Definitions Flashcards
Nullipara
A woman who has never been pregnant beyond 20 weeks gestation.
Gravid
The number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome
Para/parity
The number of babies born after 20 weeks gestation
G6,P4
Gravida 6, Para 4 means pregnant 6 times (includes the current pregnancy) and has
previously delivered 4 babies at more than 20 weeks gestation
Grand multipara
A woman who has delivered 5 or more babies at more than 20 weeks gestation
Abortion/miscarriage
Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks gestation
Labour
Regular painful contractions with cervical change after 20 weeks gestation
Lower uterine segment
caesarean section
Operative delivery of the baby through an incision in the lower uterine segment
Classical caesarean
section
Operative delivery of a baby through a vertical incision in the upper segment of the uterus
Hysterotomy
Operative delivery of the baby through a uterine incision at less than 20 weeks
gestation
Preterm labour
Labour at less than 37 weeks gestation
Prelabour rupture of
membranes (PROM)
Rupture of the membranes before the onset of labour
Premature prelabour
rupture of membranes
(PPROM)
Rupture of the membranes before labour at less than 37 weeks gestation
ARM/AROM
Artificial rupture of the membranes
SROM
Spontaneous rupture of the membranes
Braxton Hicks
contractions
Painless uterine contractions in the antenatal period
Naegles rule
To estimate the probable date of confinement.
Add 9 months and 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period.
A correction is required if the patient does not have 28 day cycles.
First stage of labour
From the start of labour until full dilatation of the cervix
Second stage of labour
From full dilatation of the cervix until birth of the baby
Third stage of labour
From the birth of the baby until the delivery of the placenta and membranes
Spurious or false labour
Uterine contractions which may be regular and/or painful, but are not associated with
cervical effacement and dilatation
Oxytocic
Medication that stimulates contractions of the uterine muscle
Tocolytic
Medication to stop uterine contractions
Induction of labour
The process of causing labour to commence
Augmentation of labour
The process of stimulating a labour that has already started
Placenta praevia
Placenta that approaches or covers the internal cervical os in late second or third
trimester
Vasa praevia
Fetal vessels lying in the membranes in front of the presenting part
Antepartum haemorrhage
Bleeding >5ml from the vagina after 20 weeks gestation
Abruption
Separation of the placenta from the uterus in the antenatal or intrapartum period
Post partum
haemorrhage
Vaginal bleeding of more than 500 ml in the first 24 hours after delivery
Secondary post partum
haemorrhage
Vaginal bleeding of more than 500 ml more than 24 hours after delivery
Placenta accreta
Placenta that invades the myometrium
Uterine atony
Abnormal relaxation of the uterus after delivery, usually causing bleeding
Isoimmunisation
Blood group antibodies cross the placenta resulting in haemolysis of fetal red blood
cells. Antibodies include D, c, K (Kell), Kidd, Duffy etc.
CTG
cardiotocograph
Neonatal death
A liveborn infant who dies within 28 days of birth, of at least 20 weeks gestation or
weighing >400gm if gestation is unknown
Stillbirth
An infant born after 20 weeks gestation ( or birthweight over 400gm if gestation is
unknown) who did not show any signs of life after birth
Perinatal mortality rate
The number of stillbirths plus neonatal deaths per 1000 births