HISTORY OF OBSTETRICAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

A set of practice flashcards covering key concepts, milestones, and terms from the lecture notes on the history and evolution of obstetrical and reproductive health care, modern care models, policies, and related nursing standards.

What characterized obstetrical care in the 1800s?

Midwifery apprenticeships; rise of male obstetricians (man-midwifery/acoucheurs); surgeon-apothecaries; development of laying-in hospitals; increasing hospital birth rates; but maternal/infant mortality remained high.

Name two historical obstetric tools used by obstetrical physicians.

Forceps and the speculum.

What changes occurred in the 20th century related to prenatal care and midwifery?

Return of midwifery (nurse-midwives); growth of perinatology and neonatology; childbirth preparation classes; new birth control methodologies; fetal monitoring and ultrasound; involvement of public health nurses; focus on risk assessment and education.

What is perinatology?

A specialty focusing on the perinatal period, including fetal, maternal, and neonatal care, especially high-risk pregnancies.

What is Lamaze?

Hospital-based childbirth preparation using breath-based techniques, movement/positions, and education about the birth process.

What is the Bradley Method?

A husband-coached birth approach emphasizing a calm, natural, medication-free birth.

What are birthing centers?

Facilities with a home-like setting attended by midwives or doulas, designed for low-risk pregnancies and often shorter recovery, with a plan to go home soon after birth.

What does LDRP stand for in birthing care?

Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum care in one room.

What is rooming-in?

Keeping mother and baby in the same room to promote bonding and reduce separation.

When and why did La Leche League begin, and what is its purpose?

Founded in 1956 in Chicago to provide peer breastfeeding support and education; promotes breastfeeding.

What is the Baby-Friendly Initiative?

A WHOUNICEF initiative (began 1991) with 10 steps to support breastfeeding and promote the marketing of breast milk substitutes, including practices like skin-to-skin and rooming-in.

What is skin-to-skin care (kangaroo care)?

Placing the newborn on the parent’s chest to promote bonding, thermoregulation, and stability.

What does vulcanized rubber condoms (1844) signify in contraception history?

A major advancement in barrier contraception, enabling more reliable protection.

When was the birth control pill approved and what impact did it have?

Approved in the 1960s; widely expanded contraception options and reproductive autonomy for women.

What were two key Supreme Court milestones affecting reproductive rights in the 1970s?

1972: States could not bar distribution of birth control to unmarried persons; 1973: Roe v. Wade recognizing a woman’s right to reproductive choice.

When was the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health established and why is it important?

Established in 1990 to promote inclusion of women in biomedical research and to ensure sex/gender considerations in studies.

What does the NIH Revitalization Act require (1993)?

Inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research.

What is the NIH policy on Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV)?

A 2016 policy requiring researchers to consider sex as a biological variable in study design, analysis, and reporting.

What major health policy expanded access to preventive services for women in 2010?

The Affordable Care Act, which includes no-cost preventive services such as mammograms, well-woman visits, contraception, and breastfeeding support.

What are the leading causes of maternal mortality?

Hemorrhage, infection, preeclampsia/eclampsia, obstructed labor; deaths also associated with hypertensive disorders.

What is the difference between maternal and neonatal mortality (definitions)?

Maternal mortality refers to deaths from pregnancy-related causes; neonatal mortality is death within the first 28 days of life; infant mortality is death within the first 12 months.

Which population has been shown to have a disproportionately higher risk of maternal mortality?

Black birthing people; historically 3–4x higher risk, though rates vary by context and time.

List examples of maternal early warning signs for deterioration.

Fever > 38°C (100.4°F), abnormal pulse or oxygen saturation (e.g.,

What barriers to care are common in reproductive health?

Financial barriers (cost), transportation, inability to take time off work/school, insurance issues, lack of nearby services, childcare, language barriers, and lack of social support.

What are core concepts in birthing family health nursing?

Nursing standards of care, family-centered care, evidence-based practice, collaborative care, atraumatic care, good communication, education/health literacy, and community-based care.

What does ‘family-centered care’ emphasize in obstetric nursing?

Involving the family in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care (e.g., LDRP and rooming-in), reducing anxiety, pain, and recovery time while improving satisfaction.

What does ‘atraumatic care’ aim to do in childbirth nursing?

Deliver therapeutic care that minimizes or eliminates psychological or physical distress and reduces unnecessary separation.

Why is health literacy important in maternal care?

Low health literacy is linked to poorer outcomes; clear, plain-language education improves engagement and decision-making and can reduce adverse events.

What topics are commonly covered in childbirth education classes?

Stages of labor, coping with pain, breathing techniques, fear/anxiety management, partner involvement (Dads), and information about interventions (induction, epidurals, fetal monitoring, cesarean, etc.).

What are key features of the modern “centered” care models like LDRP and rooming-in?

Integrated care in one setting or room, family involvement, reduced unnecessary interventions, and improved mother–baby bonding and satisfaction.

What organizations advocate for women’s health and nursing care in obstetrics?

AWHONN (Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), among others like the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.

What is the purpose of the La Leche League and Baby-Friendly Initiative in breastfeeding care?

La Leche League provides breastfeeding support and education; Baby-Friendly Initiative promotes evidence-based practices to support breastfeeding (e.g., 10 steps, adherence to the International Code).

What are the health consequences of low health literacy for mothers and infants?

Higher rates of cesarean sections, preterm birth, low birth weight, postpartum depression, and poorer engagement with care.

What is delayed cord clamping and why is skin-to-skin emphasized in modern care?

Delayed cord clamping allows continued placental transfusion; skin-to-skin supports bonding, thermoregulation, and breastfeeding initiation.

What is the concept of ‘goals of care’ in family-centered obstetric nursing?

Promoting safety, reducing distress, encouraging partner involvement, and supporting informed decision-making in a respectful, collaborative manner.