Maternal and Child Nursing Bullets

• Unlike false labor, true labor produces regular rhythmic contractions, abdominal discomfort, progressive descent of the fetus, bloody show, and progressive effacement and dilation of the cervix.
• To help a mother break the suction of her breast-feeding infant, the nurse should teach her to insert a finger at the corner of the infant’s mouth.
• Administering high levels of oxygen to a premature neonate can cause blindness as a result of retrolental fibroplasia.
• Amniotomy is artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes.
• During pregnancy, weight gain averages 25 to 30 lb (11 to 13.5 kg).
• Rubella has a teratogenic effect on the fetus during the first trimester. It produces abnormalities in up to 40% of cases without interrupting the pregnancy.
• Immunity to rubella can be measured by a hemagglutination inhibition test (rubella titer). This test identifies exposure to rubella infection and determines susceptibility in pregnant women. In a woman, a titer greater than 1:8 indicates immunity.
• When used to describe the degree of fetal descent during labor, floating means the presenting part isn’t engaged in the pelvic inlet, but is freely movable (ballotable) above the pelvic inlet.
• When used to describe the degree of fetal descent, engagement means when the largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.
• Fetal station indicates the location of the presenting part in relation to the ischial spine. It’s described as –1, –2, –3, –4, or –5 to indicate the number of centimeters above the level of the ischial spine; station –5 is at the pelvic inlet.
• Fetal station also is described as +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 to indicate the number of centimeters it is below the level of the ischial spine; station 0 is at the level of the ischial spine.
• During the first stage of labor, the side-lying position usually provides the greatest degree of comfort, although the patient may assume any comfortable position.
• During delivery, if the umbilical cord can’t be loosened and slipped from around the neonate’s neck, it should be clamped with two clamps and cut between the clamps.
• An Apgar score of 7 to 10 indicates no immediate distress, 4 to 6 indicates moderate distress, and 0 to 3 indicates severe distress.
• To elicit Moro’s reflex, the nurse holds the neonate in both hands and suddenly, but gently, drops the neonate’s head backward. Normally, the neonate abducts and extends all extremities bilaterally and symmetrically, forms a C shape with the thumb and forefinger, and first adducts and then flexes the extremities.
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia) is an increase in blood pressure of 30/15 mm Hg over baseline or blood pressure of 140/95 mm Hg on two occasions at least 6 hours apart accompanied by edema and albuminuria after 20 weeks’ gestation.
• Positive signs of pregnancy include ultrasound evidence, fetal heart tones, and fetal movement felt by the examiner (not usually present until 4 months’ gestation)
• Goodell’s sign is softening of the cervix.
• Quickening, a presumptive sign of pregnancy, occurs between 16 and 19 weeks’ gestation.
• Ovulation ceases during pregnancy.
• Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be considered a complication until proven otherwise.
• To estimate the date of delivery using Nägele’s rule, the nurse counts backward 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period and then adds 7 days to this date.
• At 12 weeks’ gestation, the fundus should be at the top of the symphysis pubis.
• Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to infants younger than age 1 because it has a low linoleic acid content and its protein is difficult for infants to digest.
• If jaundice is suspected in a neonate, the nurse should examine the infant under natural window light. If natural light is unavailable, the nurse should examine the infant under a white light.
• The three phases of a uterine contraction are increment, acme, and decrement.
• The intensity of a labor contraction can be assessed by the indentability of the uterine wall at the contraction’s peak. Intensity is graded as mild (uterine muscle is somewhat tense), moderate (uterine muscle is moderately tense), or strong (uterine muscle is boardlike).
• Chloasma, the mask of pregnancy, is pigmentation of a circumscribed area of skin (usually over the bridge of the nose and cheeks) that occurs in some pregnant women.
• The gynecoid pelvis is most ideal for delivery. Other types include platypelloid (flat), anthropoid (apelike), and android (malelike).
• Pregnant women should be advised that there is no safe level of alcohol intake.
