OB Exam 1
Antepartal Assessment and Care
Antepartum is the time of pregnancy until the time
of birth Trimesters of pregnancy
o First trimester: 0-12 weeks
o Second trimester: 13-28 weeks
o Third trimester: 29-40 weeks
The average pregnancy lasts 280 days from the first day of the last menstrual
period (266 days from time of ovulation), 9 calendar months, 40 weeks
Nagele’s Rule pg. 404 is to count back 3 months from the first day of the
last menstrual period and add 7 days
o November 20, add 7 days, -3 months = August 27
o December 14, add 7 days, -3 months = September 21
Phases of Pregnancy
Antepartum: the time between conception and the onset of labor
Intrapartum: period from the onset of true labor until the birth of the baby and
placenta
Postpartum: time from birth until the women’s body returns to prepregnant
state. Usually about 6 weeks
True labor pg. 457: contractions occurring at regular intervals that increase in
frequency, duration, and intensity. True labor contractions bring about
progressive cervical dilation and effacement
False labor: occurs in the latter weeks of some pregnancies in which
irregular uterine contractions are felt, but the cervix is not affected
GTPAL
Gravida: the total number of pregnancies, including the current one. Even if
the mother didn’t give birth to the baby, it still counts as a pregnancy.
Term: the number of infants born at term (38 or more weeks gestation)
Preterm: the number of infants born after 20 weeks’ gestation and before 38
weeks
Abortion: the number of pregnancies that ended in either therapeutic or
spontaneous abortion (before 20 weeks). Abortion just means the baby comes
out before 20 weeks no matter how it comes out or what happens
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Living: the number of children currently living, not counting the baby in the
belly
Obstetric History Terms: GTPAL pg. 405
Pregnancy Terminology
Gestation: number of weeks from the first day of the last
menstrual period Term: normal duration of pregnancy (38-42
weeks’ gestation)
Primipara: women who had one birth at more than 20 weeks’ gestation
Multipara: woman who had 2 or more births at more than 20 weeks’
gestation Stillbirth: infant born dead after 20 weeks’ gestation
Multigravida: woman who had more than one
pregnancy “para”= baby that was born after 20
weeks
Preterm: or premature labor, labor that occurs after 20 weeks’, but before
completion of 37 weeks’ gestation
Nulligravida: woman who has never been pregnant
Primigravida: woman who is pregnant for the first time
Nullipara: woman who has had no births at more than 20 weeks’ gestation
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