Pregnancy and prenatal care
Prenatal care supports healthy pregnancies and catches problems early. Nurses educate, monitor, and support families throughout. For study only, not clinical guidance: always follow your programme, current local protocols, and supervising clinicians.
Pregnancy timeline
A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period, divided into three trimesters. Naegele's rule estimates the due date: add 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period, subtract 3 months, and add a year. Birth between 37 and 42 weeks is considered term in common usage; before 37 weeks is preterm.
Signs of pregnancy
Presumptive signs, such as missed periods, nausea, and breast tenderness, are reported by the person. Probable signs, such as a positive pregnancy test and changes in the cervix, are observed by examiners. Positive signs, such as fetal heartbeat detected by ultrasound or Doppler and visualisation of the fetus, confirm pregnancy.
Prenatal visits
Prenatal care includes regular visits to monitor blood pressure, weight, urine, fetal growth (fundal height), and fetal heart rate, with screening tests such as blood type, anaemia, infections, gestational diabetes (often at 24-28 weeks), and Group B streptococcus (often at 36-37 weeks). A typical fetal heart rate is about 110-160 beats per minute.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Folic acid supplementation before and in early pregnancy reduces neural tube defects; a common recommendation is 400 micrograms daily. Pregnant people should avoid alcohol (no safe amount is known), smoking, and certain foods that risk infection, such as unpasteurised cheeses. Moderate exercise is usually beneficial.
Danger signs in pregnancy
Warning signs needing prompt evaluation include vaginal bleeding, severe headache, visual changes, swelling of the face or hands, severe abdominal pain, fluid leaking from the vagina, decreased fetal movement, and fever. Teaching families these signs is a key nursing role.
Hypertensive disorders
Pre-eclampsia is new high blood pressure after 20 weeks with signs of organ involvement, such as protein in urine, headache, visual disturbances, or abnormal liver or kidney tests. It can progress to eclampsia (seizures). Magnesium sulfate is used to prevent seizures; nurses monitor reflexes, breathing, and urine output for magnesium toxicity. Delivery is the definitive treatment.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose first recognised in pregnancy. It raises risks of a large baby, birth complications, and newborn low blood sugar. Management includes diet, exercise, glucose monitoring, and sometimes insulin. It usually resolves after birth but increases the person's later risk of type 2 diabetes.
Worked example
A woman at 34 weeks reports a severe headache and seeing spots; her blood pressure is 162/108 and her hands and face are swollen. These suggest pre-eclampsia with severe features. The nurse reports immediately, anticipates magnesium sulfate and blood pressure medication, monitors for seizures, and prepares for possible delivery planning.
Key takeaways
Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks in three trimesters; Naegele's rule estimates the due date. Signs are presumptive, probable, or positive. Prenatal visits monitor maternal and fetal health and screen for problems; normal fetal heart rate is about 110-160. Folic acid, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and food safety matter. Teach danger signs. Pre-eclampsia needs urgent care; magnesium sulfate prevents seizures. Gestational diabetes needs glucose management.
Flashcard
About 40 weeks
Check your understanding
Using Naegele's rule, if the last menstrual period began on 10 March, the estimated due date is about: