Signs of Pregnancy
What are the three types of signs of pregnancy?
Presumptive, Probable, & Positive
What foods are high in Folate acid and Folic Acid?
How much is recommended?
Why is it important?
Folate Acid: leafy vegetables, dried peas, beans, and orange juice
Folic Acid: Breads, cereals, & other grains
Important to prevent Neural Tube Defects (NTDS), proper closure of the neural tube is required for normal function of the spinal cord
Childbearing age take 400mcg of follic acid if pregnant 600 mcg daily
What does GTPAL stand for?
G- Gravita
T- Term births-38 weeks
P-Preterm birth 37 weeks & under
A- Abortions/miscarriages- prior to viability under 25 weeks
L-Living Children
Which diagnostic involves confirming pregnancy, gestational age, fetal growth. Also, full bladder improves visualization
Ultrasound
What are the three hormones produced by the placenta and what do they do?
*hCG- maintains corpus luteum until placenta takes over
*Estrogen- promotes uterine growth and breast tissue development
*Progesterone-Maintains uterine linng and prevents contractions
What is presumptive and what are the signs of presumptive pregnancy?
* Not defintive diagnosis for pregnancy; symptoms could be from other underlying conditions*
* Signs: fatigue, enlarged & sore breasts, missing period, urinary frequency, nausea, vomiting, quickening (sensation of fetal movement)
Maternal Phenylketonuria (PKU) what is it and what foods to avoid?
Genetic diease in which the high levels of phenylalanine pose a danger to the fetus ( intellectual diablity, and behavioral)
It is important for clients to resume the PKU diet for at least 3 months prior to pregnancy and continue throughout pregnancy
Diet: Foods that are low in phenylalanine. Avoid PROTEIN ( fish, poultry, meat, eggs, nuts, & dairy products)
Aspartame, which contains phhenylalanine should be avoided by pregnant clients who have PKU
Clients blood phenylalanine levels are monitored during pregnancy.
A womens last menstural period began on May 7th,2025 and it ended on May 11th,2025. What is her Estimated Due Date?
Feburary 14th, 2026
What are the danger signs to report in pregnancy?
* Vaginal bleeding or leakage of fluid
*Severe headache, blurred vison, or epigastric pain
*Decreased fetal movement ( Daniels said I havent felt my baby move in a day is never good)
*Facial or hand swelling
*Persistent vomiting
*Signs of Infection (fever, chills)
What are positive signs of pregnancy and the signs?
* Symptoms that can only be attributed to pregnancy
Signs include: Fetus visualized on ultrasound, Fetal Heart Rate, Delivery of baby, Fetal movement felt by the PROVIDER
What is the disorder called that is nonfood cravings for substances such as ice, clay, and laundry starch
Pica
Rochelle is 8 weeks pregnant her first day of her last menstrual cycle was Novemeber 28, 2024. Calcuate Estimated Due Date.
August 5th,2025
A nurse is caring for a client who is in preterm labor and is scheduled to undergo an amniocentesis. The nurse should evaluate which of the following tests to assess fetal lung maturity?
Lecithin/sphingomyelin(L/S) ratio
A nurse is providing teaching with a client about the disadvantages of various contraceptives. Match each disadvantage with the corresponding contraceptive.
Bilateral tubal ligation: Considered irreversible
IUD: Increases risk of PID
Implantable progesterone: Decreases bone density
Transdermal patch: skin reaction can occur from patch application
Cervical Cap: possible risk of accquiring TTS
Condoms:One time use, decreased sensation
Oral Contraceptives: Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, hypertension, gallbladder disease, pulmonary embolism and liver tumor
What is Ballottement?
Return impact of fetus when uterus pushed with finger
What is probale signs of pregnancy and what are the signs?
All objective signs! Likely signs of pregnancy, still not definitive
Signs include: Positive pregnancy test, enlarged uterus or abdomen, Braxton-Hicks contractions( false contractions), Ballottment, Chadwicks Sign, Goodell's Sign, Hegar's Sign
What foods help absorb iron and which ones to avoid?
Iron: found in red meat, beans, leafy greens, and liver.
Absorption increased with vitamin c and decreased with milk or caffeine.
