

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Back 40

Excessive vomiting during pregnancy, leading to dehydration and starvation

Front 41

Incompetent Cervix

Back 41

The premature dilation of the cervix, usually in the second trimester of pregnancy

Front 42

Intrauterine Growth Retardation/Restriction (IUGR)

Back 42

Fetal undergrowth due to any etiology, such as intrauterine infection, deficient nutrient supply or congenital malformation. A term used to describe fetuses falling below the 10th percentile in ultrasonic estimation of weight at a given gestational age.

Front 43

Kegel's exercises

Back 43

Perineal muscle tightening that strengthens the pubococcygeus muscle and increases its tone

Front 44

Last Menstrual Period (LMP)

Back 44

The last normal menstrual period experienced by the woman prior to pregnancy; sometimes used to calculate the infant's gestational age

Front 45

Lamaze Method

Back 45

A method of childbirth preparation

Front 46

Leukorrhea

Back 46

Mucous discharge from the vagina or cervical canal that may be normal or pathologic, as in the presence of infection.

Front 47

Lightening

Back 47

Moving of teh fetus and uterus downward into the pelvic cavity

Front 48

Lithotomy Position

Back 48

The Lithotomy position is the position of lying on the back with knees bent and elevated above the hips with the thighs apart.

Front 49

Linea Nigra

Back 49

The line of darker pigmentation extending from the umbilicus to the pubis noted in some women during the later months of pregnancy.

Front 50

McDonald's Sign

Back 50

A probable sign of pregnancy characterized by an ease in flexing the body of the uterus against the uterus.

Front 51

Montgomer's tubercles

Back 51

The glands of Montgomery, or Montgomery's tubercles, are the tiny "bumps" that are scattered around the areola (the darker area which rings the nipple). During pregnancy these glands enlarge and they remain enlarged while breastfeeding. They can vary greatly in number, averaging between 4 and 28 per areola. Montgomery originally described these glands as "a constellation of miniature nipples scattered over a milky way."

It is believed that these sebaceous, or oil-producing glands, secrete a lubricating and protective substance, altering the skin's pH and discouraging bacterial growth (Williams 1992). These glands also secrete a small amount of milk (Lawrence 1995). This lubrications helps to keep the skin healthy and the areola elastic.

Front 52

Nagele's rule

Back 52

Method of determining the estimated date of birth= first day of LMP - 3 months + 7 days

Front 53

Non-stress test (NST)

Back 53

An assessment method by which the reaction or response of the fetal heart rate to fetal movement is evaluated.

Front 54

Internal os

Back 54

An inside mount or opening; the opening between the uterus and the cervix

Front 55

External os

Back 55

The opening between the cervix and the vagina

Front 56

Parity/Para; Multipara, Nullpara, primipara

Back 56

Woman who as borne offspring of viable age

Front 57

Parturition

Back 57

childbirth

Front 58

Perinatal

Back 58

The period around birth (5 months prior and 1 month after)

Front 59

Perineum

Back 59

The tissue between the anus and vagina

Front 60

Placenta previa

Back 60

Abnormal implantation of the placenta in the lower uterine segment: classification based on proximity to the cervical os (total, partial, marginal)

Front 61

Preeclampsia or Toxemia;
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)

Back 61

A condition in pregnancy, also known as pre-eclampsia (or preeclampsia) characterized by abrupt hypertension (a sharp rise in blood pressure), albuminuria (leakage of large amounts of the protein albumin into the urine) and edema (swelling) of the hands, feet, and face. Pre-eclampsia is the most common complication of pregnancy. It affects about 5% of pregnancies. It occurs in the third trimester (the last third) of pregnancy.

Pre-eclampsia occurs most frequently in first pregnancies. It is more common in women who have diabetes or who are carrying twins.

