D313 OB Maternity: Comprehensive Overview of Pregnancy & Labor

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Western Governors University

D313 Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab

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Date

Prenatal Terms and Abbreviations

Accurate prenatal terminology forms the foundation of safe and effective obstetric and maternal healthcare practice. Mastery of these terms allows healthcare professionals to communicate clearly, document precisely, and make informed clinical decisions throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery. The following sections present essential prenatal concepts, classifications, and abbreviations commonly used in clinical settings, with explanations of their relevance to maternal–fetal care.

Preterm, Term, and Postterm Pregnancies

Pregnancy duration is classified according to gestational age, calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). These categories assist clinicians in identifying developmental milestones, anticipating complications, and determining appropriate interventions.

Classification of Pregnancy by Gestational Age

Term Classification	Definition	Gestational Age Range
Preterm	Pregnancy that reaches viability but ends before completion of 37 weeks.	20 weeks to 36 weeks 6/7 days
Early Term	Births occurring slightly before the optimal full-term period.	37 weeks to 38 weeks 6/7 days
Full Term	Pregnancy that progresses through the ideal duration for fetal maturity.	39 weeks to 40 weeks 6/7 days
Late Term	Pregnancy that extends beyond full term but not postterm.	41 weeks to 41 weeks 6/7 days
Postterm (Postdate)	Pregnancy continuing beyond the expected gestational length.	42 weeks or more

Clinical importance lies in the fact that deviations from full-term gestation are associated with increased risks, including respiratory distress, developmental delays, or placental insufficiency.

Common Abbreviations in Prenatal Care

Medical abbreviations are routinely used in obstetric documentation to promote efficiency and clarity. Familiarity with these abbreviations is essential for accurate charting and interdisciplinary communication.

Frequently Used Obstetric Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
IUP / IUFD	Intrauterine Pregnancy / Intrauterine Fetal Demise
SAB / TAB	Spontaneous Abortion / Therapeutic Abortion
LMP	Last Menstrual Period
ROM / SROM / AROM	Rupture of Membranes / Spontaneous / Artificial
PROM / PPROM	Prolonged Rupture / Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
SVD	Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
FHR / EFM	Fetal Heart Rate / Electronic Fetal Monitoring
US / FSE / IUPC	Ultrasound / Fetal Scalp Electrode / Intrauterine Pressure Catheter
NST / CST / BPP	Non-Stress Test / Contraction Stress Test / Biophysical Profile
VBAC	Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
AFI	Amniotic Fluid Index
PTL / BOA	Preterm Labor / Born on Arrival
D&C / D&E	Dilation and Curettage / Dilation and Evacuation
EDD / EDC / EDB	Estimated Date of Delivery / Confinement / Birth

Obstetric Terminology: Gravidity, Parity, and Pregnancy Duration

What Do Gravida and Para Mean?

Gravida (G) refers to the total number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of outcome. This includes the current pregnancy, miscarriages, abortions, and ectopic pregnancies. Multiple fetuses in a single pregnancy are counted as one gravida.

Para (P) indicates the number of pregnancies that have progressed to fetal viability (20 weeks or more), regardless of whether the infant was born alive or stillborn.

Parity Classification

Term	Description	Number
Nullipara	No pregnancies reaching viability	0
Primipara	One pregnancy reaching viability	1
Multipara	Two or more pregnancies reaching viability	2 or more

What Is GTPAL?

The GTPAL system provides a detailed summary of a woman’s reproductive history, offering more precision than the gravida–para system alone.

Letter	Meaning	Clinical Notes
G	Gravida	Total pregnancies
T	Term births	≥37 weeks
P	Preterm births	20–36 6/7 weeks
A	Abortions	<20 weeks (spontaneous or induced)
L	Living children	Multiples counted individually

Pregnancy Duration and Fetal Age

Gestational age is measured from the first day of the LMP and averages approximately 40 weeks. In contrast, fetal age begins at conception and is typically about 38 weeks. This distinction is important when interpreting ultrasound findings and developmental milestones.

Trimesters of Pregnancy

Trimester	Duration (Weeks)
First	0–13
Second	14–26
Third	27–40

How to Use Naegele’s Rule for Estimating Delivery Date

Naegele’s Rule is a standardized method for estimating the expected date of delivery (EDD) based on the LMP.

Formula

Subtract 3 months from the first day of the LMP
Add 7 days
Add 1 year

Example Calculation

Step	Date
LMP	September 2, 2015
Minus 3 months	June 2, 2015
Add 7 days	June 9, 2015
Add 1 year	June 9, 2016 (EDD)

Practice Question 1

Scenario:
A patient delivered today on her due date. She has a three-year-old child born one week post-term and experienced a miscarriage at eight weeks last year.

What is her GTPAL?

Option	G	T	P	A	L
A	2	2	1	0	2
B	3	2	1	0	1
C	3	2	1	0	2
D	3	2	0	1	2

Correct Answer: D (3–2–0–1–2)
This reflects three pregnancies, two term births, no preterm births, one abortion, and two living children.

Practice Question 2

Scenario:
A woman has had three prior pregnancies resulting in a 39-week birth, twins at 34 weeks, and a 38-week birth. She is currently 38 weeks pregnant.

What is her GTPAL?

Option	G	T	P	L
A	4	1	3	4
B	4	1	2	3
C	4	2	1	4
D	4	2	2	4

Correct Answer: C (4–2–1–0–4)
Twins are counted as one preterm pregnancy but two living children.

References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). Practice Bulletin No. 217: Prelabor rupture of membranes. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135(3), e90–e102.

Elsevier. (2023). Maternity and pediatric nursing (Latest ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.

D313 OB Maternity: Comprehensive Overview of Pregnancy & Labor

Lowdermilk, D. L., Perry, S. E., Cashion, K., & Alden, K. R. (2022). Maternity & women’s health care (13th ed.). Elsevier.

Stanford Children’s Health. (2024). Pregnancy and childbirth overview.