Key Terms
- adolescent pregnancy
- one that occurs in persons between 10 and 19 years of age
- anemia
- level of red blood cells or hemoglobin that is too low to supply enough oxygen to the tissues of the body
- blighted ovum
- also known as an anembryonic pregnancy, occurs when a fertilized egg implants into the uterus, but an embryo does not form
- cerclage
- surgical procedure in which sutures are placed around the cervix to prevent it from dilating
- cervical insufficiency
- painless dilation of the cervix during pregnancy that often leads to inability to carry the fetus beyond the second trimester
- chronic hypertension
- high blood pressure that is present prior to pregnancy or before 20 weeks’ gestation
- complete abortion
- occurs when there is a termination of pregnancy that results in all the products of conception being expelled from the uterus, such as the fetus, placenta, and other tissue
- cystic fibrosis
- genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which causes thick mucus to build up in various organs of the body, such as the lungs, pancreas, and intestines
- dilation and curettage (D&C)
- surgical procedure in which the contents of the uterus are removed by dilating the cervix and using a surgical instrument (curette) to evacuate the uterine tissue and lining
- disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- serious condition where there is widespread coagulopathy and tiny blood clots form throughout the body
- eclampsia
- occurs when preeclampsia progresses and the patient develops seizure activity
- ectopic pregnancy
- occurs when a fertilized egg becomes implanted outside the uterus
- fetal resorption
- occurs when fetal tissues are broken down into simple molecules, which are easily absorbed by the body of the pregnant person
- gestational trophoblastic disease
- rare group of tumors caused by an abnormal growth of placental trophoblastic tissue during pregnancy
- HELLP syndrome
- acronym that stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count and is a complication of liver involvement related to preeclampsia
- high-risk pregnancy
- pregnancy that has an increased likelihood of maternal and fetal complications
- hyperemesis gravidarum
- condition characterized by severe nausea and vomiting during the first trimester that can lead to electrolyte imbalances, weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration
- hyperthyroidism
- diagnosed in the setting of high thyroxine (free T4) levels and low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels; clinical signs and symptoms include heat intolerance, weight loss, frequent stools, sweating, palpitations, insomnia, tachycardia, and hypertension.
- hypothyroidism
- diagnosed in the setting of high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and low thyroxine (free T4) levels; clinical signs and symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, muscle cramps, cold intolerance, edema, hair loss, and dry skin
- immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- autoimmune disorder in which platelets are destroyed, which leads to low platelet levels
- incomplete abortion
- occurs when some of the products of conception are still present in the uterus after the pregnancy has been terminated
- inevitable pregnancy loss
- occurs when the cervix dilates or the membranes rupture without delivery of the fetus or placenta at less than 20 weeks’ gestation
- intrauterine fetal demise
- death of the fetus that occurs at any time during pregnancy
- missed abortion
- also referred to as a missed miscarriage, a type of spontaneous abortion where there is no expulsion of the products of conception and the cervix is closed; the patient may experience minimal to no signs or symptoms of miscarriage
- multiple gestation
- term used to describe a pregnancy in which there is more than one fetus
- oligohydramnios
- abnormally low volume of amniotic fluid present during pregnancy
- overnutrition
- imbalance of nutrition that results from excessive food intake
- placenta accreta
- occurs when the placenta grows into or through the uterine wall, which can lead to the placenta attaching to nearby pelvic and abdominal organs
- placenta previa
- placenta that is located near the internal cervical os or covering it
- placental abruption
- occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine lining, which may lead to significant maternal-fetal blood loss, intrauterine fetal demise, or maternal death
- polyhydramnios
- abnormally high volume of amniotic fluid that is present during pregnancy
- preeclampsia
- multisystem disorder that can occur after 20 weeks’ gestation and, if untreated, can lead to damage in the vital organs and cause seizures
- preexisting medical condition
- medical condition that is present prior to conception
- preterm labor
- onset of labor before 37 weeks’ gestation, which is considered term gestation
- preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)
- occurs when the membranes rupture before term gestation at 37 weeks and there is concern for imminent delivery
- recurrent abortion
- also known as a recurrent pregnancy loss, refers to two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions that occur before 20 weeks’ gestation
- rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- systemic autoimmune disease characterized primarily by joint inflammation
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues in multiple organ systems
- threatened abortion
- diagnosed when bleeding occurs without cervical dilation during the first trimester or before 20 weeks’ gestation
- tuberculosis (TB)
- infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily impacts the lungs and can cause symptoms such as a chronic cough, hemoptysis, fever, night sweats, chills, fatigue, and chest pain, and symptoms can range from mild to severe
- type 1 diabetes
- caused by an insulin shortage from an autoimmune process that destroys the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin
- type 2 diabetes
- caused by beta cells that do not secrete a sufficient amount of insulin in the setting of insulin resistance
- undernutrition
- imbalance of nutrition related to inadequate intake of food and necessary nutrients