Unified Clinical Glossary

117 terms · OB

Afterpains

Cramping caused by uterine contractions during the early postpartum period. These contractions accompany the uterus's return toward its prepregnancy size and may become stronger during breastfeeding.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 physiologic recovery.

Reference: Merck Manual: Postpartum care

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstrual periods. Primary amenorrhea means menstruation has not begun; secondary amenorrhea means periods stop after they have previously occurred. The cause and life stage matter, because absence of periods can be expected in pregnancy or require evaluation in other circumstances.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 1, definitions-only menstrual scope.

Amniotic fluid

The fluid surrounding the fetus inside the amniotic sac. It cushions the fetus, allows movement, and supports development; abnormal amounts can signal a pregnancy problem.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Days 3–4 fetal environment and abnormal fluid volume.

Anemia

A hemoglobin concentration below the appropriate reference range, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen. It can result from blood loss, inadequate red-cell production, or accelerated red-cell destruction; it is not synonymous with iron deficiency.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 anemia mechanisms and OB fetal/newborn anemia.

Reference: Hemoglobin test — MedlinePlus

Apgar score

A brief assessment of a newborn's heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex response, and color after birth. It summarizes the baby's condition at the time of assessment.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Days 6 and 9 explicit term.

Augmentation of labor

Use of medication or another intervention to help labor progress after it has already started. The distinction from induction is that augmentation strengthens or improves an existing labor process.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 objective and knowledge content.

Barrier contraception

Pregnancy prevention using a physical barrier to keep sperm from reaching an egg. Condoms are one example; protection from sexually transmitted infections depends on the method used.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 contraception comparison.

Reference: NICHD: Types of contraception

Bilirubin

A pigment formed mainly when hemoglobin from old red cells is broken down. The liver normally processes it for elimination in bile; increased production or impaired processing or excretion can raise its level.

Med-SurgOBBilirubin and jaundice

Course connection: MS hepatitis and hemolytic anemia; OB newborn jaundice.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Biophysical profile (BPP)

An assessment of fetal well-being that combines ultrasound observations of movement, muscle tone, breathing movements, and amniotic fluid with a nonstress test. Findings are interpreted together rather than as a guarantee of future health.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 tests for fetal well-being.

Reference: NICHD: Prenatal tests

Braxton Hicks contractions

Uterine contractions that can occur before labor and do not produce the progressive cervical change of true labor. Their presence alone does not establish that labor has begun.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 true-versus-false labor.

Reference: Hutchison et al., StatPearls: Normal Labor—Physiology, Evaluation, and Management (updated February 15, 2025)

Caput succedaneum

Swelling of the newborn's scalp from pressure during birth. It lies above the covering of the skull bones and can cross suture lines, unlike a cephalohematoma.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 head assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Birth injuries

Cephalohematoma

A collection of blood beneath the membrane covering a newborn's skull bone. It does not cross suture lines; breakdown of the collected blood can increase bilirubin and the risk of jaundice.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 head assessment and Day 10 jaundice.

Reference: Merck Manual: Birth injuries

Cervical dilation

Opening of the cervix during labor, measured in centimeters. Complete dilation allows the baby to pass from the uterus into the vagina; dilation and effacement describe different cervical changes.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6, labor progression and vaginal assessment.

Cervical effacement

Thinning and shortening of the cervix as it prepares for birth, usually described as a percentage. A cervix can become more effaced without having the same degree of dilation, so both findings help describe labor progress.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6, labor progression and vaginal assessment.

Reference: Stages of labor — NICHD

Chronic hypertension in pregnancy

High blood pressure present before pregnancy or identified before 20 weeks of gestation. A person with chronic hypertension can also develop superimposed preeclampsia.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 comparison of hypertensive disorders.

Reference: MedlinePlus: High blood pressure in pregnancy

Cold stress, newborn

A response to excessive heat loss in which the newborn uses extra energy and oxygen to produce heat. This can contribute to hypoglycemia and respiratory difficulty even before marked hypothermia is apparent.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 explicit term.

Reference: Merck Manual: Hypothermia in neonates

Colostrum

The early milk produced around birth before the larger volume of mature milk develops. It is often thick and yellowish and supplies concentrated nutrition and immune components to the newborn.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 breastfeeding and Day 9 feeding.

