Maternity Nursing - Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the Maternity Nursing notes, including framework, anatomy, physiology, prenatal and intrapartum care, pregnancy signs, and obstetric terms.

What are the four phases of health care in the Framework for Maternal and Child Health Nursing?

Health promotion, maintenance, restoration, and rehabilitation.

What is the primary goal of maternal and child health nursing care?

To promote and maintain optimal family health to ensure cycles of childbearing and childrearing.

What law provides the legal basis for nursing practice in the Philippines and is known as The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002?

Republic Act 9173 (RA 9173).

What is the role of the Board of Nursing in the Philippines?

To monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing practice to ensure efficient, technical, moral, and professional standards.

Name two components of the female external genitalia.

Mons Pubis and Labia Majora (other acceptable answers: Labia Minora, Glans Clitoris).

What are the four major structures of the female external genitalia described in the notes?

Mons Pubis, Labia Majora, Labia Minora, Glans Clitoris.

What are the three layers of the uterus?

Perimetrium, Myometrium, Endometrium.

Name the parts of the male duct system.

Epididymis, Ductus Deferens (vas deferens), Ejaculatory Duct, Male Urethra.

What are the sources and roles of hormones in regulating the menstrual cycle?

Hypothalamus releases FSH-RF and LH-RF; Anterior pituitary releases FSH and LH; Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone.

What are the functions of the placenta?

Exchange of gases, waste removal, nutrient transfer, hormone production (estrogen, progesterone, hCG, hPL), heat transfer, protective barrier, and antibodies.

What is the normal amniotic fluid volume range?

500–1200 ml.

What is the function of amniotic fluid?

Protection from trauma and temperature changes, allows fetal movement and symmetrical development, serves as a medium for fluid exchange and fetal swallow, aids in diagnosis, and can facilitate labor.

What is the length and contents of the umbilical cord?

About 50–55 cm long; contains two arteries and one vein, surrounded by Wharton’s jelly.

What is Chadwick’s sign?

Bluish discoloration of the vagina due to increased vascularity during pregnancy.

What is Goodell’s sign?

Softening of the cervix due to increased vascularity and mucus production.

What is Hegar’s sign?

Softening of the lower uterine segment, typically felt during a bimanual examination in early pregnancy.

What is Ballottement?

Rebound of the fetus against the examiner’s fingers when palpated during exam.

What are Braxton Hicks contractions?

Painless, irregular contractions occurring during pregnancy.

What are presumptive signs of pregnancy?

Signs the woman experiences herself, such as breast changes, urinary frequency, amenorrhea, nausea/vomiting, fatigue.

What are probable signs of pregnancy?

Clinician-observed signs such as Goodell’s sign, Chadwick’s sign, Hegar’s sign, elevated basal body temperature, positive pregnancy tests, and ultrasound evidence.

What are positive signs of pregnancy?

Fetal outline on ultrasound, fetal heartbeat detected, and fetal movement felt by examiner.

What is Nagele’s Rule for estimating the due date?

Estimate due date by counting back 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period and adding 7 days (adjust year as needed).

How is the estimated date of confinement (EDC) determined by quickening for a primigravida vs. a multigravida?

Primigravida: quickening date + 4 months and 20 days = EDC; Multigravida: quickening date + 5 months and 4 days = EDC.

What is McDonald’s rule for estimating gestational age?

Fundal height in cm \times 2/7 approximates lunar months; \times 8/7 approximates weeks.

What is Bartholomew’s rule for estimating gestational age?

Fundal height relates to gestational weeks: by 12–14 weeks fundus slightly above the pubis; by 20–22 weeks at the umbilicus; by 36–38 weeks below the xiphoid.

What is the basic path of fetal circulation from placenta to brain?

Umbilical vein ductus venosus IVC right atrium foramen ovale left atrium left ventricle aorta (to brain); some blood to lungs via pulmonary artery ductus arteriosus descending aorta.

What are the three essential fetal shunts and their general purpose?

Ductus venosus (bypasses liver), Foramen ovale (bypasses lungs from right to left atrium), Ductus arteriosus (bypasses lungs from pulmonary artery to aorta).

What are the three layers of the trophoblast?

Cytotrophoblast, Syncytiotrophoblast, Primitive mesenchyme.

What is the Chorion’s role in pregnancy?

With the decidua basalis, gives rise to the placenta as pregnancy progresses.

What is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its role in pregnancy?

Hormone that stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone, preventing ovulation and menstruation during pregnancy.

What is the term for the three types of decidua?

Decidua basalis (base of embryo), Decidua capsularis (encapsulates embryo), Decidua parietalis (parietal lining not directly associated with the ovum).

What is the zygote’s process of cleavage?

Rapid cell division that occurs within the first 24–48 hours after fertilization with little to no growth in size.

What is implantation (nidation)?

Embedding of the ovum into the uterine wall, typically around 6–9 days after fertilization.

What are the three germ layers and what do they develop into?

Ectoderm (skin, nervous system, glands), Endoderm (GIT, respiratory tract, glands), Mesoderm (musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, reproductive systems).

What is the amnion and amniotic fluid collectively referred to as in common terminology?

