Reproduction Flashcards
Procedure in which a needle is inserted through the abdominal and uterine walls under ultrasound guidance into the amniotic sac to withdraw some fluid; used for assessment of fetal health and maturity
Amniocentesis
Fluid surrounding the fetus; derived primarily from maternal serum and fetal urine
Amniotic fluid
Mild, intermittent, painless uterine contractions that occur during pregnancy. These contractions occur more frequently as pregnancy advances but do not represent true labor
Braxton Hicks Contraction
Yellowish premilk fluid secreted by the breasts during the second trimester of pregnancy; the fluid in the breasts from pregnancy into the early postpartum period. It is more concentrated than mature milk and is extremely rich in immunoglobulins; it has higher concentrations of protein and minerals but less fat than mature milk
Colostrum
Test to stimulate uterine contractions for the purpose of assessing fetal response to stress; it identifies a fetus that is stable at rest but shows evidence of compromise after stress. This test is also known as the oxytocin challenge test.
Contraction Stress Test (CST)
A test to determine the Rh factor in the maternal blood. Indirect: determination of Rh positive antibodies in maternal blood. Direct: determination of maternal Rh positive antibodies in fetal cord blood. A positive test result indicates the presence of antibodies
Coombs test
Birth of a fetus by an incision through the abdominal wall and uterus
C-section
Surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vaginal outlet, facilitate birth, and avoid laceration of the perineum
Episiotomy
Approximate date of birth. Usually determined by calculation using the Naegle rule; “due date”
Estimated date of birth (EDB) or estimated due date (EDD)
Method for calculating the EDB based on the woman’s last menstrual period by subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days from the last menstrual period and adding year as needed
Naegle Rule
heart rate of the fetus (110-160bpm)
Fetal heart rate
Excessive bleeding; traditionally defined as a loss of 500mL or more of blood in vaginal birth and 1000mL or more in c-section birth
Hemorrhage
Decreased capacity to conceive. This term implies subfertility, a prolonged time to conceive, as opposed to sterility, which means total inability to conceive
Infertility
Reduction in size of the uterus after birth and return to the nonpregnant state
Involution
Series of process by which the fetus is expelled from the uterus; parturition; birth
Labor
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 nulliparas
Lightening
Pigmented line extending from the symphysis to the top of the fundus in the midline; common during pregnancy
Linea nigra
Red, distinctly blood-tinged vaginal flow that follows birth and lasts 1-3 days; consists mainly of blood, serum, leukocytes, and tissue debris
Lochia rubra
Thin, yellowish to white, vaginal discharge that follows lochia serosa approx. 10-14 days after birth and may last from 3-6 weeks postpartum; consists primarily of white blood cells and trophoblastic tissue debris
Lochia alba
Serous, pinkish brown, watery vaginal discharge that follows lochia rubra; from 4 to 10 days after birth; consists of old blood, serum, leukocytes, and tissue debris
Lochia serosa
Stimulation of ineffective uterine contractions after labor has started spontaneously but is not progressing satisfactorily in order to speed up labor
Augmentation of labor
Chemical or mechanical initiation of uterine contractions before their spontaneous onset for the purpose of bringing about birth
Induction of labor
Blotchy, brownish hyperpigmentation of the skin over the cheeks, nose, and forehead, especially in dark-complexioned pregnant women and some women taking oral contraceptives; also known as chloasma, or mask of pregnancy
Melasma
A pH indicator dye; indicates the difference in amniotic fluid (turns blue) and urine
Nitrazine
A woman who is pregnant or the number of pregnancies that have occurred
Gravida
A woman who has not completed a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks of gestation
Nullipara
37 weeks or more gestation
Term
A woman who is pregnant for the first time
Primigravida
Birth that occurs before 37 weeks gestation but after 20 weeks gestation
Preterm
A woman who has completed one pregnancy with a fetus or fetuses who have reached at least 20 weeks gestation
Primipara
A woman who has had two or more pregnancies
Multigravida
A woman who has completed two or more pregnancies to at least 20 weeks gestation
Multipara
Periodic ripening and discharge of the ovum from the ovary, usually 14 days before the onset of menstrual flow; the release of a mature ovum from the ovary at intervals (usually monthly)
Ovulation
Phase in the first stage of labor, which begins at 6 cm of cervical dilation and ends with complete cervical dilation at 10 cm
Active phase of first stage of labor
Phase extending from the onset of labor, characterized by regular, painful uterine contractions that cause cervical change, to the beginning of the active phase
Latent phase of first-stage labor
Period of rest and relative calm at the beginning of the second stage if labor; sometimes referred to as delayed pushing, laboring down, or passive descent. During this phase the fetus continues to descend passively through the birth canal and rotate to an anterior position as a result of ongoing uterine contractions. The urge to bear down is not strong, and some women do not experience it at all or only during the peak of a contraction.
Latent phase of second stage labor
Labor that lasts less than 3 hours from the onset of contractions to the time of birth
Precipitous labor/birth
The interval between the birth of the newborn and the return of the reproductive organs to their normal nonpregnant state; also known as the fourth trimester of pregnancy or the puerperium
Postpartum
Giving birth vaginally after having had a previous cesarean birth
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
Testing for Down syndrome, including: NIPT and amniocentesis
Assay for trisomy 21
Feeding an infant this way reduces the risk for SIDS, infant and child mortality, GI infections, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, acute otitis media, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and leukemia. It is recommended for infants for the first year of life and exclusively for the first 6 months. It provides immunologic protection against many infections and diseases.