Reference: Merck Manual: Overview of postpartum care

Conduction, heat loss

Transfer of heat from the newborn's body to a cooler surface in direct contact with the skin. A cold mattress or scale is an example.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 heat-loss objective.

Contraception (birth control)

Methods used to prevent pregnancy. Different methods work by blocking sperm, affecting ovulation or fertilization, or permanently interrupting the reproductive pathway.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 contraception objective.

Reference: NICHD: Types of contraception

Contraceptive sterilization

A procedure intended to permanently prevent pregnancy, such as closing or removing the fallopian tubes or interrupting the vas deferens. It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 sterilization methods.

Reference: NICHD: Types of contraception

Convection, heat loss

Transfer of heat away from the newborn by cooler air moving across the body. Drafts or moving cool room air can increase this heat loss.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 heat-loss objective.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg or pelvis. It may cause swelling, warmth, and pain, but can also be less obvious; part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar; OB Day 8 postpartum DVT.

Reference: Venous thromboembolism — NHLBI

Development

Changes in physical abilities, thinking, communication, emotions, and social function over time. Development involves maturation, experience, and learning; it is broader than simply getting larger.

OBGrowth and development

Course connection: OB Day 11 concept and lifespan objectives.

Developmental milestone

A functional skill that most children achieve within an expected age range, such as a motor, language, or social skill. Milestones guide assessment and follow-up; they are not a promise that every child will perform a skill on one exact date.

OBGrowth and development

Course connection: OB Day 11, nursing assessment of development.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain without an underlying pelvic disorder, commonly related to prostaglandin-driven uterine contractions; secondary dysmenorrhea results from a pelvic condition such as endometriosis.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 1, definitions-only menstrual scope.

Early deceleration

A gradual decrease in fetal heart rate that generally mirrors a uterine contraction and is commonly related to fetal head compression. Its timing helps distinguish it from late and variable decelerations; the entire tracing and clinical situation still matter.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 fetal assessment and Day 7 pattern comparisons.

Eclampsia

Seizures associated with preeclampsia that are not explained by another cause. It is an obstetric emergency and can occur during pregnancy, labor, or after birth.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 explicit term; Day 7 emergency.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia condition information — NICHD

Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy implanted outside the uterine cavity, most often in a fallopian tube. As it grows it can rupture the surrounding tissue and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hemorrhagic disorders

Course connection: OB Days 1 and 5 explicit term; one canonical entry.

Reference: Ectopic pregnancy — MedlinePlus

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid in the tissues. It can result from increased vessel pressure, fluid retention, inflammation, or reduced proteins that normally help retain fluid in the bloodstream.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS HF/CVI and OB pregnancy/postpartum assessment.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Edema

Engagement

Passage of the widest transverse diameter of the presenting fetal head through the pelvic inlet. It describes entry into the pelvis, whereas station describes the level of the presenting part relative to the ischial spines.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 passenger and descent assessment.

Reference: Hutchison et al., StatPearls: Normal Labor—Physiology, Evaluation, and Management (updated February 15, 2025)

Engorgement, breast

Breast fullness and swelling that can make the breasts firm, tight, and uncomfortable during lactation. It can interfere with latch and differs from mastitis, which involves inflammation and may include infection.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 breastfeeding assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Overview of postpartum care

Evaporation, heat loss

Loss of body heat when moisture on the newborn's skin changes into vapor. Drying the baby after birth reduces heat loss from wet skin.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 heat-loss objective.

Family dynamics

The patterns of relationships, communication, roles, and interactions within a family. Assessing these patterns helps the nurse understand available support, how the family handles change, and what assistance its members may need.

OBFamily, culture, and environment

Course connection: OB Day 12 explicit exemplar.

Family-centered care

Care that respects the patient and family's knowledge, values, and preferences and involves them in information sharing and decisions to the extent they choose. Respect, participation, and collaboration guide the partnership.

OBFamily, culture, and environment

Course connection: OB Day 12 assigned concept.

Fetal lie

The relationship of the fetus's long axis to the mother's uterine long axis. A longitudinal lie runs in the same general direction; transverse and oblique lies run across or at an angle.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 five factors affecting labor.

