Adaptations to Pregnancy

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy based on the lecture notes.

Physiologic Changes

Changes in the body systems that occur during pregnancy, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary, and endocrine systems.

Common Discomforts of Pregnancy

Symptoms experienced during pregnancy such as nausea, heartburn, backache, urinary frequency, and others.

Amenorrhea

The absence of menstruation, often one of the first signs of pregnancy.

Chadwick's Sign

A clinical indication of early pregnancy characterized by bluish-purple coloring of the cervix.

GTPAL

A system used to document obstetric history: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living children.

Positive Indications of Pregnancy

Clinical confirmations of pregnancy such as pregnancy tests, fetal heart sounds, and ultrasound visualization.

Urinary Frequency

Increased need to urinate often during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased kidney function.

Cultural Influences on Pregnancy

The impact of cultural beliefs and practices on prenatal care and pregnancy experiences.

Prenatal Care Barriers

Challenges that prevent women from receiving recommended prenatal care, such as transportation issues and social barriers.

Uterine Changes

Alterations in the uterus during pregnancy, which include softening of the cervix and growth of new blood vessels.

Naegele’s Rule

A method used to calculate the estimated date of delivery ($EDD$) by subtracting 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period, adding 7 days, and adding 1 year.

Goodell’s Sign

Softening of the cervix, typically occurring around the sixth to eighth week of pregnancy, classified as a probable sign.

Hegar’s Sign

The softening of the lower uterine segment, which is a probable sign of pregnancy detected during a physical examination.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms reported by the woman that could be caused by pregnancy or other conditions, such as fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, and quickening.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective clinical findings observed by a healthcare provider, such as a positive pregnancy test, ballottement, and Braxton Hicks contractions.

Linea Nigra

A dark, vertical line that appears on the abdomen during pregnancy, usually extending from the symphysis pubis to the top of the fundus.

Melasma

Also known as the "mask of pregnancy," it refers to blotchy, brownish hyperpigmentation of the skin over the cheeks, nose, and forehead.

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

A drop in blood pressure caused by the weight of the gravid uterus compressing the inferior vena cava when the woman lies on her back.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Intermittent, painless uterine contractions that occur throughout pregnancy and do not represent true labor.

Quickening

The first perception of fetal movement felt by the mother, which usually occurs between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation.

Ballottement

A technique of palpating a floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound, used to detect a fetus within the amniotic fluid around the $16th$ to $18th$ week of gestation.

Gravida

A term used to describe a woman who is or has been pregnant, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy.

Para

The number of pregnancies in which the fetus or fetuses have reached $20$ weeks of gestation, which is not affected by whether the fetus is born alive or stillborn.

Striae Gravidarum

Commonly known as stretch marks, these are jagged, reddish-purple streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, or thighs due to stretching of the skin.

Colostrum

The thick, yellowish precursor to breast milk that is high in antibodies and begins to be produced during the second trimester.

Leukorrhea

A white or slightly gray mucoid discharge with a faint musty odor that increases during pregnancy due to high levels of estrogen.

Pica

The practice of consuming non-food substances such as ice, clay, or starch, which may be associated with iron-deficiency anemia.

Lordosis

An increased inward curvature of the lumbar spine that occurs as the woman's center of gravity shifts forward during pregnancy.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

A severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that results in dehydration, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalances.

Montgomery Tubercles

Hypertrophied sebaceous glands on the areola that provide lubrication and protection for the nipple during pregnancy and lactation.

Physiologic Changes

Changes in the body systems that occur during pregnancy, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary, and endocrine systems.

Common Discomforts of Pregnancy

Symptoms experienced during pregnancy such as nausea, heartburn, backache, urinary frequency, and others.

Amenorrhea

The absence of menstruation, often one of the first signs of pregnancy.

Chadwick's Sign

A clinical indication of early pregnancy characterized by bluish-purple coloring of the cervix.

GTPAL

A system used to document obstetric history: Gravida, Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living children.

Positive Indications of Pregnancy

Clinical confirmations of pregnancy such as pregnancy tests, fetal heart sounds, and ultrasound visualization.

Urinary Frequency

Increased need to urinate often during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased kidney function.

Cultural Influences on Pregnancy

The impact of cultural beliefs and practices on prenatal care and pregnancy experiences.

Prenatal Care Barriers

Challenges that prevent women from receiving recommended prenatal care, such as transportation issues and social barriers.

Uterine Changes

Alterations in the uterus during pregnancy, which include softening of the cervix and growth of new blood vessels.

Naegele’s Rule

A method used to calculate the estimated date of delivery ($EDD$) by subtracting $3$ months from the first day of the last menstrual period, adding $7$ days, and adding $1$ year.

Goodell’s Sign

Softening of the cervix, typically occurring around the sixth to eighth week of pregnancy, classified as a probable sign.

