Childbearing - Antepartum Care Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering reproduction, fetal development, maternal physiological adaptations, and prenatal assessment based on the lecture transcript.

Autosomes

Any of the $22$ pairs of homologous chromosomes in a normal human cell that are not sex chromosomes.

Decidua

The name given to the endometrium after implantation has occurred and it has undergone changes to provide nourishment for the zygote.

Ectoderm

The outer layer of the embryo that develops into the hair, nails, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and epithelium of nasal and oral passages.

Mesoderm

The middle layer of the embryo that develops into muscles, bones, sexual structures, the heart, kidneys, and teeth dentin.

Endoderm

The inner layer of the embryo that develops into the epithelium of the digestive tract, respiratory tract, and bladder.

Amnion

The smooth, slippery membrane enclosing the fluid-filled space (the “bag of waters”) where the fetus floats and moves.

Hydramnios

An abnormal condition where the volume of amniotic fluid is greater than $2,000\text{ }mL$; also called polyhydramnios.

Oligohydramnios

An abnormal condition where the volume of amniotic fluid is less than $500\text{ }mL$.

Chorion

The outer fetal membrane that eventually gives rise to the placenta.

Placenta

The organ of pregnancy that allows for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the mother and fetus across two closed vascular systems.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone secreted by chorionic villi early in pregnancy to support the corpus luteum in producing progesterone and estrogen.

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

Low blood pressure and decreased cardiac output caused when the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena cava and descending aorta while the mother is lying on her back.

Teratogens

Nongenetic factors, such as maternal infection or certain medications, that can cause fetal malformations.

Lanugo

Fine hairs that cover the fetal body, typically appearing around $20$ weeks of gestation.

Vernix Caseosa

A protective substance covering the fetal body that is present by $24$ weeks of gestation.

Goodell’s sign

The softening of the cervix that occurs at about $6$ weeks of pregnancy.

Chadwick’s sign

A blue-violet coloration of the cervix and vagina that develops around $6\text{--}8$ weeks of pregnancy due to increased blood supply.

Striae Gravidarum

Pink or reddish streaks that may occur on the breasts, abdomen, buttocks, or thighs during pregnancy due to skin stretching.

Chloasma

Blotchy brown pigmentation on the forehead and cheeks, often called the “mask of pregnancy.”

Linea Nigra

A dark line appearing on the abdomen from the symphysis pubis to the umbilicus during pregnancy.

Diastasis Recti

The separation of the vertical abdominal muscles that can occur during pregnancy.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Excessive vomiting that persists beyond the first trimester and may require medical management.

Pica

Averse cravings for unusual substances or non-food items during pregnancy.

Couvade Syndrome

A condition in which the father experiences physical symptoms of pregnancy that parallel those of the mother.

Presumptive Signs

Subjective symptoms of pregnancy that suggest but do not prove pregnancy, such as amenorrhea, nausea, and quickening.

Quickening

The maternal perception of fetal movement, typically occurring between $16\text{--}20$ weeks of gestation.

Naegle’s rule

A method to calculate the estimated date of birth: add $7$ days to the first day of the last menstrual period, subtract $3$ months, and add $1$ year.

Gravida

The total number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of the duration and including the present pregnancy.

Para

The number of past pregnancies that have gone beyond the period of viability ($20$ weeks), regardless of whether the infant was born alive or dead.

Viability

The capability of the fetus to survive outside of the uterus, currently considered to be any time after $20$-wk gestation.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

A screening test performed at $16\text{--}18$ weeks to identify the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus.

Braxton-Hicks

Intermittent uterine contractions caused by tension on the round ligaments as the uterus is displaced.