Pregnancy and Preterm Labor Drugs Exam Ultimate Study Guide

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body.

Placenta

An organ that functions as a metabolic exchange between maternal and fetal circulations, allowing for nutrient and drug transfer.

Teratogen

An exogenous agent that causes structural or functional developmental abnormalities in the embryo or fetus.

Hepatic Drug Metabolism

The process by which the liver biotransforms drugs, affected by circulating steroid hormones during pregnancy.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which blood is filtered in the kidneys; increases substantially during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia

A systemic syndrome characterized by gestational hypertension and proteinuria that develops after 20 weeks of gestation.

Lecithin/Sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio

A measure of fetal pulmonary maturity; an L/S ratio of 2:1 signifies adequate fetal lung development.

Iron Supplementation during Pregnancy

Needed to prevent maternal anemia; requirements increase significantly during pregnancy.

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP)

Common condition affecting up to 88% of pregnancies, often starting in early gestation.

Beta-2 Adrenergic Agonist

Medications like Terbutaline that relax the uterus and inhibit contractions during preterm labor.

Magnesium Sulfate

Used for seizure prophylaxis in severe preeclampsia; also serves as a tocolytic agent.

Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

Conditions including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia that complicate pregnancies.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition resulting from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, leading to growth and developmental issues.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications

Pharmacologic agents that pregnant women often use; common examples include antacids and antiemetics.

Antenatal Corticosteroids

Medications given to accelerate fetal lung maturation in cases of threatened preterm delivery.

Exogenous agents

Substances from outside the body that can affect pregnancy outcomes, potentially causing teratogenic effects.

Breast tissue transfer during lactation

The process by which drugs can pass into breast milk, potentially affecting nursing infants.

Physiologic Hemodilution

Dilution of plasma components in pregnancy that results from an expanded maternal blood volume.

Drug clearance

The process by which a drug is eliminated from the body; notably increased during late pregnancy.

Prolonged half-life

A condition wherein the duration a drug remains in the body is extended, as seen during active labor.

Nutritional Counseling

Guidance given to pregnant women to ensure adequate nutrient intake for maternal and fetal health.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

A condition that may develop during pregnancy if iron supplementation is not adequate to meet increased needs.

Hypotensive agents

Medications like Methyldopa, Labetalol used to manage high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Individualized medication dosing

Adjusting medication doses for pregnant women based on physiologic changes and drug clearance rates.

Pregnancy Categories

Classifications by the FDA that assess the safety of drug exposure during pregnancy.

Folic Acid

A vitamin crucial for preventing neural tube defects; recommended for women of childbearing age.

Gestational hypertension

Hypertension that develops after 20 weeks of gestation without preceding proteinuria.

Nutritional Enrichment

The process by which dietary staples are fortified with vitamins and minerals to improve public health.

Floppy infant syndrome

A condition in neonates resulting from maternal benzodiazepine use in late pregnancy, leading to hypotonia.

Active Labor

The stage of labor characterized by regular contractions and cervical change, leading to delivery.