Front 62

Preterm

Back 62

Any infant born before 38 weeks

Front 63

Ptyalism

Back 63

Excessive salivation

Front 64

Quickening

Back 64

The first fetal movements felt by the pregnant woman, usually between 16 - 18 weeks gestation

Front 65

Striae Gravidarum

Back 65

Stretch marks; shiny reddish marks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, thighs and buttocks of pregnant women as a result of stretching the skin

Front 66

Supine hypotension

Back 66

Enlarging uterus puts pressure on the vena cava when woman is supine. This pressure interferes with blood flow and produces a marked decrease in blood pressure with accompanying dizziness, pallor and clamminess (can be corrected by having woman lie on left side).

Front 67

STDs Sexually transmitted diseases

Back 67

Infections oridarily transmitted by direct sexual contact with an infected individual.

Front 68

Term

Back 68

Normal duration of a pregnancy 38-41 weeks

Front 69

Ultrasonography

Back 69

High-frequency sound waves that may be directed, through the use of a transducer, into the maternal abdomen. Ultrasonic sound waves allow identification of maternal and fetal tissues, bones and fluids.

Front 70

Uterine Souffle

Back 70

Swooshing sound of maternal heart rate over the uterus

Front 71

Version

Back 71

Turning the fetus inutero

Front 72

Vertex

Back 72

The top or crown of the head

Front 73

Viability

Back 73

Ability to survive outside the mother

Front 74

Zygote

Back 74

Fertilized egg

Front 75

3 Positive (Diagnostic) Signs of pregnancy

Back 75

1) Fetal heartbeat
2) Fetal movement
3) Visualization by ultrasound

Front 76

10 Objective (Probable) Signs of Pregnancy

Back 76

1) Softening of cervix GOODELL'S SIGN
2) Chadwick's sign: bluish coloration
3) Hegar's sign: softening of the isthmus of uterus
4) McDonald's sign: ease of flexing the body of the uterus against the cervix
5) Enlargement of the abdomen
6) Braxton Hicks ctx
7) Uterine/Funic souffle
8) Changes of pigmentation/stretch marks
9) Palpation of fetus
10) PG test + for HCG

Front 77

6 Subjective (Presumptive) Signs of Pregnancy

Back 77

1) Amenorrhea
2) Nausea Vomiting
3) Excessive fatigue
4) Urinary frequency
5) Changes in breasts
6) Quickening

Front 78

Acceleration

Back 78

Periodic increase in the baseline fetal heartrate

Front 79

Amniotomy (AROM)

Back 79

The artificial rupturing of the amniotic membrane

Front 80

Attitude

Back 80

In perinatal care, the relationship of the fetal parts to each other

Front 81

Augmentation of Labor

Back 81

The stimulation of uterine contractions after the spontaneous onset of labor, with or without ruptured fetal membranes, for the purpose of accomplishing birth

Front 82

Bloody show

Back 82

Pink tinged mucous secretions resulting from ruture of small capillaries as the cervix effaces and dilates

Front 83

Breech presentation

Back 83

A birth in which the buttocks and/or feet are presented instead of the head

Front 84

6 Cardinal movements of labor

Back 84

The positional changes of the fetus as it moves through the birth canal during labor and birth. The positional changes are: 1. descent, 2. flexion, 3. internal rotation, 4. extension, 5. restitution, and 6. external rotation

Front 85

Caput succedaneum

Back 85

Swelling or dedma occurring in or under the fetal scalp during labor

Front 86

Contraction

Back 86

Tightening and shortening of the uterine muscles during labor, causing effacement and dilation odf the cervix; contributes to the downward and outward descent of the fetus

Front 87

Cephalic presentation

Back 87

Birth in which the fetal head is presenting against the cervix

Front 88

Cephalopelvic disproportion

Back 88

A condition in which the fetal head is of such a shape or size, or in such a position, that it cannot pass through the maternal pelvis

Front 89

Crowning

Back 89

Appearance of the presenting fetal part at the vaginal orifice during labor

Front 90

Deceleration

Back 90

Periodic decrease in the baseline fetal heartrate