OB Terms

Question 1

Ballottement

Answer 1

• The passive fetal movement elicited by pushing up against the cervix with 2 fingers
• this pushes the fetal body up and as it falls back the examiner feels the rebound

Question 2

Braxton-hicks contractions

Answer 2

• irregular contractions of the uterus
• occur intermittently throughout pregnancy
• may be palpated bimanually beginning about the 4th month of pregnancy
• help stimulate the movement of blood through the intervillous spaces of the placenta

Question 3

Chadwick sign

Answer 3

• blue purple discoloration of the cervix
• caused by vascularization of the cervix
• increased vascularization is a result of hypertrophy and engorgement of the vessels below the growing uterus

Question 4

Colostrum

Answer 4

• an antibody rich, yellow secretion
• may be expressed manually by the 12th week
• may leak from breasts during the last trimester of pregnancy
• gradually converts to mature milk during the first few days following child birth

Question 5

Goodall sign

Answer 5

• softening of the cervix

- caused by vascularization of the cervix

Question 6

Mucous plug

Answer 6

• thick, tenacious mucus, produced from glandular tissue of the cervix
• accumulates and thickens, forming to seal the endscervical canal
• prevents the ascent of bacteria or other substances into the uterus
• expelled when cervical dialation begins

Question 7

Striae

Answer 7

• purplish stretch marks
• turn silver after child birth
• breast changes are most noticeable in a first time pregnacy

Question 8

Physiological anemia of pregnancy

Answer 8

• the plasma volume increase is 50% greater than the 25% increase of erythrocytes
• because of this the hematocrit decreases slightly
• this decrease is physiological anemia of pregnancy (pseudoanemia)

Question 9

Supine hypotension syndrome
(Vena canal syndrome)
(Aortocaval compression)

Answer 9

• pressure interfering with returning blood flow cause by the enlarging uterus putting pressure on the vena cava when the woman is supine
• decreased BP, dizziness, pallor, and clamminess
• corrected by having the woman lie on her left side

Question 10

Linea nigra

Answer 10

• increased pigmentation on the linea alba (midline of the abdomen from the pubic area to the umbilicus and above)
• causes this area to darken

Question 11

Chloasma

Melasma gravidarum

Answer 11

• “mask of pregnancy”
• irregular pigmentation of the: cheeks, forehead, nose
• accentuated by sun exposure
• similar changes may occur in women who are taking oral contraceptives
• more prominent in dark haired women and is occasionally disfiguring
• it fades or at least regresses soon after birth when the hormonal influence of pregnancy has stopped

Question 12

McDonald sign

Answer 12

• an ease in flexing of the body of the uterus against the cervix

Question 13

Hegar sign

Answer 13

• softening of the isthmus of the uterus, the area between the cervix and the body of the uterus
• occurs between 6-8 weeks
• may become so soft that on a bimanual exam there seems to be nothing between the cervix and the body of the uterus

Question 14

Quickening

Answer 14

• mothers perception o fetal movement
• 18-20 weeks
• in a woman who is primigravida (pregnant for the first time) it can occur as early as 16 weeks

Question 15

Couvade

Answer 15

Traditionally
- observance of certain rituals and taboos by the male to signify the transition to fatherhood
Recently
- developing similar ailments that the mother is exibiting I.e. Fatigue, increased appetite, difficulty sleeping, depression, headache, backache

Question 16

Antepartum

Answer 16

• time between conception and onset of labor
• usually used to describe the period during which a woman is pregnant
• used interchangeably with prenatal

Question 17

Intrapartum

Answer 17

• time from onset of labor until the birth of the infant and placenta

Question 18

Post partum

Answer 18

• time from birth until the woman’s body returns to an essentially prepregnant condition
• typically 6 weeks

Question 19

Gestation

Answer 19

• the number of weeks since the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP)

Question 20

Abortion

Answer 20

• birth that occurs before 20 weeks gestation
• or the fetus-newborn who weighs less than 500g
• may occur spontaneously
• or induced by surgical or medical means
• if induced it is deemed a therapeutic abortion

Question 21

Term

Answer 21

No longer a term used

Question 22

Early term

Answer 22

• extending from 37 0/7 weeks to 38 6/7 weeks

Question 23

Full term

Answer 23

• 39 0/7 weeks to 40 6/7 weeks

Question 24

Late term

Answer 24

41 0/7 weeks to 41 6/7 weeks

Question 25

Post term

Answer 25

42 0/7 weeks and beyond

Question 26

Preterm or premature labor

Answer 26

Labor that occurs after 20 weeks but before the completion of 37 weeks of gestation

Question 27

Post term labor

Answer 27

Labor that occurs 42 weeks of gestation

Question 28

Gravida

Answer 28

Any pregnany, regardless of duration including present pregnancy

Question 29

Nulligravida

Answer 29

Woman who has never been pregnant

Question 30

Primigravida

Answer 30

Woman who is pregnant for the first time

Question 31

Multigravida

Answer 31

Woman who is in her second of any subsequent pregnancy

Question 32

Para

Answer 32

• birth after 20 weeks gestation regardless of whether the infant is born dead or alive

Question 33

Nullipara

Answer 33

A woman who has not given birth at more than 20 weeks gestation

Question 34

Primipara

Answer 34

A woman who has given one birth at more than 20 weeks gestation

Question 35

Multipara

Answer 35

Woman who has had two or more births at more than 20 weeks gestation

Question 36

Stillbirth

Answer 36

• fetus born dead after 20 weeks gestation