Definitions Flashcards
Gravid
The number of pregnancies, regardless of outcomes.
Para/Parity.
The number of babies born after 20 weeks gestation.
G6P4
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 the 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.
Pre labour Rupture of Membranes (PROM)
Rupture of the membranes before the onset of labour.
Premature Pre-labour 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 500ml in the first 24 hours after delivery.
Secondary Post Partum Haemorrhage
Vaginal bleeding of more than 500ml 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.
Maternal Death
The death of a woman while pregnant (irrespective of the gestation) or within 42 days of the conclusion of the pregnancy irrespective of the cause of death or gestation at delivery.
Maternal Mortality Rate
Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Infant Death
Death of an infant between 29 days and 1 year of life.
Station
The level of descent of the presenting part relative to the pelvic brim or symphysis on abdominal palpation, or to the ischial spines on vaginal examination.
Lie
The relationship between the long axis of the foetus and the long axis of the uterus, e.g. Longitudinal, oblique, transverse.
Position
The relationship of a defined area on the presenting part (the ‘denominator’) to the mother’s pelvis.
In a cephalic presentation, the denominator is the occiput, thus the fetal position is described as occipito-anterior (OA), occipito-posterior (OP), left or right occipito-transverse (L/ROT)
In a breech presentation, the denominator is the sacrum (SA, SP, ST)
Presentation
The part of the foetus which is presenting, e.g. Vertex, breech.
Asynclitism
Side to side tilt of the fetal head.
Caput
Oedema from obstructed venous return in the fetal scalp caused by pressure of the head against the cervix.
Cervical Incompetence
Painless cervical dilatation in the second trimester causing preterm labour.
Cord Prolapse
The cord is alongside or below the presenting part in the presence of ruptured membranes.
Episiotomy
Surgical incision of the perineum during the second stage of labour.
Third Degree Tear
Perineal trauma which involves the vaginal mucosa, perineal muscles and external anal sphincter.
Second Degree Tear
Perineal trauma which involves the vaginal mucosa and perineal muscles.
Lochia
Vaginal discharge during the puerperium.
Oligohydramnios
Reduced amniotic fluid.
Polyhydramnios
Excess amniotic fluid.
Pre Eclampsia
Hypertension and proteinuria during pregnancy.
Eclampsia
A seizure in the clinical setting of pre-eclampsia.
Amniocentesis
Sampling of amniotic fluid using a needle through the abdominal wall of the woman.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Sampling of the placenta using a needle under ultrasound guidance.
External Cephalic Version
Turning a breech baby to cephalic presentation through the maternal abdominal wall.
Retained Placenta
Placenta still in utero 1 hour after delivery of the baby.
Precipitate Labour
Labour less than 4 hours duration.
Shoulder Dystocia
Difficulty delivery the shoulders during delivery of the fetal head.
Puerperium
The 6 weeks following delivery.
Quickening
Maternal perception of fetal movements.
Restitution
Rotation of the fetal head after delivery to align with the back and shoulders.
Show
A discharge of blood and mucus from the vagina in early labour or the days preceding labour.
Phototherapy
Use of standard fluorescent white light or blue light therapy to photoisomerise bilirubin to allow for its excretion.
Exchange Transfusion
Procedure to treat severe newborn pathological jaundice in which blood is removed and replaced with donor blood. This removes the bilirubin and also the antibodies that have been causing haemolysis and jaundice.
Low Birthweight Baby
Weight
Very Low Birthweight Baby
Weight
Neonatal Respiratory Distress
Tachypnoea, increased effort of breathing, noisy breathing and central cyanosis.
Caesarean Hysterectomy
Laparotomy at which the contents of the Gravid uterus are delivered, then the uterus is excised (e.g. Due to placenta accreta)
Perimortem CS
Caesarean performed on a moribund or dead woman with a view to preserving her life.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB)
An overarching term for disturbed menstrual bleeding, which includes bleeding that is abnormally heavy or abnormal in timing.
Primary Amenorrhoea
Absence of periods ever.
Secondary Amenorrhoea
Absence of periods for a 6 month period.
Intermenstrual Bleeding
Bleeding episodes between normally timed menstrual periods that are either random or follow a cyclical pattern.
Irregular Menstrual Bleeding
Unpredictable onset of menses, with cycle variations of >20 days over a period of 1 year.
Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding
Menstrual bleeding lasting >8 days on a regular basis.
Acute AUB
An episode of heavy bleeding that, in the clinician’s opinion, is sufficiently heavy to require immediate treatment to prevent further blood loss.
Chronic AUB
Bleeding from uterine corpus that is abnormal in volume, duration and/or frequency and has been present for most of the past 6 months.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Excessive menstrual blood loss that interferes with a woman’s physical, emotional, social and material quality of life, occurring alone or with other symptoms.
Note: replaces term ‘menorrhagia’. This definition includes menstrual bleeding deemed excessive by the patient, regardless of its regularity, frequency or duration.
Dysmenorrhea
Pelvic pain during menstruation.
Dyspareunia
Pain with sexual intercourse.
Cervical Excitation
Pain felt by the woman where her cervix is moved during vaginal examination, typically from free blood in the peritoneal cavity.
Cervical Ectropion
The endocervical columnar epithelium protrudes through the external os of the cervix and onto the vaginal portion of the cervix.
Infertility
Failure of a couple to conceive in 1 year.
Endometriosis
The occurrence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, most commonly on the pelvic peritoneal surfaces.
Adenomyosis
The occurrence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Infection of the uterus, Fallopian tubes or pelvis.
Menopause
The final menstrual period.
Premature Menopause
Menopause occurring before 40 years of age.
Climacteric/Perimenopause
The period of time when ovarian function declines and menopausal symptoms appear.
Post-Menopause
The time after menopause.
Lactational Amenorrhoea Method
Effective contraception provided when a woman is fully breast-feeding a baby less than 6 months of age and has no return of menses.
Nullipara
A woman who has never been pregnant beyond 20 weeks gestation.
