Midwifery Study Guide 2023 with complete solution
Lie
the relationship of the long axis of the fetus to the long axis of the uterus
Attitude
The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to the fetal trunk.
Presentation
The part of the fetus which lies in the lower segment of the uterus.
Denominator
A fixed point on the presenting part used to describe position.
Position
The relationship of a denominator to the quadrants of the maternal pelvis eg. left occipto
anterior (LOA)
Engagement
The largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic brim. Pelvic
brim widest from side to side. At the level of the ischial spines 0 = engagement.
Station
refers to the level of presenting part in relation to the maternal ischial spines, whihc
represent the narrowest diameter through which the fetus must pass, +stations indicates
that the presenting part of the fetus has descended past the ischial spines.
Mechanisms of labour
Passive movements of the fetus as it passes through the birth canal, adapting to the
shape of the maternal pelvis.
Normal labour
A process by which the fetus, placenta and membranes are expelled through the birth
canal. normal labour begins spontaneously without intervention, with the fetus
presenting by the vertex-duration 4-24hours.
Pre term labour
onset of labour before 37weeks of pregnancy.
Antenatal period
time of conception until the onset of labour.
Post Partum/Puerperium
the period taken for the reproductive organs to return to their pregravid state which is
usually six weeks following childbirth
Gravid
pregnant
Para
this term is used to describe a woman who has produced one or more living children
Parous
a woman who has borne one or more viable offspring
Primigravida
a woman pregnant for the first time
Multigravida
a pregnant woman who has had previously more than one pregnancy.
Grande Multigravida
, a woman in her fourth or subsequent pregnancy but who has not necessarily borne live
children in previous pregnancies.
Primipara
a woman who has give birth to a viable infant, living or stillborn.
Nullipara
a woman who has never given birth to a viable child but may have been pregnant.
Multipara
a woman who has borne more than one viable infant
Grand multipara
a woman of high parity usually one who has borne 4 or more children
Maternal morbidity
illness or injury from the time of conception until the end of the puerperium and
attributed to childbirth.
Maternal mortality
death from the time of cenception until the time completion of the puerperium and
attributed to childbirth.
Viable
capable of independent life
neonatal period
pertains to the first four weeks after birth
upper uterine segment
the upper part of the uterus in pregnancy developed from the body.
lower uterine segment
lower part of the uterus in pregnancy developed from the isthmus and cervix
braxton hicks contractions
contractions in the uterus during pregnancy which are painless.
retraction
the process of permanent and pregressive shortening of the muscles of the uterus
which accompanies contractions during labour- to dilate the cervix, to expel the fetus
and to expel the uterus, membranes and to control bleeding.
Physiological retraction ring
the line of demarcation which develops at the junction of the upper and lower uterine
segment in normal labour
polarity
co-ordination between the upper and lower uterine segments during normal labour
fabourable/ripe cervix
the cervix is soft and is considered favourable for labour
effacement
this refers to the thinning of the cervix in preparation for birth and is expressed in
percentages. Mum needs to be 100% effaced to be able to push.
Dilatation
the extent to which the cervix has opened in preparation as a result of uterine
contractions, full dilatation is 10cm.
first stage of labour
begins with the onset of labour until complete dilatation of the cervix
second stage of labour
Lie
the relationship of the long axis of the fetus to the long axis of the uterus
Attitude
The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to the fetal trunk.
Presentation
The part of the fetus which lies in the lower segment of the uterus.
Denominator
A fixed point on the presenting part used to describe position.
Position
The relationship of a denominator to the quadrants of the maternal pelvis eg. left occipto
anterior (LOA)
Engagement
The largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic brim. Pelvic
brim widest from side to side. At the level of the ischial spines 0 = engagement.
Station
refers to the level of presenting part in relation to the maternal ischial spines, whihc
represent the narrowest diameter through which the fetus must pass, +stations indicates
that the presenting part of the fetus has descended past the ischial spines.
Mechanisms of labour
Passive movements of the fetus as it passes through the birth canal, adapting to the
shape of the maternal pelvis.
Normal labour
A process by which the fetus, placenta and membranes are expelled through the birth
canal. normal labour begins spontaneously without intervention, with the fetus
presenting by the vertex-duration 4-24hours.
Pre term labour
onset of labour before 37weeks of pregnancy.
Antenatal period
time of conception until the onset of labour.
Post Partum/Puerperium
the period taken for the reproductive organs to return to their pregravid state which is
usually six weeks following childbirth
Gravid
pregnant
Para
this term is used to describe a woman who has produced one or more living children
Parous
a woman who has borne one or more viable offspring
Primigravida
a woman pregnant for the first time
Multigravida
a pregnant woman who has had previously more than one pregnancy.
Grande Multigravida
, a woman in her fourth or subsequent pregnancy but who has not necessarily borne live
children in previous pregnancies.
Primipara
a woman who has give birth to a viable infant, living or stillborn.
Nullipara
a woman who has never given birth to a viable child but may have been pregnant.
Multipara
a woman who has borne more than one viable infant
Grand multipara
a woman of high parity usually one who has borne 4 or more children
Maternal morbidity
illness or injury from the time of conception until the end of the puerperium and
attributed to childbirth.
Maternal mortality
death from the time of cenception until the time completion of the puerperium and
attributed to childbirth.
Viable
capable of independent life
neonatal period
pertains to the first four weeks after birth
upper uterine segment
the upper part of the uterus in pregnancy developed from the body.
lower uterine segment
lower part of the uterus in pregnancy developed from the isthmus and cervix
braxton hicks contractions
contractions in the uterus during pregnancy which are painless.
retraction
the process of permanent and pregressive shortening of the muscles of the uterus
which accompanies contractions during labour- to dilate the cervix, to expel the fetus
and to expel the uterus, membranes and to control bleeding.
Physiological retraction ring
the line of demarcation which develops at the junction of the upper and lower uterine
segment in normal labour
polarity
co-ordination between the upper and lower uterine segments during normal labour
fabourable/ripe cervix
the cervix is soft and is considered favourable for labour
effacement
this refers to the thinning of the cervix in preparation for birth and is expressed in
percentages. Mum needs to be 100% effaced to be able to push.
Dilatation
the extent to which the cervix has opened in preparation as a result of uterine
contractions, full dilatation is 10cm.
first stage of labour
begins with the onset of labour until complete dilatation of the cervix
second stage of labour
