Ch 34 - Neonatal Care - Vocab Flashcards
abruptio placentae
Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus.
amniotic sac
The fluid-filled, baglike membrane in which the fetus develops.
anemic
Describes a condition in which the patient has too few red blood cells, resulting in a decreased ability to transport oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Apgar score
A scoring system for assessing the status of a newborn that assigns a number value to each of five areas (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respirations)
birth canal
The vagina and cervix.
bloody show
A small amount of blood in the vagina that appears at the beginning of labor and may include a plug of pink-tinged mucus that is discharged when the cervix begins to dilate.
breech presentation
A delivery in which the buttocks come out first.
cervix
The lower third, or neck, of the uterus.
crowning
The appearance of the fetus’s head at the vaginal opening during labor.
eclampsia
A pregnancy complication that is characterized by new-onset hypertension (systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg) with seizure activity and preceding systemic effects, such as blurred vision, headache, or protein in the urine. It is differentiated from preeclampsia by the presence of seizure activity.
ectopic pregnancy
A pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.
embryo
The early stage of development after the fertilization of the egg (first 10 weeks).
endometrium
The lining of the inside of the uterus.
fetal alcohol syndrome
A condition caused by the consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman; characterized by growth and physical problems, mental retardation, and a variety of congenital abnormalities in her child.
fetus
The developing, unborn infant inside the uterus, from 10 weeks after fertilization until birth.
fundus
The dome-shaped top of the uterus.
gestational diabetes
Diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy.
gestational hypertension
gestational hypertension A blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic in a pregnant female in whom hypertension has not previously been diagnosed.
induced abortion
The elective termination of a pregnancy prior to the time of viability.
lightening
The movement of the fetus down into the pelvis late in pregnancy.
limb presentation
A delivery in which the presenting part is a single arm or leg.
meconium
Fetal stool. When appearing as a dark green material in the amniotic fluid, it can indicate distress or disease in the newborn; it can be aspirated into the fetus’s lungs during delivery.
menarche
The first menstrual cycle or onset of the first menstrual bleeding in females.
menopause
The cessation of menstruation, typically in the fourth or fifth decade of life.
miscarriage
The spontaneous passage of the fetus and placenta before 20 weeks; also called spontaneous abortion.
multigravida
A woman who has had previous pregnancies.
nuchal cord
An umbilical cord that is wrapped around the fetus’s neck.
perineum
The area of the skin between the vagina and the anus.
placenta
The tissue attached to the uterine wall that nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord.
placenta previa
A condition in which the placenta develops over and covers the cervix.
preeclampsia
A pregnancy complication that is characterized by new-onset hypertension (systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg) along with systemic effects, such as blurred vision, headache, or protein in the urine. Differentiated from eclampsia by the lack of seizure activity.
presentation
The position in which an infant is born; defined by the part of the body that appears first.
primigravida
A woman who is experiencing her first pregnancy.
prolapse of the umbilical cord
A situation in which the umbilical cord comes out of the vagina before the fetus.
spina bifida
A developmental defect in which a portion of the spinal cord or meninges may protrude outside of the vertebrae and possibly even outside of the body, usually at the lower third of the spine in the lumbar area.
spontaneous abortion
The loss of a pregnancy prior to 20 weeks of gestation without any preceding surgical or medical intervention. Often called a miscarriage.
supine hypotensive syndrome
Low blood pressure resulting from compression of the inferior vena cava by the weight of the pregnant uterus when the woman is supine.
term gestation
A pregnancy that has reached full term, between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days.
umbilical cord
The structure that connects the pregnant woman to the fetus via the placenta; contains two arteries and one vein.
vernix caseosa
A white, cheesy substance that covers the body of the fetus.
vertex presentation
A delivery in which the head of the newborn comes out first
