AAOS Ch 34 Obstetrics & Neonatal Care

abruptio placenta

premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus

Amniotic sac

The fluid-filled, baglike membrane in which the fetus develops.

Anemic

Describes a condition in which the patient has too few red blood cells, resulting in a decreased ability to transport oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream.

Apgar Score

A scoring system for assessing the status of a newborn that assigns a number value to each of five areas of assessment.

Birth canal

The vagina and cervix

Bloody show

A small amount of blood at the vagina that appears at the beginning of labor and may include a plug of pink-tinged mucus that is discharged when the cervix begins to dilate.

Breech presentation

A delivery in which the buttocks come out first.

Cervix

Narrowest portion of the uterus that opens into the vagina.

Crowning

The appearance of the infant's head at the vaginal opening during labor.

Eclampsia

Severe hypertension in a pregnant woman, resulting in seizures (convulsions).

Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.

Embryo

The early stage of development after the fertilization of the egg (first 10 weeks)

Endometrium

The lining of the inside of the uterus

fetal alcohol syndrome

A condition caused by the consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman; characterized by growth and physical problems, mental retardation, and a variety of congenital abnormalities.

Fetus

The developing, unborn infant inside the uterus, from 10 weeks after fertilization until birth.

Fundus

The dome-shaped top of the uterus.

Gestational diabetes

Diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy.

Lightening

The movement of the fetus down into the pelvis late in pregnancy.

Limb presentation

A delivery in which the presenting part is a single arm or leg.

Meconium

Fetal stool. When appearing as a dark green material in the amniotic fluid, it can indicate distress or disease in the newborn; it can be aspirated into the fetus's lungs during delivery.

Miscarriage

The spontaneous passage of the fetus and placenta before 20 weeks; also called spontaneous abortion.

Multigravida

A woman who has had previous pregnancies.

Nuchal cord

An umbilical cord that is wrapped around the fetus's neck.

Perineum

In a woman, the area between the vagina and the anus

Placenta

The tissue attached to the uterine wall that nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord.

Placenta previa

A condition in which the placenta develops over and covers the cervix.

Preeclampsia

A pregnancy complication that is characterized by high blood pressure, headache, visual changes, and swelling of the hands and feet; also called pregnancy-induced hypertension or toxemia of pregnancy.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension

A condition of late pregnancy that is characterized by headache, visual changes, and swelling of the hands and feet; also called preeclampsia or toxemia of pregnancy.

Presentation

The position in which an infant is born; defined by the part of the body that appears first.

Primigravida

a woman who is pregnant for the first time

Prolapse of the umbilical cord

A situation in which the umbilical cord comes out of the vagina before the fetus.

Spina bifida

A developmental defect in which a portion of the spinal cord or meninges may protrude outside of the vertebrae and possibly even outside of the body; usually at the lower third of the spine in the lumbar area

Supine hypotensive syndrome

Low blood pressure resulting from compression of the inferior vena cava by the weight of the pregnant uterus when the mother is supine.

Term gestation

A pregnancy that has reached full term, between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days.

Umbilical cord

The structure that connects the pregnant woman to the fetus via the placenta; contains two arteries and one vein

Vernix caseosa

A white, cheesy substance that covers the body of the fetus.

Vertex presentation

A delivery in which the head of the newborn comes out first.