This hormone, secreted by the corpus luteum and later the placenta, is known as the ‘hormone of pregnancy’ because it supports uterine lining and fetal growth.
What is progesterone?
Despite a 40-50% increase in blood volume, this type of vessel pressure remains unchanged in pregnancy.
What is arterial vessel pressure
This category of pregnancy signs includes symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness, but cannot confirm pregnancy. (All can be related to other body systems/ processes)
What are presumptive signs of pregnancy
This non-invasive test uses fetal DNA fragments in maternal blood to screen for trisomies 21, 13, and 18 as early as 9–10 weeks.
What is Cell-Free Fetal DNA (cfDNA) screening?
This condition is characterized by excessive vomiting during pregnancy, leading to dehydration, ketonuria, and a weight loss of 5% or more of pre pregnancy wt.
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
During this part of the uterine cycle, spiral arteries constrict due to falling estrogen and progesterone levels, leading to rupture and the start of menstruation.
What is the ischemic phase?
This sign of pregnancy is characterized by a bluish discoloration of the cervix and vaginal walls due to increased vascularization.
What is Chadwick’s sign?
List two nursing interventions to support nutritional health in pregnant vegetarians or vegans. (What are the main two groups this population misses out on?)
What are recommending high protein alternatives like Greek yogurt and nut butters; calcium supplements.
This ultrasound test measures fluid at the back of the fetal neck between 11–13 weeks and can indicate risk for chromosomal abnormalities.
What is Nuchal Translucency (NT) screening?
This condition involves painless cervical dilation without UC’s and may be managed with a cerclage and progesterone therapy.
What is cervical insufficiency?
Before a sperm can fertilize an ovum, it must undergo these two processes – one removes the plasma membrane around the acrosomal area, and the other releases enzymes to penetrate the ovum.
What is capacitation and acrosomal reaction?
Despite a 25% increase in RBC’s this condition occurs due to a 50% increase in plasma volume.
What is physiologic anemia of pregnancy? (Pseudo anemia)
Name three substances or infections that are considered teratogenic and can harm fetal development.
What are alcohol, smoking, TORCH, rubella, pesticides, radiation etc.
This test, done between 15–20 weeks, measures AFP, hCG, UE, and Inhibin-A to assess risk for neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities.
What is the Quad Screen?
Despite appearing uninjured, a pregnant trauma patient must be monitored for several complications in the first 4 hours after the trauma. Name 3 of them.
What is placental abruption, uterine rupture, hemorrhage, shock, death.
This phase of the ovarian cycle begins after ovulation and is characterized by the development of the corpus luteum, which secrets high levels of progesterone.
What is the luteal phase?
This sign of pregnancy is seen on the abdomen and cheeks of women as a hyperpigmented area.
What is Linea nigra and chloasma.
Name three foods or substances that pregnant women should avoid due to the risk of E. coli, listeria, salmonella, or mercury exposure.
What are deli meats, unpasteurized cheese, and raw fish?
This first-trimester diagnostic test samples placental tissue to detect genetic and metabolic abnormalities but cannot detect neural tube defects.
What is Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)?
This TORCH infection is transmitted during a vaginal birth if there are open lesions on the genitals during birth. Name the disease and the treatment during pregnancy.
What is herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Acyclovir.
If a fertilized ovum splits between day 8-12 after conception, the resulting twins will share both a chorion and an amnion. These twins are rare but have a low survival rate. Name the twins and explain why the survival rate is so low.
What is monochorionic- monoamniotic twins? Umbilical cords tangling = fetal death
This combination of hormonal and mechanical changes in the second half of pregnancy can lead to delayed gastric emptying and heartburn. Name two nursing interventions that address these discomforts and explain the rationale behind each.
What are encouraging a high-fiber diet and walking, small, frequent meals, and upright posture after eating
Teen pregnancy is associated with increased risks such as preterm birth, SGA, CPD, and lack of prenatal care. Name one nursing intervention that can help improve outcomes for pregnant teens and their babies.
What is providing early and consistent prenatal education and support to encourage timely care and healthy behaviors?
This second-trimester test collects amniotic fluid to detect chromosome abnormalities, neural tube defects, and metabolic disorders, with a small risk of miscarriage.
What is Amniocentesis?
This condition is caused by proliferation of trophoblastic cells, resulting in the formation of an abnormal placenta that is filled with grapelike clusters. Name 3 s/s of this condition and describe the treatment for it.
What is brownish (prune juice) vaginal bleeding, passing vesicles, marked elevated hCG levels, hyperemesis.
What is D&C and possible hysterectomy.