bloody show
pink-tinged mucus secretions resulting from rupture of small capillaries as the cervix effaces and dilates
cardinal movements
the positional changes of the fetus as it moves through the birth canal during labor and birth; the positional changes are descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, restitution, and external rotation; also called mechanisms of labor
cervical dilatation
process in which the cervical os and the cervical canal widen from less than 1 cm to approximately 10 cm, allowing birth of the fetus
crowning
appearance of the presenting fetal part at the vaginal orifice during labor
duration
the time length of each contraction, measured from the beginning of the increment to the completion of the decrement
effacement
thinning and shortening of the cervix that occurs late in pregnancy or during labor
engagement
the entrance of the fetal presenting part into the superior pelvic strait and the beginning of the descent through the pelvic canal
fetal attitude
relationship of the fetal parts to one another; normal fetal attitude is one of moderate flexion of the arms onto the chest and flexion of the legs onto the abdomen
fetal lie
relationship of the cephalocaudal axis (spinal column) of the woman; the fetus may be in a longitudinal or transverse lie
fetal position
relationship of the landmark on the presenting fetal part to the front, sides, or back of the maternal pelvic
fetal presentation
the fetal body part that enters the maternal pelvis first; the three possible presentations are cephalic, shoulder, and breech
fontanelle
in the fetus, an unossified space, or soft spot, consisting of a strong band of connective tissue lying between the cranial bones of the skull
frequency
the time between the beginning of one contraction and the beginning of the next contraction
intensity
the strength of a uterine contraction during acme
lightening
moving of the fetus and uterus downward into the pelvic cavity
malpresentation
a presentation of the fetus into the birth canal that is not "normal" - that is, brow, face, shoulder, or breech presentation
molding
shaping of the fetal head by overlapping of the cranial bones to facilitate movement through the birth canal during labor
presenting part
the fetal part present in or on the cervical os
rupture of membranes (ROM)
rupture may be PROM (premature), SROM (spontaneous), or AROM (artificial); some clinicians may use the abbreviation RBOW (rupture of bag of waters)
spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM)
the breaking of the "water" or membranes marked by the expulsion of amniotic fluid from the vagina
station
relationship of the presenting fetal part to an imaginary line drawn between the pelvic ischial spines
sutures
fibrous connection of opposed joint surfaces, as in the skull
bloody show
pink-tinged mucus secretions resulting from rupture of small capillaries as the cervix effaces and dilates
cardinal movements
the positional changes of the fetus as it moves through the birth canal during labor and birth; the positional changes are descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, restitution, and external rotation; also called mechanisms of labor
cervical dilatation
process in which the cervical os and the cervical canal widen from less than 1 cm to approximately 10 cm, allowing birth of the fetus
crowning
appearance of the presenting fetal part at the vaginal orifice during labor
duration
the time length of each contraction, measured from the beginning of the increment to the completion of the decrement
effacement
thinning and shortening of the cervix that occurs late in pregnancy or during labor
engagement
the entrance of the fetal presenting part into the superior pelvic strait and the beginning of the descent through the pelvic canal
fetal attitude
relationship of the fetal parts to one another; normal fetal attitude is one of moderate flexion of the arms onto the chest and flexion of the legs onto the abdomen
fetal lie
relationship of the cephalocaudal axis (spinal column) of the woman; the fetus may be in a longitudinal or transverse lie
fetal position
relationship of the landmark on the presenting fetal part to the front, sides, or back of the maternal pelvic
fetal presentation
the fetal body part that enters the maternal pelvis first; the three possible presentations are cephalic, shoulder, and breech
fontanelle
in the fetus, an unossified space, or soft spot, consisting of a strong band of connective tissue lying between the cranial bones of the skull
frequency
the time between the beginning of one contraction and the beginning of the next contraction
intensity
the strength of a uterine contraction during acme
lightening
moving of the fetus and uterus downward into the pelvic cavity
malpresentation
a presentation of the fetus into the birth canal that is not "normal" - that is, brow, face, shoulder, or breech presentation
molding
shaping of the fetal head by overlapping of the cranial bones to facilitate movement through the birth canal during labor
presenting part
the fetal part present in or on the cervical os
rupture of membranes (ROM)
rupture may be PROM (premature), SROM (spontaneous), or AROM (artificial); some clinicians may use the abbreviation RBOW (rupture of bag of waters)
spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM)
the breaking of the "water" or membranes marked by the expulsion of amniotic fluid from the vagina
station
relationship of the presenting fetal part to an imaginary line drawn between the pelvic ischial spines
sutures
fibrous connection of opposed joint surfaces, as in the skull