Midwifery Midterm Exam 2025
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
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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
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