Midwifery Definitions
Definition of a midwife - answer A person who has successfully completed a
midwifery education
programme that is duly recognized in the country where it is located; who has acquired
the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery
and use the title 'midwife'; and who demonstrates competency in the practice of
midwifery
Brady prefix - answer Slow
Dys prefix - answer Difficulty, abnormal
Articul root - answer Joint
Aur root - answer Ear
Cerv root - answer Neck
Chole root - answer Gallbladder/bile
-aemia suffix - answer Blood
-ectomy suffix - answer Removal
-graph suffix - answer Instrument for recording
-icle suffix - answer Small
-megaly suffix - answer Enlargement
-plasty suffix - answer Formation/repair
-scope - answer Instrument for viewing
-tomy suffix - answer Incision, to cut into
Abduction - answer To take away from the midline
Adduction - answer To bring towards the midline
Primigravida - answer A woman who is pregnant for the first time
,Multigravida - answer A women during her second or subsequent pregnacy
Parity - answer The number of infants a woman has given birth to; includes
miscarriages
Primiparous - answer A women who has given birth to one child
Multiparous - answer A women who has given birth to more than one child
Abortion - answer The termination of pregnancy before the 24th gestational week
Miscarriage - answer Spontaneous miscarriage is defined as the involuntary loss of
the products of conception prior to the 24 weeks of gestation
Labour - answer The process by which the fetus, placenta and membranes are
expelled from the birth canal
First stage of labour - answer From the onset of dilation of the external cervical os to
full dilation of the cervix
Second stage of labour - answer From full dilation of the cervix until the birth of the
baby
Third stage of labour - answer From the birth of the baby until complete expulsion of
the placenta and membranes and control of haemorrhage
Mechanism of labour - answer The series of passive movements that the fetus will
make in order to pass through the birth canal
Attitude - answer The relationship of the fetal parts one to another
Demoninator - answer Part on the presentation, which denotes position
Engagement - answer When the widest transverse diameter (i.e. bi-parieral diameter
9.5cm) of the fetal skull has passed through the brim of the pelvis
Puerperium - answer The period from the end of the third stage of labour up to six
weeks (42 days) post delivery when the body returns to near its pre pregnant state
Involution - answer The return of an organ to its original state after a period of activity
Liquor - answer The fluid surrounding the baby in utero. (Amniotic fluid)
Moulding - answer The term applied to the alteration of the shape (not size) of the
fetal head, to negotiate the birth canal.
,Lanugo - answer The fine hair covering the fetus in utero, commonly found on
preterm babies.
Vernix - answer A protective waxy substance that covers the fetus in utero
Ptyalism - answer Abnormally increased salivation.
Gravidy - answer Refers to number of times that a woman has been pregnant
regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy
Gravida - answer A pregnant women
Nulligravida - answer A woman who has never been pregnant.
Nulliparous - answer Has not given birth previously
Grand multipara - answer A women who has delivered five or more infants who have
achieved a gestational age of 24 weeks or more
Grand multigravida - answer A women who has been pregnant five times or more
First trimester - answer Conception to 12 weeks of pregnancy
Second trimester - answer 12 weeks to 27 weeks
Third trimester - answer 28 weeks to birth of the baby
Premature - answer Infants born before 37 weeks
Prepuce - answer The skin that covers the clitoris
Internal os of cervix - answer Opens into cavity of the uterus, dilates during labour
External os of cervix - answer Opens into the vagina at the lower end
Perimetrium - answer The layer of tissue that covers the outside of the uterus (inside
the body)
Menstrual phase - answer The time during menstruation; endometrium is shed; drop
in estrogen and progesterone triggers; FSH and LH begin to promote follicular
development
Follicular/proliferative phase - answer Follicles grow and develop into a Graffian
follicle; estrogen increases, increasing FSH and LH; endometrium thickens
, Ovulatory phase - answer The Graffian follicle ruptures, releasing the egg; caused by
a surge in LH triggers by estrogen
Luteal phase/secretory phase - answer Corpus luteum develops; LH causes growth
of luteum, estrogen is secreted; endometrium grows; corpus luteum degenerates; fall in
estrogen triggers increase in FSH and LH and begisn period
HCG - answer Maintains the corpus luteum for the first 12 weeks and inhibits FSH
and LH; causes corpus luteum to secrete estrogen/progesterone; placenta takes over
after 12 weeks
Mittelschmerz sign - answer Abdominal pain associated with ovulation
Dysmenorrhea - answer Painful menstruation
Primary amenorrhea - answer When a girl has not menstruated by age 18
Secondary amenorrhea - answer Absence of menstruation if she has had at least
one period
What are some diseases that cause anovulation? - answer Endocrinological disease:
polycystic ovarian disease or thyrotoxicosis
Combined pill - answer Combine estrogen and progesterone; prevents ovulation and
thickens mucus; very effective; protects against certain types of cancer; side effects
include breast tenderness, bloating, bleeding, and hypertension
Progesterone only pill - answer Does not affect lactation; does not always stop
ovulation, but thickens mucus; erractic bleeding patterns
IUD (intra-uterine device) - answer Placed in the uterus; thin coating of copper wire;
stops sperm reaching egg and delays egg; not good for nulliparous women or women
with a history of physical problems with reproductive tract; lasts for years; suitable for
diabetics; increased risk of miscarriage and of damaging uterus
Male condom - answer Most widely used contraceptive; 97% effective and prevents
STDs
Depo-Provera - answer Injectable contraception; progesterone injection; one
injection gives 12 weeks of protection; changes cervical mucus; commenced at 6 weeks
postpartum; side effects include weight gain and depression
Emergency contraception - answer Pills contain progesterone; taken within three
days of having sex; may stop ovulation or fertilisation or stop it from implanting--does
NOT end established pregnancy
