Maternity Nursing Lecture Notes

Flashcards created to help review key terms and concepts from maternity nursing lecture notes.

Gestation

The period of development of the fetus from fertilization until delivery, typically about 280 days.

Gravida

A term referring to a pregnant individual.

Parity

The number of births a person has had after 20 weeks of gestation, regardless of whether the fetus was born alive.

GTPA

An acronym used to describe pregnancy outcomes: G for gravidity, T for term births, P for preterm births, A for abortions or miscarriages, and L for living children.

Presumptive signs of pregnancy

Symptoms that suggest pregnancy, but are not definitive, like amenorrhea and nausea.

Probable signs of pregnancy

Signs that indicate pregnancy, such as Hegar's sign and Chadwick's sign, which are more objective than presumptive signs.

Placenta previa

A condition in pregnancy where the placenta is improperly implanted in the lower uterine segment.

Braxton Hicks contractions

Irregular, painless contractions that may occur intermittently throughout pregnancy.

Uterine enlargement

The increase in size of the uterus to accommodate the growing fetus.

Obstetric ultrasonography

A diagnostic imaging method used to visualize the fetus and monitor fetal development.

Fetoscopy

A procedure that allows direct visualization of the fetus through the abdominal wall.

Carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy

Changes in the body's processing of carbohydrates that may increase during pregnancy, affecting energy levels.

Pica

The craving for non-food substances such as dirt or clay, which can occur during pregnancy.

Fetal heart rate monitoring

A procedure to check the fetus's heart rate to assess the health and well-being of the fetus.

Tertogenic substances

Drugs or other agents that can cause malformations or other damage to a developing fetus.

Gestational diabetes

A form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, characterized by high blood sugar levels.

Hemorrhage during pregnancy

Excessive bleeding that can occur during the pregnancy, posing risks to the mother and fetus.