| Term | Definition |
|---|
| lightening | descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy |
| Braxton Hicks Contractions | intermittent painless uterine contractions that occur with increasing frequency as the pregnancy progresses |
| effacement | Thinning and shortening or obliteration of the cervix that occurs during late pregnancy or labor or both. |
| process of labor | passageway, passengers, powers, position of mother, psyche |
| linea terminalis | pelvic inlet |
| attitude | relationship of fetal body parts to one another |
| flexion | at term, the ideal attitude for the fetal body is this |
| fetal position | the relationship of the occiput, sacrum, chin, or scapula of the fetus to the front, back, or sides of the mother's pelvis |
| oligohydramnios | too little amniotic fluid often indicative of fetal urinary tract defect |
| fetal lie | relationship of the cephalocaudal (head-to-buttocks) axis of the fetus to the cephalocaudal axis of the mother |
| fetal presentation | that part of the fetus that first enters the pelvis and lies over the inlet (head, face, breech, or shoulders) describes the part that will bein contact with the cervix |
| hypoxia | insufficient availability of oxygen to meet metabolic needs is indicated by nonreassuring FHR patterns |
| meconium or meonium staining | first stools of the infant: vscid, sticky, dark greenish brown, almost black, sterile, odorless) being released from the fetal rectum in response to hypoxia |
| engagement | occurs when the biparietal diameter of the fetal head crosses the inlet of the pelvis |
| descent | downward progress of the presenting part |
| internal rotation | enables the fetal head to progress through the maternal pelvis |
| extension | occurs when the occiput passes under the symphysis pubis |
| restitution | as soon as the head is delivered, it moves to realign with the body and shoulders |
| external rotaiton | occurs as the shoulders and body move through the birth canal, using the same maneuvers as the head |
| expulsion | the body of the infant leaves the pelvis |
| first stage of L&D | dilation; early latent phase 0-3 cm dilation; mid-active phase, 4-7 cm; transitional phase, 7-10 cm |
| second stage of L&D | delivery, average length is 30 minutes to 2 hours |
| third stage of L&D | delivery of the placenta |
| oxytocin | hormone produced by the pituitary gland, drug that stimulates uterine contractions, thus acelerating childbirth and preventing postdelivery hemorrhage, causes uterus to contract |
| fourth stage of L&D | stabilization, 2-4 hours monitored |
| apgar score | done at 1 and 5 minutes of age, criteria includes heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and skin color. Low score indicates serious problems that may require resuscitation. High score indicates good condition 8-10 is considered optimal |
| surfactant | this decreases surface tension within the alveoli and permits inflation. At time of delivery, a combination of chemical, thermal, tactile, and mehanical changes initiates the first breath |
| amniotomy | artificial rupture of the fetal membrane (AROM) |
| uterine inertia | absence or weakness of uterine contractions |
| fetopelvic disproportion | the head of the fetus is larger than the pelvic outlet |
| puerperium | the period of about six weeks after childbirth during which the mother's reproductive organs return to their original non-pregnant condition |
| involution | reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth) |
| autolysis | the self-dissolution or self-digestion that occurs in tissues or ells by enzymes in the cells themselves |
| lochia | vaginal discharge during puerperium consisting of blood, tissue and mucus |
| lochia rubra | amount of blood content is greatest, resulting in bright red drainage generally seen the first day or two after delivery |
| lochia serosa | as healing of the placental site occurs, the discharge becomes pink to brown which generally occurs until the seventh day |
| lochia alba | after seventh day the drainage is slightly yellow to white |
| signs of hypovolemic shock | persistent sig bleeding; woman states she feels weak, lightheaded, woman begins to act anxious or exhibits air hunger; woman's skin turns ashen or grayish; skin feels cool and clammy; pulse rate increases; blood pressure declines |
| lactation | function of secreting milk or period during which milk is secreted |
| prolactin | a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, is responsible for stimulating milk production in the mammary alveolar cells |
| diuresis | the increased formation and secretion of urine |
| bubble he | breasts, uterus, bladder, bowel, lochia, episiotomy, Homan's sign, emotional status |
| acrocyanosis | hands and feet may appear slightly blue |
| harlequin sign | half of the newborn's body appears deep red and the other side of the body appears pale as a result of vasomotor disturbance, with some vessels constricting while others dilate |
| icterus neonatorum | first detected over bony prominences on the face and on the mucous membranes. This is abnormal during the first 24 hours of life. After 24 hours not necessarily abnormal |
| physiologic jaundice | occuring 48 hours or later after birth, gradually disappearing by the seventh to tenth day and caused by the normal reduction in the numer of red blood cells may appear because the excessive levels of hemoglobins are no longer reuired for oxygen transport |
