Key Terms - Chapter 4 Flashcards
Abortion
The end of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable, spontaneous or elective
Alternative Therapy
Forms of therapy that generally replace of substitute for traditionally accepted western practice
Antepartum
Before the onset of of labour
Aortocaval Compression
A condition that occurs when a pregnant women lies in the supine position which allows the heavy uterus to compress her inferior vena cava, reducing the amount of blood returned to her heart. (supine hypotension)
Braxton Hicks Contractions
Intermittent contractions of the uterus, false labour
Chadwicks Sign
A violet-blue colour of the vaginal mucous membrane caused by increased vascularity. probable sign of pregnancy, visible in fourth week of pregnancy.
Chloasma
A yellow-brown pigmentation over the bridge of the nose and cheeks during pregnancy and in some women who are taking oral contraceptive
Colostrum
A secretion from the breast before the onset of true lactation, high protein, immunal properties, cleanses newborns intestinal tract of mucus and meconium
Estimated date of birth
The estimated due date
Gestational Age
The actual time, from conception to birth, that fetus remains in the uterus
Goodwell sign
A probable sign of pregnancy occurring during the second month of pregnancy that involves a softening of the cervix
Gravida
The number of times women has been pregnant
Hegar Sign
A probable sign of pregnancy that involves softening of the lower uterine segment found on palpation in the second or third month of pregnancy
Intrapartum
The time of onset of true labour, followed by the birth of the newborn and the placenta
Lactation
The process of producing an supplying breast milk
Last Menstrual Period (LMP)
The first day of the last menstrual period used to determine the estimated date of birth
Lightening
Movement of the fetus and uterus downward into the pelvic cavity and the fundus no longer presses on the diagram
McDonald Sign
A probable sign of pregnancy in which the examiner can easily flex the cervix against the body of the uterus
Multigravida
A women that has been pregnant before, regardless of the duration
Multipara
A women who has had more than one pregnancy in which the fetuses were greater than 20 weeks
Nagele’s Rule
A method of determining the estimated date of birth, first day of last period, add 7 days, count forward 9 months
Parity
The number of pregnancies ending after 20 weeks
Postpartum
After childbirth
Primigravida
A women who is pregnant for the first time
Primipara
Pseudoanemia
Quickening
Supine Hypotension
Trimesters