• The frequency of uterine contractions, which is measured in minutes, is the time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.
• Vitamin K is administered to neonates to prevent hemorrhagic disorders because a neonate’s intestine can’t synthesize vitamin K.
• Before internal fetal monitoring can be performed, a pregnant patient’s cervix must be dilated at least 2 cm, the amniotic membranes must be ruptured, and the fetus’s presenting part (scalp or buttocks) must be at station –1 or lower, so that a small electrode can be attached.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome presents in the first 24 hours after birth and produces lethargy, seizures, poor sucking reflex, abdominal distention, and respiratory difficulty.
• Variability is any change in the fetal heart rate (FHR) from its normal rate of 120 to 160 beats/minute. Acceleration is increased FHR; deceleration is decreased FHR.
• In a neonate, the symptoms of heroin withdrawal may begin several hours to 4 days after birth.
• In a neonate, the symptoms of methadone withdrawal may begin 7 days to several weeks after birth.
• In a neonate, the cardinal signs of narcotic withdrawal include coarse, flapping tremors; sleepiness; restlessness; prolonged, persistent, high-pitched cry; and irritability.
• The nurse should count a neonate’s respirations for 1 full minute.
• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is used to treat neonates who are addicted to narcotics.
• The nurse should provide a dark, quiet environment for a neonate who is experiencing narcotic withdrawal.
• In a premature neonate, signs of respiratory distress include nostril flaring, substernal retractions, and inspiratory grunting.
• Respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease) develops in premature infants because their pulmonary alveoli lack surfactant.
• Whenever an infant is being put down to sleep, the parent or caregiver should position the infant on the back. (Remember back to sleep.)
• The male sperm contributes an X or a Y chromosome; the female ovum contributes an X chromosome.
• Fertilization produces a total of 46 chromosomes, including an XY combination (male) or an XX combination (female).
• The percentage of water in a neonate’s body is about 78% to 80%.
• To perform nasotracheal suctioning in an infant, the nurse positions the infant with his neck slightly hyperextended in a “sniffing” position, with his chin up and his head tilted back slightly.
• Organogenesis occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, specifically, days 14 to 56 of gestation.
• After birth, the neonate’s umbilical cord is tied 1″ (2.5 cm) from the abdominal wall with a cotton cord, plastic clamp, or rubber band.
• Gravida is the number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of outcome.
• Para is the number of pregnancies that reached viability, regardless of whether the fetus was delivered alive or stillborn. A fetus is considered viable at 20 weeks’ gestation.
• An ectopic pregnancy is one that implants abnormally, outside the uterus.
• The first stage of labor begins with the onset of labor and ends with full cervical dilation at 10 cm.
• The second stage of labor begins with full cervical dilation and ends with the neonate’s birth.
• The third stage of labor begins after the neonate’s birth and ends with expulsion of the placenta.
• In a full-term neonate, skin creases appear over two-thirds of the neonate’s feet. Preterm neonates have heel creases that cover less than two-thirds of the feet.
• The fourth stage of labor (postpartum stabilization) lasts up to 4 hours after the placenta is delivered. This time is needed to stabilize the mother’s physical and emotional state after the stress of childbirth.
• At 20 weeks’ gestation, the fundus is at the level of the umbilicus.
• At 36 weeks’ gestation, the fundus is at the lower border of the rib cage.
• A premature neonate is one born before the end of the 37th week of gestation.
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a leading cause of maternal death in the United States.
• A habitual aborter is a woman who has had three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions.
• Threatened abortion occurs when bleeding is present without cervical dilation.
• A complete abortion occurs when all products of conception are expelled.
• Hydramnios (polyhydramnios) is excessive amniotic fluid (more than 2,000 ml in the third trimester).
• Stress, dehydration, and fatigue may reduce a breast-feeding mother’s milk supply.
