Common OB Terms

Question 1

Antepartum

Answer 1

occurring or existing before birth

Question 2

Intrapartum

Answer 2

time period spanning childbirth, from the onset of labor through the delivery of the plaenta

Question 3

postpartum

Answer 3

following child birth

Question 4

Uterus

Answer 4

hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman’s lower abdomen, between the bladder and rectum

Question 5

Myometrium

Answer 5

middle layer of uterus is muscular tissue that expands during pregnancy to hold the growing fetus and contracts during labor to deliver the child

Question 6

Upper uterine segment

Answer 6

main portion of the body of the gravid uterus, the contraction of which furnishes the chief force of expulsion of labor

Question 7

Lower uterine segment

Answer 7

The inferior portion or isthmus of the uterus, the lower extremity of which joins with the cervical canal and, during pregnancy, expands to become the lower portion of the uterine cavity

Question 8

Cervix

Answer 8

lowest region of the uterus that attaches the uterus to the vagina and provides a passage between the vaginal cavity and the uterine cavity

Question 9

Internal os

Answer 9

Opening of the innermost side of cervical canal near the baby

Question 10

External os

Answer 10

Opening on the outermost side of the cervical canal to the vagina.

Question 11

Fetal membranes

Answer 11

amnion and chorion membranes, which make up the amniotic sac that surround and protect the fetus

Question 12

Dilation

Answer 12

opening of the cervix

Question 13

Effacement

Answer 13

Refers to the thinning of the cervix

Question 14

Uterine fundus

Answer 14

Upper rounded extremity of the uterus above the openings of the fallopian tubes

Question 15

Introitus

Answer 15

Vaginal introitus is the opening that leads to the vaginal canal

Question 16

BTL

Answer 16

Bilateral Tubal Ligation is a surgical procedure that creates permanent contraception. BTL severs the fallopian tubes, preventing sperm from meeting egg. Often referred to as having your “tubes tied”

Question 17

EFM

Answer 17

electronic fetal monitoring

Question 18

Tocodynamometer

Answer 18

Medical device used to measure the frequency and duration of uterine contractions. Consists of a pressure transducer that is placed over the fundus of the uterus

Question 19

IUPC-Internal uterine pressure catheter

Answer 19

Device paced into the uterus next to the fetus during labor to measure the strength of the contractions

Question 20

FSE

Answer 20

Device placed just under the skin on the presenting part of the fetus whilst in-utero to assess fetal heart rate pattern

Question 21

FHR

Answer 21

fetal heart rate

Question 22

Fetal Engagement

Answer 22

When widest part of the baby’s presenting part enters the pelvic brim or inlet. A first baby often engages two weeks before birth. Subsequent babies may not engage until transition phase or Stage 2.

Question 23

EDC

Answer 23

Estimated Date of Confinement or due date. This is an older term, though still used. The origin of the word referred to the period of pregnancy when an upper-class, noble or royal woman would withdraw from society to be confined to their rooms with midwives, ladies-in-waiting and female family members only to attend them

Question 24

EDD

Answer 24

Estimated Due Date or Due date describes the estimated delivery date for a pregnant woman

Question 25

EBL

Answer 25

Estimated Blood Loss is estimated blood loss during a procedure. It is often inaccurate and underestimated

Question 26

QBL

Answer 26

Quantitative Blood Loss is weight based measurement of blood loss which involves subtracting dry weights of blood-soaked pads, linens, sponges to more accurately determine blood loss

Question 27

ROM

Answer 27

Rupture of Membranes is a term used to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac. May also be referred to as one’s “water breaking”

Question 28

SROM

Answer 28

Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes describes the normal, spontaneous rupture of the membranes at full term

Question 29

AROM

Answer 29

Artificial Rupture of membranes describes the rupture of the membranes by a third party, usually the provider to induce or accelerate labor

Question 30

PROM

Answer 30

Premature Rupture of Membranes describes a rupture of the membranes that occurs before 37 weeks gestation

Question 31

PPROM

Answer 31

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes describes a rupture of membranes that occurs before 37 weeks gestation

Question 32

IDDM

Answer 32

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Question 33

IDM

Answer 33

Infant of a diabetic mother; these infants are at risk for having macrosomia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia, risk of birth defects and a higher risk of stillbirth or miscarriage

Question 34

PPH

Answer 34

Postpartum hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that is one of the five top causes of maternal mortality