Antenatal Jargon

[bekkyboo]

After many internet searchs and bubhub thread searchs, i cant seem to get my head around some of the jargon in my antenatal record. My Dr's arent always the best, and im ever so curious by nature.

In my Purple book (for Qld's) in the progress notes the table is split into these catergories - Date, weight, Urinalysis, BP, Gest. Calc, Gest. Clin, Pres'n, Descent, FH, FM's, Oedema, Liquor.

So the ones i dont get are - Gest Clin, Pres'n, Descent, Oedema, Liqor.

Previously in my notes Gest Clin has been where they put the measurment over my stomach. But today at my 30 week check up that was put in Pres'n and in Gest Clin it says C. Oedema has never been written in until today where it looks to say Milu or something along those lines. Descent has also never been used - until today, where it looks like it says 46 and an arrow pointing up.

When my dr was feeling around my belly for bub today, he said - when he was feeling in between up hips or lower (cant remember...:devil6: ) - yeap, bubs head is down here. I know that means that he isnt breech, but does that mean that his head is engaged - or not yet or what... ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[tickle]

In the back of your book there is a Glossary of Terms, it has in there everything you need to know.;)
The Gest Clin is what gestation they estimate by the size of your uterus.
Oedema is any swelling which you might have, I'm guessing they have written 'mild'.
Prest'n is how the baby is facing and the C stands for cephalic presentation (head down).
Descent is how far down the baby has moved in preperation for being born.
Hope that is of some help.:thumbsup:

[the_queen]

Liquor (pronounced Like-Or) is another word for amniotic fluid.

[Seekrit]

my book doesn't have Oedema listed - but Oedema is fluid retention.

As for Liquor... I never noticed it, heh, but one of my appointments has it ticked, that was with the OB, the other appointments are with the midwife and they're not ticked.
Gest Clin - .. I don't know, mine has = signs. :confused:
Pres'n - I'd assume as presentation - mine has nothing written
Descent - Again, mine doesn't say anything.. I'd assume it's written in once the baby drops?

crazy crazy.
Which hospital by the way? My book is blue, I"m at the Royal

[bekkyboo]

WOWIE! thanks heaps....

Happy lady - Yeah the Oedema says mild when i look at it now - I have swelling of the fingers, my engagment ring and wedding ring are now on a chain on my neck...

So with all of that does it mean that bubs head is engaged? - and if descent is how far he has come down - does this mean that i should be expecting an earlier labour (like the dr's and midwives at the birthing suites told me) - Im 30 weeks. How or where do i find out what is normal for this stage of the pregnancy?

Seekrit - Im at Logan... Although if my heart keeps playing up i may have to be sent to Martar.

[tickle]

You would have to ask the dr what was written, I believe it is measured in fifths above brim. The baby starts to decsend in the last trimester, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'm sure the dr would have said something if there was a problem. If the baby was engaged it would say engaged or E or similar.:)

[priya]

hi,

i am also booked in at logan hospital. Nice to meet you.

In my opinion the term descent should be replaced by engagement because descent of the fetal head usually occurs after head is engaged and descent is calculated by the relation of head with the ischial spines.

The rough and old method of calculating engagement is by the method of the fingers and inthis the doctor or midwife will calculate how much the fetal head is engaged by keeping fingers below the head of the fetus and above the pelvis.
If it says4/5 then it means that the baby's head is starting to engage and if it is 0/5 then it is fully engaged.

I hope this may help you.
This is some additional info.

Dropping or lightening during pregnancy


At the end of the third trimester, the baby settles, or drops lower, into the mother's pelvis. This is known as dropping or lightening.

Dropping, unfortunately, is not a good predictor of when labor will begin. In first-time mothers, dropping usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks before delivery, but it can happen earlier. In women who have already had children, the baby may not drop until labor begins.

You may or may not notice a change in the shape of your abdomen after dropping. You may notice that your breathing becomes easier and heartburn occurs less frequently after dropping occurs. However, the increased pressure on your bladder after dropping occurs may make you have the urge to urinate more often.

Usually the baby's head is the first (presenting) part to enter the pelvis, but the feet or a shoulder can present first.

Station
During the last month, your health professional will estimate how far the baby's head has moved down into (engaged) the pelvis. This is measured in “stations.” A baby is at –3 station when the head is out of the pelvis and at 0 station when the head is at the bottom of the pelvis (fully engaged). The baby is at +3 station when the head is beginning to emerge from the birth canal (crowning).

Priya

[bekkyboo]

Hey Priya :)
thanks for that info, it really helped... I looked back again and it does say 4/5 - So im guessing that means my little man is starting to engage. I spose it all depends on how long it takes him to engage, whether he will be early or not. Drs have told me to be prepared for that.

Once again - thanks to everyone for replying, it has saved me alot of curious hours trying to figure it all out.

[KiLLaKaZ]

hmmm, i don't have a book. is that what the midwives/ doctors write in each visit? if so, the hospital keeps it. but the last midwife i had informed me i'm entitled to ask for a copy... i'd like to ask, but they're so busy there i'm not sure if i want to bother them!

[priya]

Hi,
I am booked in at logan hospital and in this hospital, they give you a preg health record which they also call purple book which you have to bring to the subsequent apptt[G.P. or Hospital]. I think that you should ask for it.

[tickle]

The hospital / dr record everything themselves in their computer but the book being referred to is a hand held record for you to take with you. It is so they can see everything to do with your pregnancy at a glance from whoever has been looking after you in a shared care arrangement. Hope that makes sense.:o