Normal Pregnancy Flashcards
Metherigine (Methylergonovine Maleate)
Stimulates uterine contraction, decreases bleeding.
Pitocin (Oxytocin, Syntocinon)
Acts directly on myofibrils.
Stimulates uterine contractions.
Stimulates breast milk.
Magnesium sulfate
Decreases acetylcholine in motor nerve terminals, which is responsible for seizure prevention in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Signs and symptoms of magnesium sulfate toxicity.
Nausea, vomiting, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), feeling very hot, bradycardia, drowsiness, syncope.
Gravida.
Indicates a pregnant woman.
Para.
Indicates number of births.
Primigravida.
A woman pregnant for the first time.
Haeger’s Sign.
Softening of the opening of the cervix.
A probable sign of pregnancy.
Braxton Hick’s Contractions.
Irregular tightening of the pregnant uterus that begins in the first trimester and increases in frequency, duration, and intensity as pregnancy progresses.
Near term, strong Braxton Hick’s contractions are often difficult to distinguish from real labor.
Lightening.
Sensation of decreased abdominal distention produced by uterine descent into the pelvic cavity as the fetal presenting part settles into the pelvis. It usually occurs 2 weeks before the onset of labor in nullparas.
Where does implantation usually occur?
Implantation usually occurs in the fundus of the uterus on either the anterior or posterior surfaces.
The embryonic stage.
Embryonic stage begins with implantation and encompasses approximately the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. Cell growth is rapid. A simple heart begins beating and rudimentary forms of all the major organs and systems develop.
When can you expect fetal heart activity?
Fetal heart shows activity by the 7th week of gestation.
Practitioners can auscultate fetal heart tones between 10 and 12 weeks by using Doppler mode.
What is a Non-Stress Test (NST)?
A nonstress test (NST) is done to evaluate how the fetal heart rate responds to periods of fetal movement.
Probable signs of pregnancy.
Changes in reproductive organs (enlargement of uterus), positive pregnancy tests, Hegars sign, Goodells sign, ballottement.
Goodell’s Sign.
Softening of the vaginal side of the cervix.
Ballottement.
Used at 16 to 18 weeks. Technique involves palpating the uterus feels for rebound of the floating fetus.
Signs and symptoms to report to the doctor during pregnancy.
Visual disturbances, diplopia, blurring or spots, headaches (sever, sudden, continuous), edema of the face presacral area or fingers, rapid wt gain, sever abd or epigastric pain, signs of infections (fever, chills, diarrhea, changes in vaginal drainage, pain or burning with urination), vaginal bleeding (of any kind), vaginal drainage (aside from normal mucus), persistent vomiting, muscular irritability or convulsions, absence of decrease in fetal movement once felt.
Chloasma V.
The mask of pregnancy, is an irregular darkening of the cheeks, forehead and nose.
Kegel Exercises.
Pubococcygeal muscles support the pelvic floor, bladder, and urethra. To strengthen these muscles, kegel exercises should be performed.
Sex during pregnancy.
There is no physiological reason to limit sexual activity during pregnancy. Sexual activity should cease if there is any vaginal bleeding until the cause of the bleeding is determined and the physician determines no danger exists.
Effacement.
Cervical effacement refers to a thinning of the cervix. It can be expressed as a percent. Effacement is accompanied by cervical dilation.
ROP
Right occipitoposterior.
ROT
Right occipitotransverse.
ROA
Right occipitoanterior.
LOP
Left occipitoposterior.
LOT
Left occipitotransverse.
LOA
Left occipitoanterior.
Amniotomy.
Artificial rupture of the fetal membrane. Measure the FHR immediately before and after this procedure Asses amount and color of amniotic fluid.
Signs of placental separation.
Sudden gush of blood from the vagina, womans uterus becomes globular in shape and the umbilical cord lengthens.
Indication of the second stage of labor.
Bearing down reflex.
Decelerations.
Periodic decrease in the FHR in response to contractions; classified as early, late or variable.
Early deceleration.
Caused by pressure on the fetal skull; tend to be uniform ; onset, shape and recovery correspond to contractions.
Late deceleration.
Caused by decreased oxygen and blood flow to fetus through the placenta; usually noted at or after the peak of the contraction; may indicate fetal distress, particularly if associated with changes in baseline FHR and absence of variability.
Variable deceleration.
Caused by compression in the umbilical cord; occur randomly and onset may be sudden; FHR decreases below normal range.
True labor.
Contractions follow a regular pattern, contractions come closer together, are stronger and tend to last longer, contractions get stronger with ambulation, they start at the lower back and then travel to the lower abdomen, usually not stopped by controlled breathing, sedation or other relaxation interventions, cervix softens, effaces and dilates, fetus cont. descent into pelvis. (Summarized by book – true labor is marked by the onset of regular, rhythmic contractions that cause progressive cervical dilation and effacement).
False labor.
Contractions rarely follow pattern, vary in length and intensity, frequently stop with ambulation or position change, may be felt in back but most often noticed in the fundus, eventually stop with relaxation interventions, cervix may soften but little or no change in effacement or dilation, no significant change in fetal positioning.
Restitution.
As soon as the head is delivered, it moves to realign with the body and shoulders.
Estimate DOB.
Most common method is called Nagele’s rule – start with first day of woman’s last menstrual period and count back 3 months then add 7 days. (pg 787)
First sign of fetal movement.
Week 10 is when the first fetal movements begin. Some women describe the sensation of these first movements as if something were blowing bubbles through a straw in their stomachs.
Chadwick’s Sign.
A blue discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and labia caused by the hormone estrogen.
Usually visible at 6-8 weeks after conception. Presumptive sign of pregnancy.