Midwifery – Comprehensive Study Guide & Practice Questions
Lie - correct answer ✔✔the relationship of the long axis of the fetus to the long axis of the
uterus
Attitude - correct answer ✔✔The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to the fetal trunk.
Presentation - correct answer ✔✔The part of the fetus which lies in the lower segment of the
uterus.
Denominator - correct answer ✔✔A fixed point on the presenting part used to describe
position.
Position - correct answer ✔✔The relationship of a denominator to the quadrants of the
maternal pelvis eg. left occipto anterior (LOA)
Engagement - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔Passive movements of the fetus as it passes through
the birth canal, adapting to the shape of the maternal pelvis.
,Normal labour - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔onset of labour before 37weeks of pregnancy.
Antenatal period - correct answer ✔✔time of conception until the onset of labour.
Post Partum/Puerperium - correct answer ✔✔the period taken for the reproductive organs to
return to their pregravid state which is usually six weeks following childbirth
Gravid - correct answer ✔✔pregnant
Para - correct answer ✔✔this term is used to describe a woman who has produced one or more
living children
Parous - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has borne one or more viable offspring
Primigravida - correct answer ✔✔a woman pregnant for the first time
Multigravida - correct answer ✔✔a pregnant woman who has had previously more than one
pregnancy.
Grande Multigravida - correct answer ✔✔a woman in her fourth or subsequent pregnancy but
who has not necessarily borne live children in previous pregnancies.
Primipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has give birth to a viable infant, living or stillborn.
, Nullipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has never given birth to a viable child but may
have been pregnant.
Multipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has borne more than one viable infant
Grand multipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman of high parity usually one who has borne 4 or
more children
Maternal morbidity - correct answer ✔✔illness or injury from the time of conception until the
end of the puerperium and attributed to childbirth.
Maternal mortality - correct answer ✔✔death from the time of cenception until the time
completion of the puerperium and attributed to childbirth.
Viable - correct answer ✔✔capable of independent life
neonatal period - correct answer ✔✔pertains to the first four weeks after birth
upper uterine segment - correct answer ✔✔the upper part of the uterus in pregnancy
developed from the body.
lower uterine segment - correct answer ✔✔lower part of the uterus in pregnancy developed
from the isthmus and cervix
braxton hicks contractions - correct answer ✔✔contractions in the uterus during pregnancy
which are painless.
Lie - correct answer ✔✔the relationship of the long axis of the fetus to the long axis of the
uterus
Attitude - correct answer ✔✔The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to the fetal trunk.
Presentation - correct answer ✔✔The part of the fetus which lies in the lower segment of the
uterus.
Denominator - correct answer ✔✔A fixed point on the presenting part used to describe
position.
Position - correct answer ✔✔The relationship of a denominator to the quadrants of the
maternal pelvis eg. left occipto anterior (LOA)
Engagement - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔Passive movements of the fetus as it passes through
the birth canal, adapting to the shape of the maternal pelvis.
,Normal labour - correct answer ✔✔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 - correct answer ✔✔onset of labour before 37weeks of pregnancy.
Antenatal period - correct answer ✔✔time of conception until the onset of labour.
Post Partum/Puerperium - correct answer ✔✔the period taken for the reproductive organs to
return to their pregravid state which is usually six weeks following childbirth
Gravid - correct answer ✔✔pregnant
Para - correct answer ✔✔this term is used to describe a woman who has produced one or more
living children
Parous - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has borne one or more viable offspring
Primigravida - correct answer ✔✔a woman pregnant for the first time
Multigravida - correct answer ✔✔a pregnant woman who has had previously more than one
pregnancy.
Grande Multigravida - correct answer ✔✔a woman in her fourth or subsequent pregnancy but
who has not necessarily borne live children in previous pregnancies.
Primipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has give birth to a viable infant, living or stillborn.
, Nullipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has never given birth to a viable child but may
have been pregnant.
Multipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman who has borne more than one viable infant
Grand multipara - correct answer ✔✔a woman of high parity usually one who has borne 4 or
more children
Maternal morbidity - correct answer ✔✔illness or injury from the time of conception until the
end of the puerperium and attributed to childbirth.
Maternal mortality - correct answer ✔✔death from the time of cenception until the time
completion of the puerperium and attributed to childbirth.
Viable - correct answer ✔✔capable of independent life
neonatal period - correct answer ✔✔pertains to the first four weeks after birth
upper uterine segment - correct answer ✔✔the upper part of the uterus in pregnancy
developed from the body.
lower uterine segment - correct answer ✔✔lower part of the uterus in pregnancy developed
from the isthmus and cervix
braxton hicks contractions - correct answer ✔✔contractions in the uterus during pregnancy
which are painless.
