Maternal-Newborn Nursing Exam 2 - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering prenatal development, antepartum assessments, nutrition, diagnostic tests, labor stages, fetal monitoring, preeclampsia, obstetric emergencies, and key medications.

Embryonic Stage

The period of prenatal development from weeks 3 to 8 during which all major organ systems form (organogenesis) and the embryo experiences its greatest vulnerability to teratogens.

Ectoderm

The primary germ layer that gives rise to the nervous system, skin, hair, nails, and sensory organs.

Mesoderm

The primary germ layer that gives rise to muscle, bone, cartilage, the cardiovascular system, and kidneys.

Endoderm

The primary germ layer that gives rise to the lining of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as glands including the liver, pancreas, and thyroid.

Ductus Venosus

A fetal blood vessel shunt that bypasses the liver, directing oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein directly into the inferior vena cava.

Foramen Ovale

An anatomical shunt in the fetal heart that directs blood from the right atrium to the left atrium, bypassing the lungs.

Ductus Arteriosus

A fetal blood vessel shunt that directs blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the lungs.

Chadwick's Sign

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

Goodell's Sign

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

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

Maternal hypotension, dizziness, and faintness caused by compression of the vena cava and aorta by the gravid uterus when lying flat; relieved by placing the patient in a left lateral position.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms noticed by the woman, including amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, urinary frequency, breast/skin changes, and quickening.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective signs documented by an examiner, including abdominal enlargement, Chadwick's sign, Goodell's sign, Braxton Hicks contractions, positive pregnancy test, and ballottement.

Positive Signs of Pregnancy

Diagnostic findings caused exclusively by pregnancy, including auscultation of fetal heart tones, fetal movement felt by an examiner, and visualization of the fetus via ultrasound.

Naegele's Rule

A standard formula for calculating the Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) by taking the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP), subtracting 3 months, and adding 7 days.

GTPAL System

An obstetric history classification standing for Gravida (total pregnancies), Term (deliveries at $\ge 37\,\text{weeks}$), Preterm (deliveries at $20\text{--}36\,6/7\,\text{weeks}$), Abortions (end $< 20\,\text{weeks}$), and Living children.

Physiologic Anemia of Pregnancy

An expected hemodilution effect resulting from a disproportionate expansion of plasma volume compared to red blood cell mass, defined as Hgb $< 10.5\,\text{g/dL}$ and Hct $< 32\%$ in the second trimester.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)

A maternal serum or amniotic fluid screening test performed at $16\text{--}18\,\text{weeks}$ gestation; elevated levels screen for neural tube defects, whereas decreased levels screen for trisomy 21.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A prenatal diagnostic procedure performed at $10\text{--}13\,\text{weeks}$ gestation via transcervical or transabdominal sampling of placental villi to detect chromosomal, metabolic, and DNA abnormalities.

Amniocentesis

A prenatal diagnostic procedure involving aspiration of amniotic fluid, performed at $15\text{--}20\,\text{weeks}$ for chromosomal/biochemical analysis or in the third trimester to evaluate fetal lung maturity or hemolytic disease.

Nonstress Test (NST)

An antepartum evaluation of fetal heart rate accelerations; a reactive result requires a baseline of $110\text{--}160\,\text{bpm}$ with at least 2 accelerations of $\ge 15\,\text{bpm}$ above baseline lasting $\ge 15\,\text{seconds}$ within a $20\,\text{minute}$ period.

First Stage of Labor

The stage of labor extending from the onset of true labor to complete cervical dilation ($10\,\text{cm}$), consisting of latent ($0\text{--}3\,\text{cm}$), active ($4\text{--}7\,\text{cm}$), and transition ($8\text{--}10\,\text{cm}$) phases.

Second Stage of Labor

The stage of labor progressing from complete cervical dilation ($10\,\text{cm}$) to the delivery of the baby.

Third Stage of Labor

The stage of labor extending from the delivery of the baby to the complete delivery of the placenta.

Fourth Stage of Labor

The immediate recovery phase lasting the first 4 hours after delivery of the placenta.

Early Deceleration

A benign slowing of the fetal heart rate caused by fetal head compression that mirrors the contraction pattern and requires no intervention.

Late Deceleration

A non-reassuring slowing of the fetal heart rate caused by uteroplacental insufficiency that begins after the contraction starts and returns to baseline after the contraction ends.

Variable Deceleration

An abrupt deceleration in fetal heart rate caused by umbilical cord compression, varying in shape, depth, and timing relative to contractions.

Gestational Hypertension

Onset of blood pressure elevation ($\ge 140/90\,\text{mm Hg}$) after 20 weeks gestation without proteinuria.

Preeclampsia

A systemic pregnancy disorder diagnosed after 20 weeks gestation characterized by blood pressure $\ge 140/90\,\text{mm Hg}$ accompanied by proteinuria or other end-organ dysfunction.

Eclampsia

The progression of preeclampsia to generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

HELLP Syndrome

A severe complication of preeclampsia characterized by Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets, classically presenting with right upper quadrant (RUQ) or epigastric pain.

Abruptio Placentae

Premature detachment of a normally implanted placenta from the uterine wall prior to delivery, characterized by uterine pain, tenderness, and potential concealed hemorrhage.

Umbilical Cord Prolapse

An obstetric emergency where the umbilical cord slips ahead of the presenting part following rupture of membranes, leading to cord compression.

Oxytocin (Pitocin)

A synthetic peptide hormone used to induce or augment labor and to control postpartum hemorrhage by stimulating uterine contractions.

Nifedipine (Procardia)

A calcium channel blocker used as a tocolytic to suppress preterm labor contractions and as an antihypertensive during pregnancy.

Magnesium Sulfate

A central nervous system depressant and smooth muscle relaxant used primarily for seizure prevention in preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Calcium Gluconate

The essential antidote kept readily available at the bedside to reverse toxicity from magnesium sulfate.

Terbutaline (Brethine)

A beta-2 adrenergic agonist used short-term to relax uterine smooth muscle and suppress uterine contractions in preterm labor.

Folic Acid

A essential B-vitamin supplemented at $0.4\text{--}0.8\,\text{mg}$ ($400\text{--}800\,\text{mcg}$) daily before conception and during early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.