Reference: Merck Manual: Fetal presentation, position, and lie

Fetal position

The direction a landmark on the presenting fetal part faces within the maternal pelvis. For a head-first vertex presentation, the back of the fetal head is the landmark, as in left occiput anterior (LOA).

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 passenger assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Fetal presentation, position, and lie

Fetal presentation

The fetal part that approaches the pelvic inlet first, such as the head, buttocks, or shoulder. Presentation affects how the fetus can move through the birth canal.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 passenger assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Fetal presentation, position, and lie

Fetal station

The level of the presenting fetal part relative to the mother's ischial spines. Zero is level with the spines, negative values are above them, and positive values are below them as descent progresses.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 labor progression.

Reference: Merck Manual: Management of normal labor

First stage of labor

The period from the onset of true labor until the cervix is fully dilated. Contractions produce progressive cervical effacement and dilation during this stage.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 stages objective.

Reference: Stages of labor — NICHD

Fourth stage of labor

The immediate recovery period after delivery of the placenta. Assessment focuses on maternal stability, uterine firmness, and bleeding as the body begins adjusting after birth.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 all four stages and Day 8 hemorrhage.

Fundal height

The distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. Its trend helps assess pregnancy growth; after about 20 weeks, centimeters roughly track gestational weeks.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 prenatal assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

Gestational age

The duration of pregnancy expressed in completed weeks and days, conventionally counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. Ultrasound can help establish or refine dating.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 pregnancy dating and Day 10 prematurity.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Small for gestational age

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Diabetes that develops during pregnancy, commonly when pregnancy-related insulin resistance exceeds the pancreas's ability to supply enough insulin. It is distinct from diabetes that was already present before pregnancy and can affect both maternal and newborn health.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4, diabetes in pregnancy versus pre-pregnancy diabetes.

Reference: Gestational diabetes — NIDDK

Gestational hypertension

New high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy without the findings that establish preeclampsia. It requires monitoring because preeclampsia can develop later.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 pregnancy-induced hypertension exemplar.

Reference: MedlinePlus: High blood pressure in pregnancy

Gravidity (gravida; G)

The number of pregnancies a person has had, including the current pregnancy, regardless of their outcomes. A multifetal pregnancy counts as one pregnancy.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 pregnancy history.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

Growth

Measurable increase in the size of the body or its parts, such as changes in length, weight, or head circumference. Growth is a quantitative part of development, while gaining a new skill reflects a different kind of change.

OBGrowth and development

Course connection: OB Day 11, growth-versus-development distinction.

GTPAL

A pregnancy-history notation recording total pregnancies, term deliveries, preterm deliveries, abortions or losses before 20 weeks, and living children. Twins count as one delivery but two living children if both survive.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 explicit term.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

HELLP syndrome

A serious pregnancy-related syndrome involving hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count. These findings indicate red blood cell destruction, liver injury, and increased bleeding risk; HELLP can occur without obvious hypertension or protein in the urine.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 explicit term.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia condition information — NICHD

Hemoglobin (Hgb; Hb)

The iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin concentration can reduce the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity even when the oxygen saturation percentage is normal.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 oxygen-transport objective; OB Day 10 fetal/newborn anemia and hemolytic disorders.

Reference: Hemoglobin test — MedlinePlus

Hemolysis

Breakdown of red blood cells, releasing their contents before or at the end of their lifespan. Excessive hemolysis can contribute to anemia and increase the bilirubin load produced as hemoglobin is broken down.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 hemolytic anemia; OB Day 4 HELLP and Day 10 hemolytic disorders.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia condition information — NICHD

Hemorrhage

Bleeding that may occur externally or within the body. Substantial or ongoing blood loss can reduce circulating volume and oxygen delivery, leading to shock; visible blood does not always reveal the full amount lost.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS perioperative care and OB pregnancy/postpartum hemorrhage.

Reference: Postpartum hemorrhage — Merck Manual Professional

Hormonal contraception

Pregnancy prevention using hormones that may suppress ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, or produce other reproductive changes. The effects depend on the particular method.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 hormonal methods.

Reference: NICHD: Types of contraception

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone produced by developing placental tissue that supports early pregnancy and is detected by pregnancy tests. A positive result alone does not establish pregnancy location or viability.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 placental hormones and pregnancy testing.