| vernix caseosa | at birth the skin is covered with a yellowish white cream cheeselike substance |
| lanugo | downy, fine hair char of the fetus between 20 weeks of gestation and birth; most noticeable over the shoulders, forehead and cheeks but it is found on nearly all parts of the body except the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and scalp |
| fontanelles | broad area or soft spot consisting of a strong band of connective tissue contiguous with touching cranial bones and located at the junction of the bones |
| anterior fontanelle | normally large and diamond shaped and closes at approximately 18 months of age |
| posterior fontanelle | smaller and triangular in shape and normally closes at 2 months of age |
| molding | overlapping of bones of the skull happens during delivery |
| caput succedaneum | commonly seen with molding, it is the result of edema in the soft tissue of the scalp, the tissue feels spongy and may be felt over suture lines. This disappears without treatment |
| cephalhematoma | caused by bleeding within the periosteum of a cranial bone. It is confined to a particular bone and does not cross suture lines usually the result of difficult labor and generally appear 1-2 days after birth. Normally absorb w/o treatment |
| Epstein's pearls | small, white nodules may be observed on the hard palate and results because of epithelial cells and will disappear spontaneously within a few weeks. |
| ophthalmia neonatorum | infection in the neonate's eyes, usually resulting from gonorrheal or other infection contracted when the fetus passes through the birth canal |
| strabismus | crossed eyes |
| nystagmus | abnormal motion of the eyes |
| umbilical cord | whitish blue-gray with three vessels (one vein and two arteries) and contains a gelatinous tissue called Wharton's jelly |
| pseudomenstruation | may occur in response to maternal hormones |
| cryptorchidism | testicles that have not descended, usually found in preterm infants |
| moro reflex | infant startle response to sudden, intense noise or movement. When startled the newborn arches its back, throws back its head, and flings out its arms and legs. |
| tonic neck reflex | when infant's head is quickly tured to one side, arm, and leg will extend on that side, and opposite arm and leg will flex; posture resembles a fencing position |
| crawling reflex | when placed on abdomen, infant will make crawling movements with the arms and legs |
| dance or stepping reflex | infant is held so that sole of foot touches a hard surface, there wil be a reciprocal flexion and extension of the leg, simulating walking |
| babinski reflex | when the sole of the foot is stroked along side of sole beginning at hel and then moving across ball of foot to big toe, toes will fan out with dorsiflexion of big toe |
| Down syndrome | mongolism or trisomy 21 caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 in the G group |
| colostrum | breast milk's first substance produces thin, watery and slightly yellow rich in protein and calories in addition to antibodies and lymphocytes |
| traditional milk | produced for about 1 week may appear thinner and more watery; and high in fats, lactose and water-soluble vitamins and contains more calories than colostrum |
| mature milk | est by 2 weeks after delivery and may appear very thin and watery and provides 20 kcal per ounce and contains lactose, proteins, minerals, and vitamins |
| morbidity | state of being diseased |
| mortality | quality or state of being subject to death |
| hyperemesis gravida | vomiting during pregnancy excessively to cause major electrolyte imbalances, metabolic and nutritional |
| hydatidiform mole | gestational trohpoblastic disease; usually fetus, placenta, amniotic membranes or fluid are present but abnormal |
| ectopic pregnancy | pregnancy resulting from gestation elsewhere than in the uterus |
| spontaneous abortion | miscarriage |
| placenta previa | implantation of placenta in lower uterine segment; degrees: complete, partial or marginal; will have cesarean birth |
| abruptio placentae | premature separation of placenta; either from trauma, maternal hypertension, high parity multifetal gestation; social drug use |
| disseminated intravascular coagulation | coagulation defect that prevents blood from clotting; may occur with abruptio placentae, incomplete abortion, hypertensive disease, infectious process, elevated fibrin levels lead to multiple small clots which could obstruct vessels, cause ischemia, and damage vital organs; it's sudden; chest pain or dyspnea; shock from hemorrhage; observe for signs of bleeding, vs, fhr, and I&O; needs IV administration of fibrinogen, blood and other substances; deliver fetus |
| postpartum hemorrhage | two stage: early postpartum is blood loss greater than 500 mL after vaginal childbirth or 100 mL after cesarean birth but this is not unusual during childbirth occurs within 24 hours; late postpartum hemorrhage ocurs after the first 24 hours |
| pregnancy induced hypertension (gestational hypertension) | bp exceeds 140/90 after 20th week; increased bp, decreased placental perfusion, decreased renal perfusion, altered glomerular filtration rate, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance |
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