Hegar’s Sign

The softening of the lower uterine segment, which is a probable sign of pregnancy detected during a physical examination.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms reported by the woman that could be caused by pregnancy or other conditions, such as fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, and quickening.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective clinical findings observed by a healthcare provider, such as a positive pregnancy test, ballottement, and Braxton Hicks contractions.

Linea Nigra

A dark, vertical line that appears on the abdomen during pregnancy, usually extending from the symphysis pubis to the top of the fundus.

Melasma

Also known as the "mask of pregnancy," it refers to blotchy, brownish hyperpigmentation of the skin over the cheeks, nose, and forehead.

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

A drop in blood pressure caused by the weight of the gravid uterus compressing the inferior vena cava when the woman lies on her back.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Intermittent, painless uterine contractions that occur throughout pregnancy and do not represent true labor.

Quickening

The first perception of fetal movement felt by the mother, which usually occurs between $16$ and $20$ weeks of gestation.

Ballottement

A technique of palpating a floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound, used to detect a fetus within the amniotic fluid around the $16th$ to $18th$ week of gestation.

Gravida

A term used to describe a woman who is or has been pregnant, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy.

Para

The number of pregnancies in which the fetus or fetuses have reached $20$ weeks of gestation, which is not affected by whether the fetus is born alive or stillborn.

Striae Gravidarum

Commonly known as stretch marks, these are jagged, reddish-purple streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, or thighs due to stretching of the skin.

Colostrum

The thick, yellowish precursor to breast milk that is high in antibodies and begins to be produced during the second trimester.

Leukorrhea

A white or slightly gray mucoid discharge with a faint musty odor that increases during pregnancy due to high levels of estrogen.

Pica

The practice of consuming non-food substances such as ice, clay, or starch, which may be associated with iron-deficiency anemia.

Lordosis

An increased inward curvature of the lumbar spine that occurs as the woman's center of gravity shifts forward during pregnancy.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

A severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that results in dehydration, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalances.

Montgomery Tubercles

Hypertrophied sebaceous glands on the areola that provide lubrication and protection for the nipple during pregnancy and lactation.

Fundal Height

The distance from the symphysis pubis to the top of the uterus, used to estimate fetal growth and gestation age after $20$ weeks.

Lightening

The sensation of the fetus descending into the true pelvis, which usually occurs about $2$ weeks before the onset of labor in primigravidas.

Physiological Anemia of Pregnancy

A decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations caused by a disproportionate increase in plasma volume compared to red blood cell mass.

Operculum

A plug of mucus that fills the cervical canal during pregnancy, acting as a barrier against bacterial invasion.

Palmar Erythema

Pinkish-red, diffuse mottling or well-defined blotches on the palmar surfaces of the hands during pregnancy, related to increased estrogen levels.

Diastasis Recti Abdominis

The separation of the rectus abdominis muscles as the expanding uterus stretches the abdominal wall.

Ptyalism

Excessive salivation that some women experience during pregnancy, possibly caused by the unconscious decrease in swallowing when nauseated.

Epulis

A red, raised nodule on the gums that bleeds easily, occurring during pregnancy due to increased vascularity and hormonal changes.

Relaxin

A hormone produced by the corpus luteum and placenta that causes the softening of the pelvic ligaments and pubic symphysis to facilitate childbirth.

Alpha-Fetoprotein ($AFP$) Screening

A blood test performed between $15$ and $20$ weeks of gestation to screen for neural tube defects or chromosomal abnormalities.

Teratogen

Substances or factors that can cause malformations or functional damage in an embryo or fetus, such as drugs, alcohol, chemicals, or certain infections.

Amniocentesis

A prenatal procedure where amniotic fluid is aspirated for genetic testing, fetal lung maturity assessment, or hemolytic disease investigation, typically performed after $15$ weeks.

Chorionic Villus Sampling ($CVS$)

A diagnostic procedure performed between $10$ and $13$ weeks of gestation to obtain a small tissue sample from the fetal portion of the placenta for genetic analysis.

Glucose Tolerance Test ($GTT$)

A screening or diagnostic test for gestational diabetes, typically performed between $24$ and $28$ weeks of gestation to measure the body's response to sugar.

Group B Streptococcus ($GBS$) Screening

A routine culture obtained from the vagina and rectum at $35$ to $37$ weeks of gestation to screen for bacteria that could be transmitted to the newborn during birth.

Pre-eclampsia

A multisystem hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, typically occurring after $20$ weeks, characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organ systems like the kidneys (proteinuria).

Gestational Diabetes

Any degree of glucose intolerance with its first onset or recognition during pregnancy, which can affect fetal growth and increase the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Placenta Previa

A condition in which the placenta is implanted in the lower uterine segment such that it completely or partially covers the cervix, often causing painless bright red bleeding.

Placental Abruption

The premature separation of a normally implanted placenta from the uterine wall after $20$ weeks of gestation, often presenting with painful vaginal bleeding and uterine tenderness.

Non-Stress Test ($NST$)

An assessment of fetal well-being that observes the fetal heart rate response to fetal movement; a "reactive" result indicates a healthy fetus.