Reference: Ectopic pregnancy — MedlinePlus

Hyperglycemia

Blood glucose above the expected range for the person's situation. When sufficiently high, glucose draws water into the urine and can contribute to increased urination, thirst, and dehydration; diagnostic and treatment thresholds depend on the clinical context.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 glucose objectives; OB Day 4 maternal diabetes.

Reference: Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome — MedlinePlus

Hypoglycemia

Blood glucose low enough to threaten normal body function. It can produce sweating, shakiness, or confusion in adults, while newborn signs can be less specific; severe or prolonged deficiency can injure the brain.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 glucose objectives; OB Day 10 newborn hypoglycemia.

Reference: Low blood sugar in newborns — MedlinePlus

Hypoxemia

An abnormally low level of oxygen in arterial blood. It can limit tissue oxygen delivery, but it differs from anemia, in which reduced hemoglobin can lower oxygen-carrying capacity even when arterial oxygen pressure is normal.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS ABG/postoperative respiratory assessment and OB newborn respiratory disorders.

Reference: NHLBI: Respiratory failure diagnosis

Hypoxia

An inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It may result from low blood oxygen, reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, or inadequate blood flow, so oxygenation and perfusion must both be considered.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS anemia/perfusion and OB fetal/newborn compromise.

Reference: NCI: Hypoxia definition

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

A fertility treatment in which eggs and sperm are combined outside the body and an embryo may then be transferred into the uterus. Fertilization and embryo transfer do not guarantee implantation or a successful pregnancy.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 infertility treatments.

Reference: NICHD: Assisted reproductive technology

Induction of labor

Use of medication or mechanical methods to start labor before it begins spontaneously. It differs from augmentation, which helps labor that has already started.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 objective and knowledge content.

Infertility

Difficulty achieving a successful pregnancy, or a need for medical help to achieve one, assessed in the context of reproductive history and circumstances. Evaluation timing depends on age and known risk factors; everyone does not need to wait a full year.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 infertility assessment.

Reference: ASRM: Definition of infertility (2023)

Insulin

A hormone made by pancreatic beta cells that helps regulate blood glucose by supporting glucose use and storage. As a medication, it replaces or supplements the body's insulin when needed.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 physiology and treatment; OB Day 4 diabetes in pregnancy.

Reference: Gestational diabetes — NIDDK

Intrauterine device (IUD)

A small contraceptive device placed inside the uterus. Copper and hormone-releasing devices prevent pregnancy through different effects on sperm and the reproductive environment.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 contraceptive choices.

Reference: NICHD: Types of contraception

Involution, uterine

The gradual return of the uterus toward its prepregnancy size and condition after birth. Uterine contractions contribute to this process and help compress vessels at the placental site.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 recovery and hemorrhage assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Postpartum care

Jaundice (icterus)

Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by bilirubin buildup. It is a finding with different causes, including increased red-cell breakdown and liver or bile-flow problems; its significance depends on the patient and timing.

Med-SurgOBBilirubin and jaundice

Course connection: MS hepatitis and OB newborn jaundice.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Kernicterus

Lasting brain injury caused by bilirubin toxicity, also called chronic bilirubin encephalopathy. It is a severe complication of excessive unconjugated bilirubin, rather than another name for ordinary newborn jaundice.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 pathologic jaundice complications.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Large for gestational age (LGA)

A newborn whose birth weight is above the 90th percentile for gestational age and sex on the reference used. LGA describes size relative to age; it can be associated with birth injury and hypoglycemia, especially with maternal diabetes.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit size exemplar.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Large for gestational age

Late deceleration

A gradual decrease in fetal heart rate whose lowest point occurs after the peak of a contraction. It is associated with impaired oxygen transfer through the placenta, so recurrent late decelerations require evaluation of the tracing and maternal-fetal condition.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Days 6–7, fetal assessment and nonreassuring patterns.

Late preterm birth

Birth from 34 weeks, 0 days through 36 weeks, 6 days of gestation. These infants may look relatively mature but still have increased risks involving breathing, temperature, feeding, and glucose regulation.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit term.

