Prenatal Care and Pregnancy Nutrition Progressive NCLEX-PN Micro-Flashcards

NCLEX-PN style vocabulary flashcards focused on prenatal care milestones, pregnancy-related complications (hypertension, diabetes, placental issues), and maternal nutrition.

Gestational Age

The age of a pregnancy measured in weeks, starting from the first day of the client's last menstrual period.

Pregnancy Length

A standard pregnancy duration of approximately $40$ weeks or $280$ days, calculated from the last menstrual period.

Prenatal Visit Schedule (4-2-1 Rule)

The traditional routine visit frequency: every $4$ weeks until $28$ weeks, every $2$ weeks from $28-36$ weeks, and weekly ($1$) after $36$ weeks.

Fundal Height

A measurement from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus used to track uterine growth and fetal development.

Expected Fundal-Height Rule

Between $20-36$ weeks, the fundal height in centimeters should match the weeks of gestation within $\pm 2\,cm$.

Baseline Fetal Heart Rate (FHR)

The average fetal heart rate between accelerations and decelerations, with an expected range of $110-160\,beats/min$.

Maternal Heart-Rate Artifact

An error where an external Doppler detects the mother's pulse instead of the fetal heart rate, requiring comparison with the maternal radial pulse.

Fetal Bradycardia

A baseline fetal heart rate below $110\,beats/min$, which may indicate maternal hypotension, cord compression, or fetal hypoxemia.

Fetal Tachycardia

A baseline fetal heart rate above $160\,beats/min$, often associated with maternal fever, infection, dehydration, or fetal hypoxemia.

Fetal Movement Counting (Kick Counts)

A method of monitoring fetal wellbeing where the client times how long it takes to feel $10$ movements; fewer than $10$ movements in $2$ hours should be reported.

Gestational Hypertension

New-onset hypertension ($\geq 140/90\,mm\,Hg$) occurring after $20$ weeks of pregnancy without proteinuria or maternal organ injury.

Preeclampsia

A pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension after $20$ weeks along with proteinuria or evidence of maternal organ dysfunction.

Severe-Range Blood Pressure

A systolic pressure of $\geq 160\,mm\,Hg$ or a diastolic pressure of $\geq 110\,mm\,Hg$, representing an obstetric emergency.

Preeclampsia Severe Warning Signs

Symptoms indicating worsening disease, including persistent headache, visual disturbances (flashing lights/blurred vision), right-upper-quadrant pain, and dyspnea.

HELLP Syndrome

A severe form of preeclampsia involving Hemolysis (H), Elevated Liver enzymes (EL), and Low Platelets (LP).

Eclampsia

The development of new-onset seizures in a pregnant or postpartum client with a hypertensive disorder.

Magnesium Sulfate (Obstetric)

A central nervous system depressant used specifically to prevent or control eclamptic seizures in severe preeclampsia.

Magnesium Toxicity

A dangerous accumulation of magnesium resulting in absent deep-tendon reflexes (areflexia) and respiratory rates below $10-12/min$.

Calcium Gluconate

The specific antidote used to reverse clinically significant magnesium sulfate toxicity.

Placenta Previa

A condition where the placenta covers the cervical opening, characterized by sudden, painless, bright-red vaginal bleeding and a soft, nontender uterus.

Placental Abruption

The premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, causing painful vaginal bleeding, uterine tenderness, and a firm or boardlike abdomen.

Concealed Hemorrhage (Abruption)

Internal bleeding trapped behind a separated placenta that may cause a rigid uterus and fetal distress despite minimal visible vaginal bleeding.

Rupture of Membranes (ROM) Intervention

Following the "gush of fluid" (amniotic sac break), the priority nursing action is to assess the fetal heart rate to check for cord prolapse or compression.

Preterm Labor

Regular uterine contractions resulting in cervical dilation or effacement occurring between $20$ weeks and $36$ weeks and $6$ days.

Rh Incompatibility

A risk condition occurring only when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, potentially leading to maternal antibody formation (sensitization).

Indirect Coombs Test

An antibody screen performed on maternal blood to detect if the client has already formed antibodies against Rh-positive red blood cells.

Rh Immune Globulin (RhIG)

A medication administered to unsensitized Rh-negative clients at $28$ weeks and within $72$ hours after birth to prevent antibody formation.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Screening

A routine vaginal-rectal swab performed between $36\,0/7-37\,6/7$ weeks gestation to identify bacterial colonization.

GBS Antibiotic Prophylaxis

The administration of IV penicillin G during labor to GBS-positive clients to reduce the risk of neonatal sepsis and pneumonia.

Maternal Anemia

A condition identified by low hemoglobin (e.g., $< 11\,g/dL$ in early pregnancy or $9.4\,g/dL$ later), reducing oxygen-carrying capacity.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

Significant bacterial growth in the urine without symptoms (dysuria/fever), which must be treated in pregnancy to prevent pyelonephritis.

HBsAg (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen) Screening

Routine testing for Hepatitis B; if positive, the newborn must receive the Hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG within $12$ hours of birth.

Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Screening Timeline

Routine glucose screening typically performed at $24-28$ weeks gestation using a one-hour $50-g$ glucose challenge.

3-Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

A diagnostic test for GDM where two or more abnormal values (Fasting $\geq 95$, 1h $\geq 180$, 2h $\geq 155$, 3h $\geq 140\,mg/dL$) confirm the diagnosis.

Pregnancy Glucose Targets

Specific goals to maintain fetal safety: Fasting $< 95\,mg/dL$, one-hour postmeal $< 140\,mg/dL$, and two-hour postmeal $< 120\,mg/dL$.

Rapid-Acting Insulin (e.g., Lispro, Aspart)

Insulin that starts working in $15$ minutes and requires a meal to be immediately available to prevent hypoglycemia.

NPH Insulin

An intermediate-acting insulin characterized by a uniformly cloudy appearance that provide background coverage.

Rule of 15

The protocol for managing alert maternal hypoglycemia ($< 70\,mg/dL$): give $15\,g$ of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait $15$ minutes, and recheck glucose.

Pregnancy Calorie Recommendations

The general allowance of $0$ extra calories in the 1st trimester, $340$ additional daily calories in the 2nd, and $450$ in the 3rd.

Folic Acid

An essential nutrient taken before and during early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Prenatal Iron Administration

A supplement ($27\,mg/day$) best taken with Vitamin C to improve absorption and avoided with calcium or antacids.

Listeriosis Prevention

Food safety measures avoiding unpasteurized soft cheeses and cold deli meats, which should instead be heated until steaming ($165^{\circ}F$).

Caffeine Limit

A general recommendation for pregnant clients to limit total caffeine intake to less than $200\,mg$ daily.

Pica

The craving or consumption of nonfood substances (ice, clay, dirt, starch), which may indicate iron-deficiency anemia.

Toxoplasmosis Prevention

Safety practices to avoid infection from undercooked meat, unwashed produce, and contaminated cat feces (litter boxes).