Maternal and Newborn Nursing Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, terminology, clinical tests, reflexes, and obstetric systems from the lecture notes.

Fetal lie

The orientation of the baby's spine compared to the mother's spine inside the uterus (relationship of maternal spine to fetal spine).

SROM

Spontaneous rupture of membranes.

AROM

Artificial rupture of membranes.

PROM

Prelabor rupture of membranes.

Effacement

Thinning and shortening of the cervix to prepare for birth (process of shortness and thinning of cervix of labor).

Thermoregulation

Maintenance of balance between heat loss and heat reduction

the physiological process of balancing heat production and heat loss to keep body temperature within a normal range of 36.5°C to 37.5°C (97.7°F to 99.5°F)

Molding

A temporary, oblong or cone-like head shape caused by pressure on a baby's soft skull bones during a vaginal birth (overlapping of the bones). Overlapping of the bones

Cradle hold

A traditional breastfeeding position where baby lies horizontally across mother's front with their head resting in the bend of your elbow. (tummy to tummy)

Cross-cradle hold

A helpful breastfeeding position where you use the arm opposite to the breast your baby is nursing from to support them.

Football hold

A breastfeeding position where you tuck your baby under your arm

Quiet-alert state

Variation of state of consciousness of newborn of Sleep-wake cycle, when they are smiling and awake

Congenital dermal melanocytosis

Also known as a mongolian spot; a harmless, flat, blue-gray birthmark commonly found on a newborn's lower back or buttocks.

Cephalohematoma

A collection of blood that pools between a newborn's skull bone and its outer covering (the periosteum), creating a firm or soft bump on the head.

Milia

Tiny, harmless, pearly white or yellowish cysts that form when dead skin flakes and keratin get trapped just beneath the skin's surface.

Biparietal diameter

Largest transverse diameter of the fetal head, representing the distance between the two parietal bones, measuring approximately $9.5\text{ cm}$ in a term fetus.

Engagement

When the widest part of a baby's head settles down into the mother's pelvis to prepare for birth.

Oxytocin

Hormone responsible for uterine contraction.

Uterine atony

The failure of the uterus to contract adequately after childbirth, which is the leading cause of heavy bleeding.

Coombs test

Checks if maternal antibodies are attached to the infant's red blood cells to detect antibodies that can cause red blood cell destruction, blood-type incompatibility, and risk for jaundice.

Direct Coombs test

Detects antibodies attached directly to the newborn's red blood cells.

Indirect Coombs test

Screens maternal serum for circulating antibodies.

Thrombophlebitis

Formation of a blood clot as a result of inflammation.

Involution

Process of the uterus shrinking back to its normal, pre-pregnancy size and state after childbirth.

Lochia

The normal vaginal discharge or post-uterine flow that occurs after giving birth.

Homan’s sign

Complaint of pain in a calf muscle when the foot is dorsiflexed, associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Letting-go phase

The final stage of maternal psychological adaptation after childbirth, typically beginning several weeks after delivery, when the woman asserts her relationship with her partner and resumes sexual intimacy.

Vernix caseosa

A white, creamy, cheese-like substance that coats a baby's skin while in the womb.

Babinski reflex

A normal automatic response in newborns where the big toe bends upward and the other toes fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked.

Moro reflex

Also known as the startle reflex; a normal automatic reaction in newborns where the baby abruptly throws their arms out, fans their fingers, and arches their back before pulling their arms back in.

Rooting reflex

An automatic survival response in newborns that helps them locate and latch onto a breast or bottle to feed.

Let-down reflex

An automatic body response that makes breastmilk flow.

Phototherapy

A safe and effective medical treatment used to lower high levels of bilirubin in term newborns with newborn jaundice.

Amniotomy

A medical procedure where a healthcare provider intentionally punctures the amniotic sac to start or speed up labor; used to perform an AROM.

Presumptive signs

Subjective symptoms reported by the patient (amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, breast tenderness, urinary frequency, quickening) that suggest pregnancy but may have other causes.

Probable signs

Objective findings suggesting pregnancy (positive pregnancy test, uterine/abdominal enlargement, Goodell sign, Chadwick sign, Hegar sign, Braxton Hicks contractions, ballottement) that are not completely diagnostic.

Positive signs

Findings caused only by a fetus (fetal heart tones, fetal movement palpated by the examiner, visualization of the fetus by ultrasound) that confirm pregnancy.

GTPAL System

A pregnancy history classification system summarizing Gravida, Term births, Preterm births, Abortions, and Living children.

Gravida (G)

Total number of pregnancies, including the current pregnancy, regardless of outcome.

Term births (T)

Number of pregnancies delivered at $37$ weeks or later.

Preterm births (P)

Number of pregnancies delivered from $20$ weeks through $36$ weeks and $6$ days.

Abortions (A)

Number of pregnancies ending before $20$ weeks, whether spontaneous or induced.

Living children (L)

Number of children currently living.

GP System

A pregnancy history classification system summarizing Gravida (total pregnancies) and Para (pregnancies reaching viability).

Para (P)

Number of pregnancies reaching viability, commonly $20$ weeks or later, regardless of whether the infants were born alive or stillborn.

Leopold’s maneuvers

a systematic, four-step method of abdominal palpation used in the third trimester of pregnancy to determine the position, presentation, and engagement of the fetus