Definition of a midwife - answer A person who has successfully completed a
midwifery education
programme that is duly recognized in the country where it is located; who has acquired
the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery
and use the title 'midwife'; and who demonstrates competency in the practice of
midwifery
Brady prefix - answer Slow
Dys prefix - answer Difficulty, abnormal
Articul root - answer Joint
Aur root - answer Ear
Cerv root - answer Neck
Chole root - answer Gallbladder/bile
-aemia suffix - answer Blood
-ectomy suffix - answer Removal
-graph suffix - answer Instrument for recording
-icle suffix - answer Small
-megaly suffix - answer Enlargement
-plasty suffix - answer Formation/repair
-scope - answer Instrument for viewing
-tomy suffix - answer Incision, to cut into
Abduction - answer To take away from the midline
Adduction - answer To bring towards the midline
Primigravida - answer A woman who is pregnant for the first time
,Multigravida - answer A women during her second or subsequent pregnacy
Parity - answer The number of infants a woman has given birth to; includes
miscarriages
Primiparous - answer A women who has given birth to one child
Multiparous - answer A women who has given birth to more than one child
Abortion - answer The termination of pregnancy before the 24th gestational week
Miscarriage - answer Spontaneous miscarriage is defined as the involuntary loss of
the products of conception prior to the 24 weeks of gestation
Labour - answer The process by which the fetus, placenta and membranes are
expelled from the birth canal
First stage of labour - answer From the onset of dilation of the external cervical os to
full dilation of the cervix
Second stage of labour - answer From full dilation of the cervix until the birth of the
baby
Third stage of labour - answer From the birth of the baby until complete expulsion of
the placenta and membranes and control of haemorrhage
Mechanism of labour - answer The series of passive movements that the fetus will
make in order to pass through the birth canal
Attitude - answer The relationship of the fetal parts one to another
Demoninator - answer Part on the presentation, which denotes position
Engagement - answer When the widest transverse diameter (i.e. bi-parieral diameter
9.5cm) of the fetal skull has passed through the brim of the pelvis
Puerperium - answer The period from the end of the third stage of labour up to six
weeks (42 days) post delivery when the body returns to near its pre pregnant state
Involution - answer The return of an organ to its original state after a period of activity
Liquor - answer The fluid surrounding the baby in utero. (Amniotic fluid)
Moulding - answer The term applied to the alteration of the shape (not size) of the
fetal head, to negotiate the birth canal.
,Lanugo - answer The fine hair covering the fetus in utero, commonly found on
preterm babies.
Vernix - answer A protective waxy substance that covers the fetus in utero
Ptyalism - answer Abnormally increased salivation.
Gravidy - answer Refers to number of times that a woman has been pregnant
regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy
Gravida - answer A pregnant women
Nulligravida - answer A woman who has never been pregnant.
Nulliparous - answer Has not given birth previously
Grand multipara - answer A women who has delivered five or more infants who have
achieved a gestational age of 24 weeks or more
Grand multigravida - answer A women who has been pregnant five times or more
First trimester - answer Conception to 12 weeks of pregnancy
Second trimester - answer 12 weeks to 27 weeks
Third trimester - answer 28 weeks to birth of the baby
Premature - answer Infants born before 37 weeks
Prepuce - answer The skin that covers the clitoris
Internal os of cervix - answer Opens into cavity of the uterus, dilates during labour
External os of cervix - answer Opens into the vagina at the lower end
Perimetrium - answer The layer of tissue that covers the outside of the uterus (inside
the body)
Menstrual phase - answer The time during menstruation; endometrium is shed; drop
in estrogen and progesterone triggers; FSH and LH begin to promote follicular
development
Follicular/proliferative phase - answer Follicles grow and develop into a Graffian
follicle; estrogen increases, increasing FSH and LH; endometrium thickens
, Ovulatory phase - answer The Graffian follicle ruptures, releasing the egg; caused by
a surge in LH triggers by estrogen
Luteal phase/secretory phase - answer Corpus luteum develops; LH causes growth
of luteum, estrogen is secreted; endometrium grows; corpus luteum degenerates; fall in
estrogen triggers increase in FSH and LH and begisn period
HCG - answer Maintains the corpus luteum for the first 12 weeks and inhibits FSH
and LH; causes corpus luteum to secrete estrogen/progesterone; placenta takes over
after 12 weeks
Mittelschmerz sign - answer Abdominal pain associated with ovulation
Dysmenorrhea - answer Painful menstruation
Primary amenorrhea - answer When a girl has not menstruated by age 18
Secondary amenorrhea - answer Absence of menstruation if she has had at least
one period
What are some diseases that cause anovulation? - answer Endocrinological disease:
polycystic ovarian disease or thyrotoxicosis
Combined pill - answer Combine estrogen and progesterone; prevents ovulation and
thickens mucus; very effective; protects against certain types of cancer; side effects
include breast tenderness, bloating, bleeding, and hypertension
Progesterone only pill - answer Does not affect lactation; does not always stop
ovulation, but thickens mucus; erractic bleeding patterns
IUD (intra-uterine device) - answer Placed in the uterus; thin coating of copper wire;
stops sperm reaching egg and delays egg; not good for nulliparous women or women
with a history of physical problems with reproductive tract; lasts for years; suitable for
diabetics; increased risk of miscarriage and of damaging uterus
Male condom - answer Most widely used contraceptive; 97% effective and prevents
STDs
Depo-Provera - answer Injectable contraception; progesterone injection; one
injection gives 12 weeks of protection; changes cervical mucus; commenced at 6 weeks
postpartum; side effects include weight gain and depression
Emergency contraception - answer Pills contain progesterone; taken within three
days of having sex; may stop ovulation or fertilisation or stop it from implanting--does
NOT end established pregnancy
