Obstetrics Terminology Quiz

Gravida/Gravidity

• Gravida is the number of pregnancies a woman has had, including the current pregnancy, abortions, and twins/triplets (counted as one).

Para/Parity

• Parity is the number of viable births (after 20 weeks gestation) a woman has had, including both live births and stillbirths. Twins/triplets count as one parity.

Nullipara

• A woman who has never given birth.

Primipara

• A woman who has given birth to one child.

Multipara

• A woman who has given birth to two or more children.

Viability

• 20 weeks gestation

Total Weeks of Gestation

• 40 weeks

Preterm

• A pregnancy that reaches 20 weeks of gestation but ends before completion of 37 weeks (in real-world terms, 35 weeks).

Term

• A pregnancy that ends between 37 and 42 weeks gestation.

Postterm/Postdate

• A pregnancy that ends after 42 weeks gestation.

GTPAL

• Gravidity, Term Births, Preterm Births, Abortions/Miscarriages, Living Children

Naegele's Rule

• Used to estimate the Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD). Formula: EDD = LMP - 3 months + 7 days + 1 year.

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy

• Subjective signs, such as missed period (amenorrhea), fatigue, breast enlargement/soreness, increased urination frequency, and nausea/vomiting (N/V).

Probable Signs of Pregnancy

• Objective signs, such as a positive pregnancy test, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign, Hegar's sign, enlarged uterus, and possible Braxton Hicks contractions.

Positive Signs of Pregnancy

• Objective and definitive signs, such as fetal movement, detecting fetal heart tones (FHT) electronically, visualizing the fetus through ultrasound, and observing the fetus moving.

Quickening

• A woman's first awareness of fetal movement, typically between 18-20 weeks in primigravidas and 14-16 weeks in multigravidas.

Antepartal Testing

• Biophysical profile (BPP): non-stress test (NST) for reactive response, ultrasound for fetal heart rate, and amniotic fluid index (AFI) between 8 and 18 cm. Nuchal translucency involves ultrasound and serum testing during weeks 11-16 for chromosomal disorders.

Healthy People 2030 Goals

• Reducing fetal deaths after 20 weeks, increasing early and thorough prenatal care access, reducing preterm births, and increasing the proportion of women with healthy pre-pregnancy weight.

Pregnancy Hormones

• Progesterone, relaxin, prolactin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and oxytocin. Progesterone maintains the pregnancy, relaxin relaxes muscles and ligaments, prolactin stimulates milk production, hCG prevents menstruation, and oxytocin stimulates contractions.

Tocolytics

• Drugs to stop preterm labor contractions, such as Terbutaline (Brethine) which is a beta adrenergic agonist, Nifedipine (Procardia), and Magnesium Sulfate.

Hydralazine + Labetalol

• Drugs of choice for gestational hypertension (HTN) and preeclampsia.

Betamethasone (Celestone)

• Steroid to stimulate lung surfactant production in fetuses experiencing preterm labor prior to 35 weeks.

Infertility and IVF

• Infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months (6 months for women over age 35). Common treatments include Clomid (stimulates FSH and LH release) and Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART).

Ectopic Pregnancy

• Implantation of the fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, a potentially life-threatening condition requiring treatment.

Placenta Previa

• Placenta covering the cervical opening. A C-section is usually required.

Placenta Abruption

• Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Anemia

• Hemoglobin concentration below a healthy level, defined as less than 10 g/dL for hematocrit and 36% for hemoglobin.

Gestational HTN/Preeclampsia/Eclampsia

• Elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, with possible complications like blurred vision, dizziness, headache, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, seizures.

HELLP Syndrome + DIC

• Severe complication of preeclampsia involving hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets. Can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Gestational Diabetes

• Diabetes during pregnancy, with hypoglycemia as a potential concern for the newborn.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

• Excessive vomiting during pregnancy, leading to electrolyte, metabolic, and nutritional imbalances.

Smoking, Alcohol, and Drug Use Effects

• Smoking, alcohol, and drug use negatively affect fetal development.

Abortion vs. IUFD

• Abortion occurs before 20 weeks, while intrauterine fetal demise occurs after 20 weeks.

Incompetent Cervix

• Premature dilation of the cervix during pregnancy, often requiring treatment like cerclage.

TORCH Infections

• Infections that can affect a fetus, including toxoplasmosis, other infections (e.g., STIs), rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes.

Group Beta Streptococcus (GBS)

• Bacterial infections common in newborns where the mother receives antibiotics during delivery to prevent complications.

RhoGAM

• Used to prevent complications in Rh-negative mothers carrying Rh-positive fetuses.

Fetal Movement

• The frequency of fetal movement (kicks) in a 2-hour period to ensure fetal well-being, typically 10 kicks within 2 hours, and the fetus should not sleep for more than 30 minutes.