OB Vocabulary Flashcards
Abortion
- A termination of pregnancy, either natural (spontaneous) or artificial (induced).
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
🔸 A substance (fetal antigen) that is present in a pregnant woman’s blood.
🔹 Tests for AFP are used to determine pregnancy.
🔸 AFP in amniotic fluid can be diagnostic of inborn errors of metabolism or fetal structural anomalies, neural tube defects.
Amenorrhea
- The absence or suppression of menstrual flow
Amnion
- The inner membrane of 2 fetal membranes that form the sac that contains the fetus and amniotic fluid
Amniocentesis
- Its the procedure in which amniotic fluid is obtained.
Amnioinfusion
- Its the infusion of room temperature isotonic fluid into the uterine cavity to increase fluid around the cord & prevent compression during uterine contractions.
Amniotic sac
- Its the protective layer inside the mother that the fetus is held in during pregnancy.
Amniotic fluid
🔹Its the fluid surrounding the fetus derived primarily of Maternal serum and Fetal urine.
🔸Normal amount of AF (Amniotic Fluid) is 10 cm or greater.
Amniotomy
- Its the artificial rupture of membranes (AROM) to promote labor.
Antenatal/Antepartum
- Its the period occurring before birth.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Its the bacterial infection of the vagina.
- Its characterized by:-
* Fishy odor
* Thin white or clear discharge.
Biophysical profile (BPP)
- NST (Non-stress Test-Evaluation of fetal response) plus an Ultrasound that permits detailed physical and physiological characteristics of the fetus to determine fetal wellbeing.
Birth canal
🔸This is where the baby is naturally born.
🔹 It consists of the vagina and the lower part of the uterus.
Birth control
- Its the practice of preventing pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
🔹 Its the process of feeding an infant from a mother’s breast.
🔸 Pure breastfeeding (no other foods) is recommended for infants 0-6 months.
Caesarean section
- Its a surgical procedure used to deliver babies when a natural birth is impractical or potentially dangerous to the mother or infant.
Cervical OS
- It’s the opening in the cervix into the uterus.
Cervix
- Its an elongated tube structure in the bottom part of the uterus.
Chorion
- Its the fetal membrane closest to the intrauterine wall
Contraception
- Its any kind of birth control that specifically applies to preventing pregnancy in the face of sexual intercourse.
Crowning
- Its the stage of giving birth when the fetus’ head is visible; this occurs immediately before the fetus is born.
Delivery
- Its the process through which the doctor, nurse, and/or midwife helps birth the baby.
Dysmenorrhea
- Its the pain right before or during menstruation.
Ectopic Pregnancy
- Its a pregnancy that occurs somewhere other than the uterus, that can cause serious harm to the mother if left untreated.
EDD, EDB, EDC
🔸 EDD - Expected Date of Delivery.
🔹 EDB - Expected Date of Birth.
🔸EDC - Estimated Date of Confinement (When the birth of the infant is expected.)
Endometriosis
- Its a condition that occurs when the endometrium is found outside the uterus; can lead to pain and heaving bleeding.
Endometrium
- Its the layer that lines the uterus; it is made of mucus and fills with blood and nutrients during the menstrual cycle; its shedding leads to the menstrual period.
Episiotomy
- Its a cut made in the mother’s perineum (the section between her vagina and anus) that allows the baby to be born with minimal complications.
Fetal well-being
- Its the determination that the fetus is growing appropriately physically and physiologically
Fetus
- Its an unborn baby that is still developing in the mother’s body.
FH
Fetal heart.
FM
Fetal movement.
Fundus
🔸 Its the top of the uterus.
- The height measurements helps assess the growth and development of the fetus and how many weeks it has been growing.
Gestation
- Its the length of pregnancy.
(Usually 40 weeks in humans)
Gravida
- Its a woman who is pregnant.
Gravidity
Pregnancy
Gynecologist
- A doctor specializing in women’s health.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
- An abnormal condition of pregnancy characterized by excessive vomiting.
Hysterectomy
- A surgical procedure used to remove all or part of the uterus.
Infant
- A newborn from (1 - 12 months) of age
Infertility
- Its the inability to get pregnant and maintain the fetus to birth.
Intrapartum
- A period during delivery.
Labor
- Its the process of birthing the fetus.
(The cervical change with regular contractions).
LMP
🔸 LMP - Last Menstrual Period.
- This date is asked of the mother and helps determine when she became pregnant so an expected date of delivery can be determined.
Mammogram
- A medical examination of the breasts.
Mastectomy
- A surgical procedure to remove part or all of the breasts.
- It can be done to prevent a disease (such as breast cancer) or after such a disease has developed.