Lochia

Vaginal discharge after childbirth containing blood and material shed as the uterus heals. It normally changes from reddish to brownish or pink and then pale; heavy bleeding or foul odor needs evaluation.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 postpartum assessment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Postpartum care

Magnesium sulfate

A medicine used in obstetrics to prevent or treat eclamptic seizures and, in selected anticipated preterm births, protect the fetal brain. It is not the primary medicine for lowering blood pressure; accumulation can suppress reflexes and breathing.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 eclampsia treatment and Day 7 preterm birth.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia — Merck Manual Professional

Mastitis

Inflammation of the breast that can cause a painful, warm, swollen area and may be accompanied by infection and fever. It is different from uncomplicated breast fullness or nipple soreness.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 postpartum infection.

Reference: Merck Manual: Mastitis

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)

Respiratory illness caused by a newborn inhaling meconium-containing fluid into the lungs around birth. The material can obstruct airways and inflame lung tissue; meconium-stained fluid alone does not prove that aspiration syndrome has developed.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit objective and exemplar.

Molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole)

An abnormal pregnancy in which tissue meant to form the placenta grows abnormally. A complete mole lacks normal fetal development; a partial mole can contain abnormal fetal tissue. Follow-up matters because persistent trophoblastic disease can occur.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hemorrhagic disorders

Course connection: OB Day 5 explicit exemplar.

Reference: NCI: Gestational trophoblastic disease treatment, patient version

Naegele rule (Nagele's rule)

A due-date estimate calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period: subtract three months, add seven days, and adjust the year. It assumes a typical menstrual cycle.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 explicit dating objective.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)

Withdrawal signs in a newborn following exposure to certain substances before birth. Signs may affect feeding, sleep, muscle tone, and regulation; withdrawal specifically related to opioids is called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit exemplar.

Nonstress test (NST)

A test that observes the fetal heart rate and its response to fetal movement without deliberately causing contractions. It supplies information about current fetal well-being.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 prenatal testing.

Reference: NICHD: Prenatal tests

Parity (para; P)

The number of pregnancies delivered at 20 weeks or later, whether the infant was born alive or stillborn. A twin delivery counts once; parity does not equal the number of living children.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 obstetric history.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Infection and inflammation of the upper female reproductive tract. It can follow an untreated STI or another infection; scarring of the fallopian tubes can contribute to infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 1 explicit exemplar.

Reference: About pelvic inflammatory disease — CDC

Phototherapy, newborn

Treatment using light to change unconjugated bilirubin into forms the newborn can eliminate more easily. The need for treatment depends on the measured bilirubin level, age, gestational age, and risk factors.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 hyperbilirubinemia treatment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Placenta

The organ that connects maternal and fetal exchange during pregnancy. It transfers oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between their circulations and produces hormones; maternal and fetal blood normally remain in separate circulatory spaces.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 fetal environment and Day 5 placental disorders.

Placenta previa

A placenta that covers the internal opening of the cervix. It can cause significant bleeding as the lower uterus and cervix change; a placenta near the opening without covering it is described as low lying rather than automatically called previa.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hemorrhagic disorders

Course connection: OB Day 5 explicit exemplar.

Reference: Placenta praevia, placenta accreta and vasa praevia — RCOG

Placental abruption (abruptio placentae)

Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the baby is born. It can reduce fetal oxygen delivery and cause maternal hemorrhage; some blood may remain concealed behind the placenta rather than appearing vaginally.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hemorrhagic disorders

Course connection: OB Days 5 and 7 explicit term.

Platelets (thrombocytes)

Small blood cell fragments that collect at a damaged vessel to help form an initial plug. They work with clotting proteins to control bleeding; a platelet count measures quantity, not every aspect of platelet function.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS coronary antiplatelet therapy/VTE and OB HELLP/hemorrhage.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Complete blood count

Postpartum depression

A depressive illness arising after childbirth that can impair mood, thinking, daily functioning, and care of self or infant. Persistent or severe symptoms require assessment rather than being dismissed as temporary baby blues.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 explicit mood disorder.

Reference: NIMH: Perinatal depression

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)

Excessive bleeding after birth that can compromise circulation. Causes include poor uterine contraction, birth-tract injury, retained placental tissue, and clotting problems, so identifying the cause matters alongside recognizing blood loss.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 explicit complication and mechanism objective.