Patricia is 6 weeks pregnant. Her previous pregnancies reulted in the live birth of a daugther at 40 weeks of gestation, the live birth of a son at 38 weeks of gestation, and a spontaneous abortion at 10 weeks of gestation. Figure out GTPAL
Gravida- 4
Term-2
Preterm-0
Abortions/Miscarriages- 1
Living Children- 2
Which diagnostic fetal test is used for chromsomal abnormalites?
Amniocentesis
-Make asure to monitor after for leakage, bleeding, or infection
Maternal changes during pregnancy:
REPRODUCTION
*Renal: Increased blood flow & GFR, enhances kidney function and ability to balance fluid
Increased urinary output:Due to higher progesterone levels
Increased urinary frequency: caused by uterine pressure on the bladder, especially in the 3rd trimester
Electrolyte changes: Sodium Retention to help manage fluid balance
Risk of UTI's: Due to muscle relaxation; monitor for cloudly, foul-smelling urine, increased urinary frequency, and pain with urination.
*Endocrine: hCG, Progesterone, Estrogen, Prolactin, Oxytocin, Relaxin, Inhibin, hPL, Thyroid hormones, Insulin Resistance, CRH, ACTH, Leptin, Parathyroid hormone
*Pelvic/Posture: Relaxin loosens ligaments, causing pelvic pain and joint issues
Pelvic outlet widens for childbirth. Watch for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor weakness.
Posture: Lordosis (lower back curved in) from shifted center of gravity. Waddling gait due to pelvic instability.
*Respiratory:Body needs more oxygen (20%), Progesterone increases respiratory drive, more air taken in with breathing (increased tidal volume), increase in respiratory rate to meet oxygen demands, diaphragm moves up, which causes shortness of breath. Lower CO2 levels ensure fetal oxygentation.
*Ovarian: Corpus luteum persists to maintain pregnancy in early stages. Ovulation stops due to hormonal feedback. Plays vital role with increasing progesterone and estrogen.
*Digestive: Slowed GI motility leads to constipation, Hemorrhoids from constipation and rectal vein pressure, Heartburn from relaxed esophageal sphincter, nausea due to slowed digestion, increased hunger and taste changes, excessive salivation (ptyalism), gallstone risk due to decreased gallbladder motility
*Uterine: Increased blood flow to the uterus, uterus stretches and moves out of the pelvic cavity, Braxton Hicks contractions in the second trimester, cervix softens and more mucus is produced, placenta forms and sustains pregnancy, round ligament pain may occur
*Circulatory: Blood volume increases up to 50%, heart rate and stroke volume increase, raisng cardiac output, benign heart murmurs may occur due to increased blood volume, orthostatic hypotensionn risk; avoid supine postion to prevent compression of great vessels, varicose veins risk due to increased blood volume and pressure, clotting risk(DVTs) increases from higher clotting factors, anemia risk from iron depletion of RBC dilution due to increased blood volume
*The Immune System: Early pregnancy immune suppression increases infection risk (more likely to get a cold), decreased cell-mediated immunity in early pregnancy to protect the fetus, but humoral immunity remains active (antibody production), autoimmune conditions (SLE,MS,RA) may worsen due to hormonal changes, cytokine levels adjust to support pregnancy and prevent fetal rejection
*Integumentary: Stretch marks on abdomen, breasts,and thighs. Chloasma:Dark face patches( mask of pregnancy), Linea nigra:dark line on abdomen, breast changes:increase in size,tingling, darkening of the areolas, increased pigmentation in aerolas, nipples, and existing mole, spider angiomas:red, spider-like veins, plamr erythema, hirsutism: increased body and facial hair, nail changes:faster, stronger growth, acne:hormonal breakouts
*Other changes: Night sweats: increased body temperature, libido changes:increas or decrease in sexual desire, rhinitis: swelling of nasal passages, carpal tunnel syndrome: swelling compresses wrist nerve, causing numbness/tingling, Pica: cravings for non-food items, possibly indicating nutrient deficiencies(ABNORMAL), Leaking of colostrum in third trimester, hyperosmia: increased sensitvity to smells.
Mood swings: Due to higher progesterone, Vivid dreams or intense dreams, Insomnia:frequent waking at night, short-term memory problems"pregnancy brain". headaches from increased blood volume (should be checked for preeclampsia if too severe)
*Nutritional:Folic Acid, Calcium, Omega-3, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Zinc, Iron, Iodine, Protein