• During the transition phase of the first stage of labor, the cervix is dilated 8 to 10 cm and contractions usually occur 2 to 3 minutes apart and last for 60 seconds.
• A nonstress test is considered nonreactive (positive) if fewer than two fetal heart rate accelerations of at least 15 beats/minute occur in 20 minutes.
• A nonstress test is considered reactive (negative) if two or more fetal heart rate accelerations of 15 beats/minute above baseline occur in 20 minutes.
• A nonstress test is usually performed to assess fetal well-being in a pregnant patient with a prolonged pregnancy (42 weeks or more), diabetes, a history of poor pregnancy outcomes, or pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• A pregnant woman should drink at least eight 8-oz glasses (about 2,000 ml) of water daily.
• When both breasts are used for breast-feeding, the infant usually doesn’t empty the second breast. Therefore, the second breast should be used first at the next feeding.
• A low-birth-weight neonate weighs 2,500 g (5 lb 8 oz) or less at birth.
• A very-low-birth-weight neonate weighs 1,500 g (3 lb 5 oz) or less at birth.
• When teaching parents to provide umbilical cord care, the nurse should teach them to clean the umbilical area with a cotton ball saturated with alcohol after every diaper change to prevent infection and promote drying.
• Teenage mothers are more likely to have low-birth-weight neonates because they seek prenatal care late in pregnancy (as a result of denial) and are more likely than older mothers to have nutritional deficiencies.
• Linea nigra, a dark line that extends from the umbilicus to the mons pubis, commonly appears during pregnancy and disappears after pregnancy.
• Implantation in the uterus occurs 6 to 10 days after ovum fertilization.
• Placenta previa is abnormally low implantation of the placenta so that it encroaches on or covers the cervical os.
• In complete (total) placenta previa, the placenta completely covers the cervical os.
• In partial (incomplete or marginal) placenta previa, the placenta covers only a portion of the cervical os.
• Abruptio placentae is premature separation of a normally implanted placenta. It may be partial or complete, and usually causes abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and a boardlike abdomen.
• Cutis marmorata is mottling or purple discoloration of the skin. It’s a transient vasomotor response that occurs primarily in the arms and legs of infants who are exposed to cold.
• The classic triad of symptoms of preeclampsia are hypertension, edema, and proteinuria. Additional symptoms of severe preeclampsia include hyperreflexia, cerebral and vision disturbances, and epigastric pain.
• Ortolani’s sign (an audible click or palpable jerk that occurs with thigh abduction) confirms congenital hip dislocation in a neonate.
• The first immunization for a neonate is the hepatitis B vaccine, which is administered in the nursery shortly after birth.
• If a patient misses a menstrual period while taking an oral contraceptive exactly as prescribed, she should continue taking the contraceptive.
• If a patient misses two consecutive menstrual periods while taking an oral contraceptive, she should discontinue the contraceptive and take a pregnancy test.
• If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses a dose, she should take the pill as soon as she remembers or take two at the next scheduled interval and continue with the normal schedule.
• If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses two consecutive doses, she should double the dose for 2 days and then resume her normal schedule. She also should use an additional birth control method for 1 week.
• Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures that aren’t caused by a cerebral disorder in a patient who has pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• In placenta previa, bleeding is painless and seldom fatal on the first occasion, but it becomes heavier with each subsequent episode.
• Treatment for abruptio placentae is usually immediate cesarean delivery.
• Drugs used to treat withdrawal symptoms in neonates include phenobarbital (Luminal), camphorated opium tincture (paregoric), and diazepam (Valium).
• Infants with Down syndrome typically have marked hypotonia, floppiness, slanted eyes, excess skin on the back of the neck, flattened bridge of the nose, flat facial features, spadelike hands, short and broad feet, small male genitalia, absence of Moro’s reflex, and a simian crease on the hands.
• The failure rate of a contraceptive is determined by the experience of 100 women for 1 year. It’s expressed as pregnancies per 100 woman-years.

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