Postpartum psychosis

A severe postpartum mental illness that may cause hallucinations, delusions, mania, confusion, or loss of contact with reality. It is a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate assessment and protection of the parent and infant.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8 explicit mood disorder.

Reference: NIMH: Perinatal depression

Postterm birth

Birth at 42 weeks, 0 days of gestation or later. Risks differ from those of prematurity and may include placental dysfunction, meconium-related problems, and altered growth.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit term.

Preeclampsia

A pregnancy-related disorder involving new hypertension, usually after 20 weeks, with protein in the urine or other evidence of organ dysfunction. Abnormal placental and maternal blood vessel function can affect the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and fetal growth; it can also develop after birth.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hypertensive and endocrine disorders

Course connection: OB Day 4 explicit term and postpartum hypertension scope.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia condition information — NICHD

Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM)

Rupture of the amniotic membranes before labor begins. It can occur at term or before term; the abbreviation alone does not mean that the pregnancy is preterm.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 explicit ROM terminology and Day 7 complications.

Reference: Merck Manual: Prelabor rupture of membranes

Preterm birth

Birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Organ immaturity can increase the newborn's risks for breathing, feeding, temperature control, and other problems; birth timing and the mother's labor diagnosis are related but distinct concepts.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit term; linked to Day 6 preterm labor.

Preterm labor

Labor with contractions that cause cervical change before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Contractions alone do not establish the diagnosis, and preterm labor does not always result in preterm birth.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 objective and Day 7 plan-of-care objective.

Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM; P-PROM)

Rupture of the amniotic membranes before labor and before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It combines the concerns of prematurity with risks such as ascending infection.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Days 6–7 explicit term.

Reference: Merck Manual: Prelabor rupture of membranes

Primary prevention

Actions intended to prevent a disease or injury before it starts. Vaccination is an example because it reduces the chance of developing the targeted infection.

OBHealth promotion

Course connection: OB Day 2 explicit exemplar.

Prolapsed umbilical cord (cord prolapse)

Descent of the umbilical cord alongside or below the fetal presenting part after the membranes have ruptured, where it can become compressed. Compression can interrupt fetal blood flow and oxygen delivery, making this an obstetric emergency.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 explicit emergency.

Reference: Umbilical cord prolapse, Green-top Guideline 50 — RCOG

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Blockage of a pulmonary artery, most often by a clot that traveled from a deep vein. The obstruction impairs blood flow through the lungs and can cause sudden breathing difficulty, reduced oxygenation, and circulatory collapse.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar; essential complication of OB Day 8 thromboembolic conditions.

Quickening

The pregnant person's first awareness of fetal movement. Its timing varies, making it a subjective pregnancy sign.

OBNormal pregnancy and prenatal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 3 pregnancy signs.

Reference: Merck Manual: Evaluation of the obstetric patient

Radiation, heat loss

Transfer of heat from the newborn to nearby cooler objects without direct contact. A cold window or wall can draw heat away even when the baby is not touching it.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 heat-loss objective.

Respiratory distress syndrome, newborn (RDS)

A newborn breathing disorder commonly caused by immature lungs with too little surfactant, the substance that helps keep air sacs open. Air sacs collapse more easily, increasing breathing effort and impairing gas exchange, particularly in premature infants.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit objective and exemplar.

Reference: Respiratory distress syndrome — NHLBI

Rh immune globulin (RhIG; Rho(D) immune globulin; anti-D)

A preparation of antibodies used to help prevent an unsensitized Rh-negative person from forming anti-D antibodies after exposure to Rh-positive red cells. It prevents sensitization; it does not reverse anti-D antibodies that have already formed.

OBHigh-risk pregnancy: hemorrhagic disorders

Course connection: OB Day 5 Rh incompatibility and Day 10 hemolytic disease.

Reference: Merck Manual: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and neonate

Second stage of labor

The period from complete cervical dilation until the baby is born. Fetal descent and birth occur during this stage.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 stages objective.

Reference: Stages of labor — NICHD

Secondary prevention

Actions intended to detect a disease early and begin appropriate care before it progresses. Screening is a common example; an abnormal screening result generally needs further evaluation rather than being treated as a complete diagnosis.

OBHealth promotion

Course connection: OB Day 2 explicit exemplar and screenings.

