NURS 4441 Healthy Beginnings

Vocabulary flashcards covering key glossary terms from the Healthy Beginnings Learning Guide.

Preconception Care

Medical care provided to women and couples before conception to improve health outcomes for both mother and baby.

Prenatal Health

Medical care and lifestyle practices that support the health of a woman and her developing fetus during pregnancy.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in women and spermatogenesis in men.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation and stimulates progesterone production in women and testosterone in men.

Progesterone

A steroid hormone released by the corpus luteum that prepares the endometrium for implantation and supports early pregnancy.

Estrogen

A group of steroid hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female body characteristics and reproductive health.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)

A hormone produced by the placenta after implantation that supports the corpus luteum and maintains pregnancy.

Ovulation

The release of an oocyte from the ovarian follicle.

Corpus Luteum

A temporary endocrine structure in the ovaries involved in the production of progesterone, essential for establishing and maintaining pregnancy.

Ovarian Cycle

The cycle of physiological changes in the ovary, including follicular development, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation.

Ova

The female reproductive cells, also known as eggs.

Sperm

The male reproductive cells.

Zygote

The cell formed by the union of a sperm and an ovum.

Embryo and Embryonic Stage

The early stage of development from fertilization until the end of the eighth week.

Fetus and Fetal Stage

The stage of development from the end of the eighth week until birth.

Viability

The ability of the fetus to survive outside the uterus.

Neonate

A newborn baby, especially within the first four weeks after birth.

Infant

A child in the first year of life.

Perinatal Time Period

The period shortly before and after birth.

Antepartum Time Period

The period before childbirth.

Intrapartum Time Period

The period during labor and delivery.

Postpartum Time Period

The period after childbirth.

Gravida

A woman who is or has been pregnant.

Nulligravida

A woman who has never been pregnant.

Primigravida

A woman who is pregnant for the first time.

Multigravida

A woman who has been pregnant more than once.

Para

The number of pregnancies that have reached viability.

Primipara

A woman who has given birth to one viable offspring.

Nullipara

A woman who has never given birth to a viable offspring.

Multipara

A woman who has given birth to more than one viable offspring.

Nägele's Rule

A standard way of calculating the due date for a pregnancy by adding one year, subtracting three months, and adding seven days to the first day of the last menstrual period.

LMP (Last Menstrual Period)

The first day of the last menstrual period, used to calculate the due date.

EDC (Estimated Date of Confinement)

The estimated due date for the baby.

Trimester

One of the three divisions of pregnancy, each lasting about three months.

1st Trimester

The first three months of pregnancy.

2nd Trimester

The second three months of pregnancy.

3rd Trimester

The last three months of pregnancy.

Teratogens

Substances that can cause birth defects.

Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy (Morning Sickness)

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, usually in the first trimester due to high HCG.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Infections in any part of the urinary system, including the bladder and urethra.

Kegel Exercises

Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Amniotic Fluid (Bag of Water)

The fluid surrounding the fetus in the amniotic sac.

Fetal Kick Counts

Monitoring fetal movements to assess fetal well-being.