Terms

Question 1

Nulligravida

Answer 1

a woman who has not been pregnant

Question 2

Nullipara

Answer 2

a woman who has not delivered a pregnancy at 20 weeks or greater

Question 3

Primigravida

Answer 3

a woman who is pregnant for the first time

Question 4

Primipara

Answer 4

a woman who has delivered one pregnancy at 20 weeks gestation or greater

Question 5

Multigravida

Answer 5

a woman who is pregnant for at least the second time

Question 6

Multipara

Answer 6

a woman who has delivered at least 2 pregnancies at a gestation of 20 weeks or greater

Question 7

When determining Parity what does GP stand for and what information is provided?

Answer 7

• G is for Gravida
  
  • # of pregnancies
• P is for Para
  
  • Pregnancies that were maintained to 20 weeks and beyond, regardless of outcome

Question 8

What do the letters GTPAL stand for?

Answer 8

• G: Gravida (or gravidity)
• T: Term
• P: Preterm
• A: Abortions
• L: Living children

Question 9

Re: GTPAL

Define G

Answer 9

• Gravida (or gravidity)
  
  • Total # of pregnancies a woman has had regardless of outcome

Question 10

Re: GTPAL

Define T

Answer 10

• Term
  
  • # of pregnancies maintained 38 weeks and beyond, regardless of outcome

Question 11

Re: GTPAL

Define P

Answer 11

• Preterm
  
  • # of pregnancies maintained between 20-37 weeks

Question 12

Re: GTPAL

Define A

Answer 12

• Abortions
  
  • # of pregnancies that ended up to 20 weeks, whether miscarriage or elected
  • (do not ever use this term with patients)

Question 13

Re: GTPAL

Define L

Answer 13

• Living children
  
  • Total # of living children at the time
  • (can enter a note with the reason for the number of any that died, but not part of GTPAL formula)

Question 14

Define Hyperemesis gravidarum

Answer 14

• Hyperemesis gravidarum is extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
• It can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalances.
• Morning sickness is mild nausea and vomiting that occurs in early pregnancy.

Question 15

Define Preeclampsia

Answer 15

• Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys.
• Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had been normal.
• Risk Factors: Kidney disease; Vitamin D deficiency…
• Symptoms: Weight gain; Edema; Hypertension

Question 16

Define

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM)

Answer 16

• Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a rupture (breaking open) of the membranes (amniotic sac) before labor begins.
• If PROM occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is called preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
• PROM occurs in about 8 to 10 percent of all pregnancies.

Question 17

Define

Placenta previa

Answer 17

• Placenta previa occurs when a baby’s placenta partially or totally covers the mother’s cervix
• Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.
• If you have placenta previa, you might bleed throughout your pregnancy and during your delivery.

Question 18

Define

Abruptio placentae

Answer 18

• Abruptio placentae is defined as the premature separation of the placenta from the uterus.
• Patients with abruptio placentae, also called placental abruption, typically present with bleeding, uterine contractions, and fetal distress.

Question 19

Define

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Answer 19

• Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from using insulin effectively.
• Glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells.

Question 20

Define

Amenorrhea

Answer 20

• Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation — one or more missed menstrual periods.
• Women who have missed at least three menstrual periods in a row have amenorrhea, as do girls who haven’t begun menstruation by age 15.
• The most common cause of amenorrhea is pregnancy

Question 21

Define

Glycosuria

Answer 21

• Glycosuria is the excretion of glucose into the urine.
• Ordinarily, urine contains no glucose because the kidneys are able to reabsorb all of the filtered glucose from the tubular fluid back into the bloodstream.

Question 22

Define

Goodell Sign

Answer 22

• Goodell sign is an indication of pregnancy.
• It is a significant softening of the vaginal portion of the cervix from increased vascularization.
• This vascularization is a result of hypertrophy and engorgement of the vessels below the growing uterus.
• This sign occurs at approximately four weeks’ gestation.

Question 23

Define

Chadwick sign

Answer 23

• Chadwick sign is a bluish discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and labia resulting from increased blood flow.
• It can be observed as early as 6 to 8 weeks after conception, and its presence is an early sign of pregnancy.

Question 24

Define

Hegar’s sign

Answer 24

• Hegar’s sign is a non-sensitive indication of pregnancy in women — its absence does not exclude pregnancy.
• It pertains to the features of the cervix and the uterine isthmus.
• It is demonstrated as a softening in the consistency of the uterus, and the uterus and cervix seem to be two separate regions.
• The sign is usually present from 4–6 weeks until the 12th week of pregnancy.
• Hegar’s sign is more difficult to recognize in multiparous women

Question 25

Define

Braxton Hicks contractions

Answer 25

• Braxton Hicks contractions are sporadic contractions and relaxation of the uterine muscle.
• Sometimes, they are referred to as prodromal or “false labor” pains.
• It is believed they start around 6 weeks gestation but usually are not felt until the second or third trimester of the pregnancy.

Question 26

Define

Ballottement

Answer 26

• Ballottement is a sharp upward pushing against the uterine wall with a finger inserted into the vagina for diagnosing pregnancy by feeling the return impact of the displaced fetus