Study Guide: Antepartum - [Chapters 3, 4, 5] Spring 2026
Be familiar with all Key Terms
Read Key Points
Review the Questions for the NCLEX Examination
Know the information within the following sections:
o Nursing Tip
o Safety Alert
o Nutrition Considerations
o Health Promotion
o Patient Teaching
o Communication
o Home Care Considerations
1. Fertilization process
a. Tubal transport of the zygote
b. Implantation of the zygote
c. Figure 3-2
2. Development
a. Cell differentiation
b. Chorion
c. Amnion
a. Amniotic sac and functions
d. Yolk Sac
e. Germ Layers
3. Prenatal Developmental Milestones {Zygote-2 weeks, Embryo-3 to 8 weeks, Fetus 9 weeks to birth}
a. Week 3
a. Neural tube forms
b. Week 4
a. Heart pumps blood
b. GI
c. Neural tube closes
c. Week 6
a. Heart has all four chambers
d. Week 8
a. Sex organs form
b. Purposeful movements occur
e. Week 17
a. Genitalia and leg movements visible on ultrasound
1. Leg movements may also be felt by the mother at this time (Quickening-16 to 20 weeks)
b. Bones ossified
c. Fetus sucks and swallows amniotic fluid
d. No subcutaneous fat
e. Thin skin with visible scalp blood vessels
f. Week 25
a. Eyes are open
b. Fetus is now viable (criteria is 20 weeks – referred to as the age of viability)
c. Fetus has a schedule of sleeping and moving
d. Vernix caseosa
e. Lanugo
f. Brown fat
g. Lungs begin to secret surfactant
h. Respiratory movement begin
1
, g. Week 30
a. Cephalic position
b. Increased surfactant in the lungs
c. Central nervous system if function
d. Blood cells now being formed in the bone marrow and not the spleen
h. Week 36
a. Subcutaneous fat
b. Skin - pink and smooth
c. Grasp reflex
d. Increase in lung surfactant production
Term is considered 38 to 40 weeks of gestation
Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days.
Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days.
Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days.
Post-term: Your baby is born after 42 weeks, 0 days.
4. Accessory Structures of Pregnancy
a. Placenta
a. Fetal respiration, nutrition, and excretion
b. Endocrine gland
1. Placental Hormones
a. Progesterone
b. Estrogen
c. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
d. Human Placental Lactogen
b. Umbilical Cord
a. Lifeline
b. 3 vessels – 2 arteries and 1 vein
c. Wharton’s jelly – covers, cushions, and keeps the 3 vessels separated
5. Fetal Circulation
a. 3 shunts
a. Ductus venosus
b. Foramen ovale
c. Ductus arteriosus
b. Circulation Before Birth
c. Circulation After Birth
d. Closure of Fetal Circulatory Shunts
Low blood oxygen levels can cause the ductus arteriosus to remain open (PDA).
The foramen ovale can reopen in conditions that prevent full lung expansion which results in an increase in resistance of
the blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
6. Multifetal Pregnancy
Many twin or higher multiples are born prematurely because the uterus becomes overly distended. The placenta may
not be able to supply sufficient nutrition to both fetuses, with the result that one or both twins is smaller than average.
7. 3 phases of pregnancy
a. Antepartum
b. Intrapartum
c. Postpartum
8. Goals of Prenatal Care
9. Prenatal Visits
13 visits-optimal
a. Every 4 weeks – Conception to 28 weeks
b. Every 2 to 3 weeks – 29 to 36 weeks
c. Weekly – 37 weeks to birth
2
Be familiar with all Key Terms
Read Key Points
Review the Questions for the NCLEX Examination
Know the information within the following sections:
o Nursing Tip
o Safety Alert
o Nutrition Considerations
o Health Promotion
o Patient Teaching
o Communication
o Home Care Considerations
1. Fertilization process
a. Tubal transport of the zygote
b. Implantation of the zygote
c. Figure 3-2
2. Development
a. Cell differentiation
b. Chorion
c. Amnion
a. Amniotic sac and functions
d. Yolk Sac
e. Germ Layers
3. Prenatal Developmental Milestones {Zygote-2 weeks, Embryo-3 to 8 weeks, Fetus 9 weeks to birth}
a. Week 3
a. Neural tube forms
b. Week 4
a. Heart pumps blood
b. GI
c. Neural tube closes
c. Week 6
a. Heart has all four chambers
d. Week 8
a. Sex organs form
b. Purposeful movements occur
e. Week 17
a. Genitalia and leg movements visible on ultrasound
1. Leg movements may also be felt by the mother at this time (Quickening-16 to 20 weeks)
b. Bones ossified
c. Fetus sucks and swallows amniotic fluid
d. No subcutaneous fat
e. Thin skin with visible scalp blood vessels
f. Week 25
a. Eyes are open
b. Fetus is now viable (criteria is 20 weeks – referred to as the age of viability)
c. Fetus has a schedule of sleeping and moving
d. Vernix caseosa
e. Lanugo
f. Brown fat
g. Lungs begin to secret surfactant
h. Respiratory movement begin
1
, g. Week 30
a. Cephalic position
b. Increased surfactant in the lungs
c. Central nervous system if function
d. Blood cells now being formed in the bone marrow and not the spleen
h. Week 36
a. Subcutaneous fat
b. Skin - pink and smooth
c. Grasp reflex
d. Increase in lung surfactant production
Term is considered 38 to 40 weeks of gestation
Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days.
Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days.
Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days.
Post-term: Your baby is born after 42 weeks, 0 days.
4. Accessory Structures of Pregnancy
a. Placenta
a. Fetal respiration, nutrition, and excretion
b. Endocrine gland
1. Placental Hormones
a. Progesterone
b. Estrogen
c. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
d. Human Placental Lactogen
b. Umbilical Cord
a. Lifeline
b. 3 vessels – 2 arteries and 1 vein
c. Wharton’s jelly – covers, cushions, and keeps the 3 vessels separated
5. Fetal Circulation
a. 3 shunts
a. Ductus venosus
b. Foramen ovale
c. Ductus arteriosus
b. Circulation Before Birth
c. Circulation After Birth
d. Closure of Fetal Circulatory Shunts
Low blood oxygen levels can cause the ductus arteriosus to remain open (PDA).
The foramen ovale can reopen in conditions that prevent full lung expansion which results in an increase in resistance of
the blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
6. Multifetal Pregnancy
Many twin or higher multiples are born prematurely because the uterus becomes overly distended. The placenta may
not be able to supply sufficient nutrition to both fetuses, with the result that one or both twins is smaller than average.
7. 3 phases of pregnancy
a. Antepartum
b. Intrapartum
c. Postpartum
8. Goals of Prenatal Care
9. Prenatal Visits
13 visits-optimal
a. Every 4 weeks – Conception to 28 weeks
b. Every 2 to 3 weeks – 29 to 36 weeks
c. Weekly – 37 weeks to birth
2
