Lacy's Section Flashcards
Purpose of the mucosal lining in the cervix
- produces mucous plug during pregnancy
- acts as a bacteriostatic agent
- provides alkaline environment to shelter sperm from the acidic pH of the vagina
- lubrication
Fetal circulation
- First system to develop
- heart begins to beat after the 4th week
- detected by dopplar by 10th week
Braxton Hicks
random, painless, contractions centered in the abdomen
6-7 times/day and increase with length of pregnancy
*promotes oxygenation and bloodflow to the uterus, exercises the uterine muscle, and prepares cervix for labor
Quickening and when it occurs
the first movements of the fetus felt in utero. It occurs from the eighteenth to the twentieth week of pregnancy
What is AVA
Artery vein artery (umbilical cord)
Purpose of amniotic fluid
- Is to maintain even temperature
- cushion to protect fetus and cord from trauma
- allows fetus to remain afloat
- allows for symmetrical growth
- will become the 1st stool (meconium)
- acts as waste repository
*drink lots of fluids
Concepts of normal fetal development
Fetal stage
- from the 9th week to delivery
- by 20 weeks the lungs have matured functionally to survive the outside of the uterus(viability)
- by 28 weeks eyes open, fetal posterior in the uterus becomes more stable
- the fetus is full term at 38-40 weeks
Fraternal v.s identical twins
fraternal twins are two different zygote fertilized by two different sperm.
Identical twins are made of one zygote fertilized by one sperm and split to make two zygotes
TPALM
T= number of term infants born after 37 weeks
P= number of preterm infants born
A= number of pregnancies aborted before 20 weeks
L= number of living children
M= multiple birth number of multiple gestations
Nagele’s Rule
- take 1st day of LNMP
- subtract 3 months
- add 7 day and go forward
Example: LMP - Feb 17-24, 2009= Nov 24, 2009
Gravida
The number of times a women has been pregnant, regardless of the status or outcome (twins counted as one)
Para
Number of deliveries that go 20 weeks gestation or beyond, regardless of outcome (twins counted as one)
Pseudoanemia
- fluid part of the blood increases more than the erythrocytes component. (Dilutional anemia)
- leading to a hematocrit level drop
Why is there an increase in blood volume during pregnancy?
Blood volume gradually increases to about 45% greater than that of the pre pregnant state by the 32-34 weeks gestation for the purpose of exchange of nutrients , oxygen exchange, waste products, needs for expanded maternal tissue, reserve for blood loss during birth
Why does urination increase during pregnancy?
Urinary frequency worsens during 1st and 3rd trimester because of pressure from the uterus on the bladder
- leads to UTI if mom doesn’t void
- UTI can lead to preterm labor
Presumptive signs of pregnancy
- amenorrhea
- nausea morning sickness
- breast tenderness
- pigmentation changes (chloasma mask, areolar darkening and linea negra)
- urinary frequency
- fatigue
- quickening (fetal movement 16-20 weeks)
- hormonal imbalances
- PMS
- stomach virus or food poisoning
- increased peristalsis, gas
- UTI or pelvic masses
- illness, stress, sudden changes in lifestyle
Probable signs
These are objective not 100% accurate and include:
- goodell’s sign= softening of the cervix*
- Chadwick’s sign= bluish-red discoloration of the cervix
- hegar’s signs= softening of the isthmus of the uterus
Positive signs
100% accurate
- sonogram or ultrasound
- FHT - heard at 10 weeks with Doppler
- uterine soufflé
What does AVA mean?
in the umbilical cord there are 2 arteries and 1 vein (AVA)
the arteries carry deoxygenated blood and the vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus
TPAL
further explains “para”F or T- full term (>37 weeks)
P- preterm (20-36 weeks and 6 days gestationA- abortions or miscarriages
L- living (multiple gestation count as how many were delivered and remain alive
A woman who is now pregnant, has delivered one previous prenancy at term, has delivered one pregnancy at 29 weeks (the baby died), had one elective abortion at 8 weeks, and had one spontaneous miscarriage at 12 weeks.
What is her Gravida and Para?
G= 5 P= 2
Gravida
of times a woman has become pregnant regardless of status or outcome- twins are counted as one
Para
number of deliveries that go 20 weeks gestation or beyond, regardless of outcome- twins are counted as one
Nageles Rule
take first day of LNMP
subtract 3 months
then add 7 days ahead