Reference: A framework for assessing the effectiveness of disease and injury prevention — CDC

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body's harmful response to an infection. Infection alone is not sepsis; worsening circulation, breathing, mental status, or organ function can signal an emergency.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS infection and OB postpartum/newborn infection.

Reference: CDC: About sepsis

Shock, circulatory

A life-threatening failure of circulation to supply organs adequately with blood and oxygen. Blood loss, severe infection, pump failure, or obstruction can cause different forms of shock; low blood pressure may develop as the condition progresses.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS perfusion/perioperative complications and OB postpartum hemorrhage/shock.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Shock

Shoulder dystocia

A birth emergency in which a fetal shoulder becomes lodged after the head has been delivered, preventing usual delivery of the body. It can compromise the infant and cause maternal or fetal injury.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 labor complications and Day 10 birth trauma.

Small for gestational age (SGA)

A newborn whose birth weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age and sex on the reference used. SGA describes measured size; it does not by itself explain the cause or prove pathologic fetal growth restriction.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit size exemplar.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Small for gestational age

Surfactant

A substance lining the lung's air sacs that lowers surface tension and helps keep them open during breathing. Insufficient surfactant contributes to newborn respiratory distress syndrome, particularly in premature infants.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 RDS mechanism.

Reference: Respiratory distress syndrome — NHLBI

Teratogen

An exposure capable of disrupting embryonic or fetal development. The type and likelihood of harm depend on factors such as the exposure and the stage of development.

OBSexuality and reproductive function

Course connection: OB Day 2 exposure prevention and Day 3 fetal development.

Reference: CDC/ATSDR: PHA guidance glossary, Teratogen

Tertiary prevention

Actions intended to limit complications, disability, or loss of function after a disease is established. The focus is on reducing its effects and supporting function, rather than requiring that the disease have been present for a particular number of years.

OBHealth promotion

Course connection: OB Day 2 explicit exemplar.

Reference: A framework for assessing the effectiveness of disease and injury prevention — CDC

Thermoregulation

The body's ability to balance heat production and heat loss to maintain its temperature. Newborns can lose heat readily, so their environment, drying, and appropriate warming affect their ability to maintain temperature.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 9 explicit term and newborn adaptation objective.

Third stage of labor

The period from the baby's birth until the placenta is delivered. Placental separation and expulsion occur during this stage.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 6 stages objective.

Reference: Stages of labor — NICHD

Tocolytic

A medicine used to reduce uterine contractions and temporarily delay selected preterm births. The delay may allow time for other treatments or transfer; it does not reliably prevent eventual preterm delivery.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 preterm labor treatment.

Reference: Merck Manual: Preterm labor

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)

Early breathing difficulty caused by delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid. It often improves as the fluid clears, but other causes of respiratory distress must be considered rather than assuming all rapid breathing is TTN.

OBNewborn assessment and complications

Course connection: OB Day 10 explicit exemplar.

Reference: Merck Manual: Transient tachypnea of the newborn

Uterine atony

Failure of the uterus to contract firmly after birth. Without effective contraction, blood vessels at the placental attachment site are not compressed adequately, allowing heavy bleeding; the uterus often feels soft or boggy.

OBPostpartum care and hemorrhage

Course connection: OB Day 8, mechanism of postpartum hemorrhage.

Reference: Postpartum hemorrhage — Merck Manual Professional

Uterine rupture

A full-thickness tear in the uterine wall. It can cause severe maternal bleeding and interrupt fetal oxygen delivery, requiring emergency care; it differs from an incomplete separation of a uterine scar.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 explicit emergency.

Uterine tachysystole

More than five uterine contractions in ten minutes, averaged over thirty minutes. Frequent contractions reduce the recovery time between them and can impair placental oxygen delivery; fetal heart-rate changes are assessed separately.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Day 7 induction/augmentation safety.

Variable deceleration

An abrupt decrease in fetal heart rate commonly associated with umbilical cord compression. Its shape and timing vary in relation to contractions; repeated or prolonged episodes need interpretation with the rest of the tracing.

OBLabor, birth, and fetal assessment

Course connection: OB Days 6–7, fetal assessment and nonreassuring patterns.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE)

The linked conditions of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The term connects clot formation in a vein with the possibility that clot material travels and blocks blood flow in the lungs.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar group; OB Day 8 thromboembolic conditions.