Antepartum Part I Flashcards

A set of 65 vocabulary flashcards covering maternal anatomical and physiological changes, signs of pregnancy, prenatal diagnostic screenings, GTPAL parameters, and critical danger signs based on Antepartum Part I.

Antepartum

The time between conception and the onset of true labor, commonly used to describe the period during which a woman is pregnant (used interchangeably with prenatal).

Uterine hypertrophy

Enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy caused primarily by estrogen and the physical growth of the fetus.

Braxton Hicks contractions

Irregular, initially painless contractions of the uterus that occur throughout pregnancy.

Goodell's sign

A probable sign of pregnancy characterized by the softening of the cervix.

Chadwick's sign

A probable sign of pregnancy characterized by a bluish-purple discoloration of the cervix.

Hegar's sign

A probable sign of pregnancy characterized by the softening of the isthmus of the uterus.

Mucous plug

A thick mucus accumulation in the cervix stimulated by estrogen that lowers the chance of infection during pregnancy.

Corpus luteum (ovarian)

An ovarian structure that secretes progesterone until the $7\text{th}$ week of pregnancy to maintain the endometrium before the placenta assumes this task.

Vaginal mucosa changes

Thickening of the vaginal mucosa driven by estrogen, along with increased acidic secretions to prevent bacterial infections.

Areolar changes in pregnancy

Darkening of the areolae and increased prominence of superficial veins, which helps the baby see the breast area.

Colostrum

Initial breast fluid rich in nutrients and antibodies that may leak starting from $4\text{ months}$ of pregnancy and does not negatively affect breastfeeding.

Respiratory changes in pregnancy

Maternal physiological adaptations including increased oxygen consumption, increased subcostal angle and anteroposterior diameter, and a transition from abdominal to thoracic breathing.

Nasal stuffiness and epistaxis

Respiratory symptoms in pregnancy caused by estrogen-induced vascular swelling, which can be managed by using cool mist humidifiers at bedtime.

Maternal blood volume expansion

An overall increase in maternal blood volume by $40\text{\%}$ to $45\text{\%}$ during pregnancy, driven predominantly by an increase in plasma.

Physiologic anemia of pregnancy

A condition occurring because plasma volume expands significantly faster than red blood cells, which only increase by about $25\text{\%}$.

Supine hypotensive syndrome (Vena Cava Syndrome)

A sharp drop in maternal blood pressure and fetal heart rate caused by the gravid uterus compressing the inferior vena cava when lying supine.

Hypercoagulable state of pregnancy

A protective maternal hematologic state that helps limit bleeding after delivery, but elevates the maternal risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Pyrosis

Heartburn caused by relaxation of the cardiac sphincter in pregnancy, allowing gastric acid to reflux upward into the esophagus.

GI motility slowdown

Sluggish gastrointestinal transit during pregnancy that frequently leads to constipation and can contribute to hemorrhoids.

Linea nigra

A normal skin change during pregnancy characterized by a dark line of hyperpigmentation running vertically down the abdominal midline.

Facial chloasma

A normal skin pigmentation change in pregnancy involving blotchy hyperpigmentation on the face, commonly termed the mask of pregnancy.

Vascular spider nevi

Small, dilated, spider-like blood vessels that develop on the skin during pregnancy as part of hyperestrogenic systemic changes.

Diastasis recti

The physical separation of the rectus abdominis muscle bellies along the abdominal midline during pregnancy.

Normal weight gain

A targeted total gestational weight gain of $11.4\text{--}15.9\text{ kg}$ ($25\text{--}35\text{ lb}$).

Overweight weight gain

A targeted total gestational weight gain of $6.8\text{ kg}$ ($15\text{ lb}$).

Underweight weight gain

A targeted total gestational weight gain of up to $18.1\text{ kg}$ ($40\text{ lb}$).

Ocular changes in pregnancy

Physiological ocular adjustments during pregnancy including decreased intraocular pressure and thickening of the cornea.

Prolactin

An anterior pituitary hormone secreted during pregnancy that is responsible for lactation.

Presumptive signs of pregnancy

Subjective symptoms experienced and reported directly by the woman (such as amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, urinary frequency, breast changes, and quickening) that can have non-pregnancy causes.

Probable signs of pregnancy

Objective signs perceived by the healthcare examiner (such as Goodell's, Chadwick's, and Hegar's signs, abdominal enlargement, positive pregnancy tests, and uterine souffle) that may still have non-pregnancy causes.

Positive signs of pregnancy

Diagnostic signs perceived by an examiner that can be caused only by pregnancy, including auscultation of fetal heartbeat, active fetal movement felt by a licensed provider, and visualization of the fetus.

Gravida (G)

The total number of pregnancies a woman has experienced, including her current pregnancy.

Term births (T)

The total number of infants delivered at the completion of $37\text{ weeks}$ of gestation or later.

Preterm births (P)

The total number of infants delivered after $20\text{ weeks}$ but before the completion of $37\text{ weeks}$ of gestation.

Abortions (A)

The total number of pregnancies ending in spontaneous or therapeutic abortion prior to $20\text{ weeks}$ of gestation.

Living children (L)

The total number of currently living children born to a mother.

Nägele's Rule

A method to calculate EDB from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP): subtract $3\text{ months}$, add $7\text{ days}$, and add $1\text{ year}$.

McDonald's method

A clinical technique measuring fundal height in centimeters from the symphysis pubis to the top of the uterine fundus, where height in cm correlates with gestational age in weeks (most accurate between $22\text{--}34\text{ weeks}$).

Indirect Coombs test

A laboratory screening test performed on Rh-negative mothers at $28\text{ weeks}$' gestation to determine whether maternal sensitization and Rh antibodies are present.

Rhogam

Prophylactic administration of Rh immune globulin given to unsensitized Rh-negative pregnant mothers at $28\text{ weeks}$' gestation.

Group Beta Streptococcus (GBS) screening

Universal prenatal screening performed using rectal and vaginal swabs obtained between $35\text{--}37\text{ weeks}$' gestation.

50 Oral glucose test

Screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) conducted between $24\text{--}28\text{ weeks}$' gestation; a plasma level greater than $140\text{ mg/dl}$ indicates a need for diagnostic $100\text{-g}$ OGTT testing.