Amniotic sac/organs: amnion forms the fetal membrane; amniotic fluid is the fluid within.

What are the accessory glands of the male reproductive system and their general function?

Seminal vesicles (produce seminal fluid), Prostate gland (produces prostatic fluid), Bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands - produce pre-ejaculate fluid).

What are the phases of the ovarian cycle?

Follicular phase, Ovulatory phase, Luteal phase.

What are the phases of the uterine (menstrual) cycle?

Proliferative phase, Secretory phase, Ischemic phase, Menstrual phase.

Define Primigravida and Multigravida.

Primigravida: A woman pregnant for the first time. Multigravida: A woman who has been pregnant more than once.

What is the definition of family-centered care in MCH nursing?

An approach to healthcare that involves the family in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of nursing care, recognizing that the family is the constant in a child's life.

Why is cultural competence important in Maternal and Child Health Nursing?

It ensures that care is respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and needs of diverse patients, leading to better outcomes.

What is the primary function of the ovaries?

To produce eggs (ova) and female hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

What is the main function of the fallopian tubes?

To transport ova from the ovaries to the uterus and are usually the site of fertilization.

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What are fimbriae?

Finger-like projections at the end of the fallopian tube that capture and guide the ovum into the tube after ovulation.

What is the role of Bartholin's glands?

To secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina during sexual arousal.

What is the typical pH of the vagina in reproductive-aged women?

Acidic, usually between 3.8 and 4.5 .

What is the primary function of the testes?

To produce sperm (spermatogenesis) and male hormones, primarily testosterone.

Where does spermatogenesis primarily occur?

In the seminiferous tubules within the testes.

What is the purpose of the cremaster muscle?

To regulate the temperature of the testes by raising or lowering them from the body.

What is the main role of estrogen in the menstrual cycle?

Promotes the growth and maturation of the ovarian follicle and the proliferation of the uterine endometrium.

What is the main role of progesterone in the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy?

Prepares the endometrium for implantation, maintains pregnancy, and inhibits uterine contractions.

What is the action of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)?

Stimulates the growth and development of ovarian follicles and estrogen production.

What is the action of Luteinizing Hormone (LH)?

Triggers ovulation and stimulates the formation and maintenance of the corpus luteum.

When does ovulation typically occur relative to the LH surge?

Approximately 24–36 hours after the LH surge.

What is the corpus luteum?

A temporary endocrine structure that forms after ovulation and produces progesterone.

What causes withdrawal bleeding during the menstrual cycle?

A sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone levels if fertilization does not occur, leading to shedding of the uterine lining.

How does blood volume change during pregnancy?

It increases by about 40–50% to meet the demands of the growing fetus and placenta.

What are common gastrointestinal changes experienced during pregnancy?

Nausea and vomiting ('morning sickness'), constipation, and heartburn, due to hormonal changes and uterine pressure.

What are linea nigra and chloasma?

Linea nigra is a dark line that appears on the abdomen. Chloasma (mask of pregnancy) is hyperpigmentation on the face. Both are common skin changes during pregnancy.

What is supine hypotensive syndrome?

A condition in late pregnancy where the weight of the gravid uterus compresses the vena cava when the mother lies supine, reducing blood flow to the heart.

When does the fetal heart typically begin to beat?

Around 5–6 weeks of gestation.

When can the sex of the fetus typically be distinguished by ultrasound?

Between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation.

What is the age of viability?

The point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks gestation, though with significant medical support.

What is the function of the yolk sac in early embryonic development?

Provides nourishment to the embryo until the placenta takes over and is the site of early blood cell formation.

What is the period of organogenesis?

The critical period for organ development, occurring from approximately the 3rd to the 8th week of gestation.

What is vernix caseosa?

A white, creamy, protective substance that covers the skin of a fetus and newborn.

What is lanugo?

Fine, soft hair that covers the body of a fetus and newborn, often shed before birth.

What is the primary purpose of a prenatal ultrasound?

To visualize the fetus, assess gestational age, monitor growth, check for anomalies, and confirm fetal position.

What is Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening used for?

A blood test used to screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities (like Down syndrome) and neural tube defects (like spina bifida).

What is Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)?

A diagnostic test performed in the first trimester to detect chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders by sampling chorionic villi from the placenta.

What is Amniocentesis?

A diagnostic procedure usually done in the second trimester to detect chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, and fetal lung maturity by sampling amniotic fluid.

What is a Non-Stress Test (NST)?

A common prenatal test that monitors the fetal heart rate's response to fetal movement to assess fetal well-being.

What is a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) used for in pregnancy?

To screen for and diagnose gestational diabetes.

What signifies 'true labor'?

Regular, increasing intensity contractions that cause cervical effacement and dilation.

What is cervical effacement?

The thinning and shortening of the cervix during labor, expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100%.

What is cervical dilation?

The opening of the cervix expressed in centimeters, from 0 cm to 10 cm.

What is fetal station in labor?

The relationship of the fetal presenting part to an imaginary line drawn between the maternal ischial spines, indicating the degree of descent.

What is fetal engagement?

When the largest diameter of the fetal presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.