Menopause
- Its the period in a woman’s life when the menstrual period ceases and her body undergoes various hormonal changes.
- Must be at least 12 months with no bleeding.
Menstrual Cycle
- Its the cycle of menstruation, shedding of the uterine lining, and reformation of the uterine lining.
Menstruation
- Its the process that women experience when she discharges blood and other material from the uterus when she is not pregnant.
Menstrual Period
- Its another word for menstruation, period or cycle.
Midwife
- A trained professional who helps a woman deliver her baby.
Miscarriage
- Its a natural termination of pregnancy.
Morning Sickness
- Its the tendency for some pregnant women to feel sick in the morning.
- (Hyperemesis gravidarum if severe)
Multigravida or Multiparous (Multip)
- Its describing a woman who has been pregnant before, including miscarriages and abortions that did not lead to giving birth.
(Pregnancies + Miscarriages + Abortions)
Multipara
- Its describing a woman who has given birth before; does not include miscarriages and abortions that did not lead to giving birth.
(Pregnancies - Miscarriages - Abortions)
NAD
🔸 NAD - Nothing Abnormal Detected.
- No abnormalities detected, meaning that the fetus appears to be developing normally.
Neonatal
- Its the period right from BIRTH to 1 month
NST
🔸 NST - Non-stress Test-Evaluation of fetal response (FHR) to fetal movement, uterine contractions or stimulation.
Obstetrician
- A doctor specializing in pregnant women and pregnancy.
Occipital Anterior
- Its the position of the fetus when the face is towards your spine.
Occipital Posterior
- Its the position of the fetus when the face is towards your belly button.
Ovary
- The female organs that hold unfertilized eggs.
Palpation
- Its the ability of the doctor, midwife or nurse to feel the baby’s movement by touching the mother’s stomach.
Pap Smear
-Its a test that is part of a screening process for cervical cancer.
Parity/ Para
- Its the number of pregnancies in which the fetus has reached 20 weeks gestation. Para = delivery
PIH
🔸 PIH (Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension) or an instance of high blood pressure due to pregnancy.
- If not managed, the hypertension may persist after birth.
Placenta
- Its the organ through which the mother provides nutrition to the fetus and helps remove waste products during pregnancy; has a protective effect to the unborn baby.
Placenta abruption/abruption placentae
-Its the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall
Placenta accreta
- Its an unusual placenta adherence, usually in the myometrium. Associated with attachment to other organs like the bladder
Placenta previa
- Its when the placenta is implanted in the lower uterine segment close or covering the cervical os.
Postpartum/postnatal
- Its the period after the birth of the baby.
Post term
- Its a baby that is born past 42 weeks gestation
Premature
- Its a baby that is born before its due date and may be more vulnerable to different diseases or health problems.
Premature PROM
- Its the Premature rupture of membranes before 37.0 weeks of gestation
Preterm
- Its a premature baby between 20.7 – 36.6 weeks of gestation.
Primigravida
- Its describes a woman who has not been pregnant before, including miscarriages and abortions that did not lead to giving birth.
Primipara
- Its describes a woman who has not given birth before; does not include miscarriages and abortions that did not lead to giving birth.
PROM
- Its the Premature rupture of membranes before the onset of labor.
Rupture of Membranes
- Its the breaking of the bag of water.
Skin-to-Skin
- Its the contact between the infant and the mother of skin to skin right after birth; this type of contact is said to improve health of both the mother and baby.
Stillbirth
- Its when a baby is born dead.
Term
- Any period greater than 37.0 weeks gestation
Trimesters
- Its the determination of the length of pregnancy is broken down by weeks
🔸 1st Trimester - (0 - 13 weeks)
🔹 2nd Trimester - (14 - 26 weeks)
🔸 3rd Trimester - (27 - 40 weeks)
Ultrasound
- Its a scan that is used for pregnant women to allow them to see their fetus during checkups.
Umbilical Cord
- Its the cord that connects the placenta and the fetus.
Uterus
- Its the organ in the mother in which the fetus grows.
Viability
🔸 Its the capability of living outside the womb.
- The book uses 22-25 weeks gestation.
- (However, according to WHO, fetal viability is possible after 20 weeks of fetal life (22 weeks of amenorrhea)).
- (ACOG defines it as “the capacity of the fetus for sustained survival outside the woman’s uterus. Whether or not this capacity exists is a medical determination, may vary with each pregnancy and is a matter for the judgement of responsible health care provider.”)
Womb
- Its another term for the (Uterus).
- Usually referring to the uterus during pregnancy.
Which are the important organizations for Women and Pregnancy?
🔸 ANA - American Nurses Association
🔹 AWHONN – The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
🔸 ACOG – The American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecologists
🔹 There are others but these are the main 3