Breastfeeding
The enlargement or widening of the cervical opening and the cervical canal that occurs once labor has begun. The diameter of the cervix increases from being closed to approximately 10 cm to allow birth of a term fetus
Cervix Dilation
The shortening and thinning of the cervix during the first stage of labor. It is expressed in percentages from 0% to 100%.
Cervical effacement
Relationship of the presenting fetal part to an imaginary line drawn between the ischial spines of the pelvis. It is a measure of the degree of descent of the presenting part of the fetus through the birth canal.
Cervix station
Evaluation of fetal response (fetal heart rate) to fetal movement, uterine contractions, or stimulation
Fetal nonstress test
The top portion of the uterus. Used to determine the fundal height
Fundus
The period of developing inside the womb between conception and birth defined by a time
Gestation
Leading cause of perinatal infections including bacteremia, endometritis, chorioamnionitis, and urinary tract infection. In the newborn, it can cause focal or systemic disease. Transmission of this to the neonate from mothers who are colonized usually occurs just before or during birth.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
Swollen veins in the anus and rectum that can occur during pregnancy from the pressure on the lower abdomen, straining to have a bowel movement, and/or from the strain of labor
Hemorrhoid
The first day (onset of bleeding) of a woman’s most recent menstrual cycle. It is used to determine estimated due date for infant
Last menstrual period (LMP)
Blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in a pregnant woman’s blood to screen for birth defects and genetic disorders in the fetus
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein
Periodic uterine bleeding that begins approximately 14 days after ovulation. The average duration is 5 days (range of 3-6 days) and the average blood loss is 50mL (range of 20 to 80mL)
Menstrual cycle
The number of pregnancies that reached 20 weeks or more of gestation
Para
The practice of washing the genital and anal areas of the body. During pregnancy, it is recommended to clean these areas at least once a day, or more often if you are incontinent. Use lukewarm water and dry carefully. A massage of these areas once or twice a week between 34-36 weeks of pregnancy is recommended.
Pericare
The period of pregnancy before childbirth or before the onset of labor
Antepartum/prenatal
The period of pregnancy that begins with the onset of labor and ends with the delivery of the placenta and newborn
Intrapartum
A shallow bath of warm water that you sit in to relieve discomfort in the genital and anal areas
Sitz bath
During this procedure, a device is inserted into the vaginal canal, similar to a tampon. It is a painless imaging technique that uses sound waves to create a detailed image of the pelvic cavity to confirm or monitor pregnancy, determine how far along the pregnancy is, monitor the baby’s heartbeat, identify the warning signs of miscarriage or early delivery.
Transvaginal ultrasound
The muscles of the uterus tighten and relax, which is essential for fetal development and delivery. They are strong and last about 30 to 70 seconds, coming minutes apart, and strength increases as time progresses. They help open the cervix and move the baby down the birth canal and feel like a cramping or tightening sensation that starts in the back and moves around to the front. The abdomen becomes hard to touch during this.
Uterine contraction
When a baby and placenta pass through the birth canal and vaginal opening
Vaginal birth
A bronchodilator medication that relaxes uterine smooth muscle to delay delivery and is commonly used for inhibition of preterm labor.
Side effects: insomnia, headache, vomiting, hyperglycemia, angina, HTN, tachycardia, arrhythmias.
Avoid large amounts of green tea when taking this medication.
Terbutaline
An antihypertensive medication used to treat hypertension in pregnancy and delay preterm labor.
Side effects: anxiety, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, blurred vision, cough, dyspnea, arrhythmia, peripheral edema, hypotension, tachycardia, dysuria, nocturia, increased sweating, hyperglycemia, anemia
Procardia
An oxytoxic medication used to stimulate uterine contractions similar to labor to promote labor.
Side effects: hypotension, hypertension, uterine rupture, uterine hyperstimulation, fetal bradycardia
Administered vaginally. Patient should remain supine 10-15 minutes after insertion of suppository, 2 hours after vaginal insert, or 15-30 minutes after gel insert
Dinoprostone
An oxytoxic hormone medication used to produce uterine contractions for stimulation, induction of labor, missed or incomplete abortion, and control of bleeding for postpartum bleeding.
Side effects: Seizures, tetanic contractions, tachy/bradycardia, hypo/hypertension, premature ventricular contractions, placental abruption, decreased uterine blood flow; fetal dysrhythmia, jaundice, hypoxia, intracranial hemorrhage
Oxytocin
An oxytoxic/prostoglandin medication used to stimulate uterine contractions for induction of mid-trimester abortion to expel the fetus or to control postpartum bleeding.
Side effects: severe pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, high fever, severe nausea, vomiting, hypertension, numbness, seizure,anemia
Carboprost
An oxytoxic medication used to stimulate uterine contractions for prevention or treatment of hemorrhage postpartum or after abortion.
Side effects: seizures, hypo/hypertension, dysrhythmia, sweating, leg cramps, dyspnea
Methylergonovine
A teratogen medication used to complete abortion, induction of labor, cervical ripening, and/or treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.
Side effects: uterine rupture, incomplete miscarriage
Misoprostol
