Antepartum Period and Prenatal Care

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key concepts, diagnostic tests, physiological adaptations, and high-risk conditions from the antepartum lecture.

Preconception Care

Healthcare assessment and interventions aimed at identifying and modifying physical, psychological, environmental, and social risk factors before pregnancy to optimize maternal and fetal health.

Teratogen

Any substance, agent, or virus capable of interfering with fetal development and causing structural or functional congenital abnormalities.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula

A congenital anomaly in which the esophagus is abnormally connected to the trachea, which can occur if exposure to a teratogen happens prior to the separation of the tubes at approximately $5$ weeks gestation.

Folic Acid

A essential nutrient recommended as a daily supplement for all women capable of becoming pregnant to prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus.

Zygote

The single cell formed by the merging of the sperm and ovum nuclei at fertilization.

Morula

A solid ball of $12$ to $16$ cells formed by early cleavage divisions of the zygote before reaching the uterine cavity.

Ectopic Pregnancy

A pregnancy condition in which the fertilized zygote implants outside the uterine cavity, most commonly within a fallopian tube.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy that maintains the corpus luteum and rapidly increases, doubling approximately every $3$ days during the first $8$ to $10$ weeks of gestation.

Quickening

The first maternal perception of fetal movements, typically experienced between $16$ and $24$ weeks of gestation.

Viability

The threshold of fetal development, reached at approximately $23$ weeks gestation, where the organ systems are developed enough for the fetus to have a chance of survival outside the uterus if born prematurely.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

Subjective symptoms felt by the woman that suggest pregnancy, including absent period (amenorrhea), fatigue, enlarged breasts, sore breasts, urinary frequency, quickening, and emesis/nausea.

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

Objective findings detectable by a healthcare provider that strongly indicate pregnancy, such as a positive pregnancy test, ballottement, Braxton Hicks contractions, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign, Hegar's sign, and uterine enlargement.

Positive Signs of Pregnancy

Diagnostic findings directly attributed solely to the fetus, including fetal movement felt by an examiner, electronic fetal heart rate detection, delivery of the baby, ultrasound visualization of the fetus, and visible fetal movement.

Goodell's Sign

A probable sign of pregnancy characterized by the softening of the cervix and vagina, observable at approximately $4$ to $6$ weeks gestation.

Chadwick's Sign

A probable sign of pregnancy manifested as a bluish discoloration of the cervix, vulva, and vagina caused by increased blood flow, observable at approximately $6$ to $8$ weeks gestation.

Hegar's Sign

A probable sign of pregnancy involving softening of the lower uterine segment, noticeable at approximately $6$ to $8$ weeks gestation.

Couvade Syndrome

A condition in which an expectant father or partner experiences sympathetic pregnancy symptoms, such as weight gain, nausea, or altered sleep patterns.

Colostrum

A nutrient-dense, calorie-rich pre-milk fluid produced by the mammary glands that can be expressed as early as $16$ weeks gestation.

Physiologic Anemia of Pregnancy

A decrease in relative hemoglobin concentration caused by a $50\%$ expansion in plasma volume that outpaces the increase in red blood cell production.

Linea Nigra

A dark hyperpigmented line appearing vertically on the maternal abdomen during pregnancy, extending along the midline.

Melasma

Hyperpigmentation of the facial skin, also known as the mask of pregnancy, that typically appears across the cheekbones and forehead.

Diastasis Recti

The structural separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the abdominal midline during pregnancy.

Oligohydramnios

An abnormally low level of amniotic fluid (less than $500\,\text{mL}$ at term), which can cause fetal compression and poor lung development.

Polyhydramnios

An excessive volume of amniotic fluid (greater than $1,000\,\text{mL}$ at term), often associated with fetal central nervous system or gastrointestinal anomalies and maternal diabetes.

Placenta Previa

An obstetric complication in which the placenta implants low in the uterus, partially or completely covering the internal cervical os.

Placental Abruption

The premature detachment of a placenta from the uterine wall before delivery, creating a high risk for maternal hemorrhage and fetal hypoxia.

Wharton's Jelly

A gelatinous substance surrounding the two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein that protects the vessels from compression.

Toxoplasmosis

A parasitic infection transmitted through contact with infected cat litter or raw meat that can lead to central nervous system damage and fetal complications.

Naegele's Rule

A standard method for calculating the estimated date of delivery by taking the first day of the last menstrual period, subtracting $3$ months, adding $7$ days, and adjusting the year if necessary.

Gravida

The total number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of the duration or outcome of each pregnancy.

Para

The number of pregnancies that have reached $20$ weeks gestation or beyond, regardless of whether the fetus was born alive or stillborn.

GTPAL System

An obstetrical history breakdown specifying Gravida (total pregnancies), Term births ($\ge 37$ weeks), Preterm births ($20$ to $<37$ weeks), Abortions/miscarriages ($<20$ weeks), and Living children.

Pica

A craving and compulsive consumption of non-nutritive, non-food substances such as dirt, clay, cornstarch, or chalk, often associated with nutritional deficiencies.

Nuchal Translucency Screening

An ultrasound test measuring the fluid thickness at the back of the fetal neck to assess the risk for Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and structural defects.

Fundal Height

The measurement in centimeters from the symphysis pubis to the top of the uterine fundus, which usually matches the gestational age in weeks between $18$ and $32$ weeks.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

A gram-positive bacterium screened via vaginal-rectal swab between $35$ and $37$ weeks gestation that requires intrapartum IV antibiotic prophylaxis to protect the newborn from sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis.

Nonstress Test (NST)

An antepartum evaluation using fetal monitoring to observe heart rate accelerations in response to fetal movement, indicating adequate fetal oxygenation.

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

An assessment combining a nonstress test and real-time ultrasound to evaluate five parameters: fetal heart rate reactivity, breathing movements, body movements, muscle tone, and amniotic fluid index.

Rh Incompatibility

A maternal-fetal blood group antigen disparity occurring exclusively when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, potentially leading to maternal isoimmunization.

RhoGAM

An immune globulin administered to Rh-negative mothers at $28$ weeks gestation and within $72$ hours post-delivery (if the infant is Rh-positive) to prevent maternal antibody formation.

Hydrops Fetalis

A severe fetal condition marked by massive generalized edema, severe anemia, and heart failure resulting from maternal-fetal blood antibody-mediated hemolysis.

Preeclampsia

A multisystem pregnancy disorder defined by new-onset hypertension (systolic $\ge 140\,\text{mmHg}$ or diastolic $\ge 90\,\text{mmHg}$ on two occasions) after $20$ weeks gestation accompanied by proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction.

Eclampsia

The onset of grand mal seizure activity in a patient diagnosed with preeclampsia.

HELLP Syndrome

A life-threatening variant of severe preeclampsia defined by Hemolysis (H), Elevated Liver enzymes (EL), and Low Platelets (LP).

Maternal Mortality Rate

The annual number of female deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management during pregnancy or within $42$ days of pregnancy termination.