NCLEX Review & Nursing School

Signs of Pregnancy

Presumptive Signs of Pregnancy
– Amenorrhea
– Chadwick’s Sign
– Quickening
– Nausea and Vomiting

Verifying pregnancy

1. Presumptive – changes felt by mommy
1. Amenorrhea
2. N&V “am sickness”
3. Breast sensitivity
4. Fatigue
5. Quickening (16-20wk)
6. Freq void

PROBABLE SIGNS
– Ballotement- flexion of the uterus when the examiner pushes it
– Chadwick’s Sign- bluish discoloration of the vagina and cervix.
– Goodell’s Sign- sofetining of the portion of the vaginal portion of cervix.
– Positive pregnancy test

• Uterine enlargement
• (+) preg test
• Hegar’s sign- softening and compressibility of isthmus of uterus
• Chadwick’s sign

POSITIVE SIGNS
– Fetal Heart TOnes
– Ultrasound of fetal outline
– Leopold’s maneuver- fetal outline noted on palpation.

Positive

• Fetal ❤ beat     8-12wk Doppler

18-20 wk auscultate

• Palpation of fetal mvmt
• Visual of fetus with US

REMEMBER: Vaginal Ultrasounds require an empty bladder.
Fetal Heart Tones
– Fetal heart tones can be heard approx: 18-20 weeks w/ a Doppler ultrasound.

PRELABOR TEST:
Alpha Fetoprotiend (AFP)
– performed to screen for neural tube defects.
Amniocentesis
– done during around 16 weeks.
– If test is done prior to 20 weeks (bladder should remain full during procedure)
– If test is done after 20 weeks (the bladder should void prior to the procedure)
– amniotic fluid can be used to determine chromosomal abnormalities, lung maturity.