EXPECTANT MOTHER

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER

1. Presumptive Signs and Symptoms

• 1o days delayed of menstrual period
• breast enlarge and becomes tender
• nipples enlarge with darken pigmentation
• "chadwick's sign"- the bluish discoloration of the vaginal wall
• striae gravidarum- formation of white lines over the abdomen, thigh or on the breast
• nausea and vomiting in the morning during the first trimester. called as morning sickness
• quickening- fetal movement- felt by the mother on the 16th week after cessation of menstruation
• frequent urination due to pressure to the bladder from the enlarging abdomen

2.Probable Signs and Symptoms

• Hegar's sign- softening of the lower uterine segment after 6 weeks from the onset of last menses
• Goodell's sign- softening of the cervix
• Braxton Hicks contraction- painless palpable contraction at irregular intervals
• Ballottement-sinking and rebounding in its amniotic fluid
• fetal body can be measure through manual palpation examination
• pregnancy test with positive result

3.Positive Signs and Symptoms

• Fetal heartbeat heard with fetoscope and heard starting on the 16th week of pregnancy
• visualization of the fetus through ultrasound
• fetal movement is palpable by the examiner on the 20th week of gestation

Source: maternal nursing books, my nursing notes