OBSTETRIC TERMS

 Abruptio placentae A partial or full detachment of a normally implanted

placenta at more than 20 weeks’ gestation.

 Antepartum or prenatal : Time between conception and onset of labor

 Intrapartum : Time from onset of true labor until the birth of the infant
and placenta

 Postpartum : Time from birth until the woman’s body returns to an

essentially pre-pregnancy condition physically and psychologically

 Nulligravida : A woman who has never been pregnant

 Primigravida :A woman who is pregnant for the first time

 Multigravida :A woman who is in her second or any subsequent

pregnancy
Nullipara :A woman who has not given birth at more than 20
weeks gestation

Amniotic fluid : Fluid in the amniotic sac; primarily produced

by the fetal urine and placenta.

Amniotic fluid embolism An embolism that occurs when

particulate matter in amniotic fluid forms an embolus and gains
access to maternal circulation during labor or delivery or
immediately after delivery.

Amniotic sac: A thin-walled bag that contains the fetus and

amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

Apgar score : The evaluation of a newborn’s physical condition,

usually performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, including
heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and
color.
 Stillbirth : A fetus born dead after 20 weeks’ gestation

Cord presentation : A presentation that occurs when the cord slips down into
the vagina or appears externally after the amniotic membranes have ruptured.

Crowning :The phase at the end of labor in which the fetal head is seen at the
opening of the vagina.

Eclampsia A grave form of pregnancy-induced hypertension, characterized

by convulsions, coma, proteinuria, and edema.

Ectopic pregnancy :A pregnancy that occurs when a fertilized ovum implants

anywhere other than the uterus.

Fundal massage: The application of external pressure to the uterus to stop

postpartum bleeding.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: A disorder characterized by impaired ability to

metabolize carbohydrates, usually caused by a deficiency of insulin; it occurs
in pregnancy and disappears after delivery but in some cases returns years
later.
Gestational hypertension : hypertension that occurs during the
latter stages of pregnancy (>20 weeks) without any other features
of preeclampsia, and resolves during the postpartum period;
recognized by a new blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg
or higher.

First stage of labor : The stage of labor that begins with

contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated at 10 cm;
divided into early labor, active labor, and transition

Gestation : The period from fertilization of the ovum until birth.

Parturition : The process by which an infant is born.

Ovum: An egg in the ovary of a female.

Para : The number of past pregnancies that have remained viable

to delivery.
Gravida: The number of all current and past pregnancies

Embryo In human beings the stage of prenatal development between

the time of implantation of the fertilized ovum until the end of the
.seventh or eighth week

Estimated date of confinement : Delivery date for the fetus

Fetus Unborn young, from the third month of the intrauterine period
until birth

HELLP syndrome A severe form of preeclampsia with H, hemolysis;

.EL, elevated liver enzymes; and LP, low platelet count

Hydrops fetal is : A fetal condition characterized by the

accumulation of fluid throughout body tissues, including the lungs,
.heart, and abdominal organs
.Uterine atony : The lack of uterine tone

Umbilical cord : A flexible structure connecting the umbilicus of the

fetus with the placenta and giving passage to the umbilical arteries
.and vein

Trimester : One of three periods of approximately 3 months into

which pregnancy is divided

Third-trimester bleeding : Vaginal bleeding that occurs in the third

.trimester of pregnancy

Third stage of labor : The stage of labor that begins with delivery of
the infant and ends when the placenta is expelled and the uterus has
contracted
Hyperemesis gravidarum A condition of pregnancy characterized
by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte
disturbance; sometimes referred to as “a severe case of morning
”.sickness
Zygote: The developing ovum from the time it is fertilized until
.it is implanted in the uterus as a blastocyst

Uterine rupture : A spontaneous or traumatic rupture of the

uterine wall
Premature rupture of the membranes : Rupture of the
amniotic sac before the onset of labor, regardless of gestational
age.

Prolapsed umbilical cord: An umbilical cord that protrudes

beside or ahead of the presenting part of the fetus.

placenta Previa: Placental implantation in the lower uterine

segment partially or completely covering the cervical opening.

postpartum hemorrhage: Blood loss of more than 500 mL after

delivery of the newborn.
Spontaneous abortion : The nontherapeutic termination of
pregnancy that usually occurs before 20 weeks’ gestation; the lay
term is miscarriage.

Second stage of labor : The stage of labor that is measured from

full dilation of the cervix to delivery of the infant.

Shoulder dystocia : An obstacle to delivery that occurs when the

fetal shoulders press against the maternal symphysis pubis, blocking
shoulder delivery.

Shoulder presentation: The presentation that results when the long

axis of the fetus lies perpendicular to that of the mother; also known
as transverse presentation.

Premature infant : An infant who is born before 37 weeks’

gestation.
precipitous delivery : A rapid, spontaneous delivery of less than
3 hours from onset of labor to birth; it results from overactive
uterine contractions and little maternal soft tissue or bony
resistance. Childbirth that occurs with such speed that usual
preparations cannot be made.

Preeclampsia: An abnormal disease of pregnancy characterized

by the onset of acute hypertension associated with proteinuria
after the twentieth week of gestation.

Placenta: A highly vascular fetal-maternal organ through which

the fetus absorbs oxygen, nutrients, and other substances and
excretes carbon dioxide and other wastes.
lochia A normal postpartum vaginal discharge that contains blood,
mucus, and placental tissue from the lining of the uterus.

mucous plug A collection of cervical mucus that fills and seals the
cervical canal during pregnancy. It is discharged from the vagina during
childbirth.

multiple gestation A pregnancy with more than one fetus.

Cephalopelvic disproportion : An obstetrical condition in which a newborn’s

head is too large or a mother’s birth canal too small to permit a normal vaginal
delivery.

Braxton-Hicks contractions: Irregular tightening of the pregnant •

uterus that begins in the first trimester and increases in frequency,
duration, and intensity as pregnancy progresses
Leucorrhea: a whitish or yellowish discharge of mucus from the
vagina.
Linea nigra: (Latin for "black line") is a dark vertical line that appears
on the abdomen in about three quarters of all pregnancies.
Chloasma: a temporary condition, typically caused by hormonal
changes, in which large brown patches form on the skin.

UTIs: urinary tract infections.

Cardiac output: the amount of blood pumped by the heart per
minute (5 L/min).
Normal pulse rate is 60 – 100.
Fetus: unborn child.
Viable fetus: ≥ 24 weeks of gestation.
Newborn: first a few hours of life.
Neonate: 1 day – 28 days (< 1 month).
Infant: > 1 month - < 1 year.
Toddler: 1-3 year.
Preschooler: 3-5 years.
Schooler: 5-12 years.
Adolescent: 13-18 years.