Maternal-Newborn Nursing

Pregnancy assessment basics for nurses — obstetric history (gravida, para, GTPAL), estimated due date, prenatal visits, physiologic changes, maternal assessment, and nursing considerations.

Labor and delivery overview for nurses — four stages of labor, cervical dilation, contraction assessment, maternal monitoring, fetal heart rate basics, and nursing priorities for each stage.

Postpartum care basics for nurses — fundus, lochia, perineum, breasts, emotional status, postpartum hemorrhage, infection, hypertension, thromboembolism, and nursing interventions.

Newborn assessment for nurses — APGAR score, vital signs, newborn reflexes, systematic physical assessment, normal findings, and warning signs for NCLEX and clinical practice.

Diagnostic criteria and severe features, magnesium sulfate administration with the monitoring trio (reflexes, respirations, urine output), eclamptic seizure response, HELLP recognition, and postpartum vigilance.

The Four T's (tone, trauma, tissue, thrombin), fundal massage as the first action for atony, quantified blood loss, uterotonic medications with their famous contraindications, and the escalation ladder.

Screening at 24–28 weeks, glucose targets, nutrition-first management, insulin in pregnancy, the fetal risk chain (macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia), and postpartum follow-up.

Early recognition, what tocolytics actually buy (48 hours for betamethasone and transfer), magnesium for fetal neuroprotection, GBS coverage, and the contraindications that stop tocolysis entirely.

Colostrum to mature milk, supply-and-demand physiology, signs of a good latch, positions and feeding cues, output expectations, managing engorgement, sore nipples and mastitis, true vs perceived low supply, and the real contraindications.

How the methods work (combined hormonal, progestin-only, IUDs, barrier, sterilization, fertility awareness), efficacy, the ACHES and PAINS warning signs, estrogen contraindications, missed-pill rules, and emergency contraception teaching.

Menopause and perimenopause nursing care: estrogen decline, defining menopause (12 months amenorrhea), vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms, osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk, and hormone therapy.

Endometriosis (ectopic endometrial tissue, cyclic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, infertility) and PCOS (anovulation, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance): assessment, management, and fertility implications.

Fetal movement (kick) counts, the nonstress test (reactive vs nonreactive), contraction stress test (positive vs negative), biophysical profile scoring, amniotic fluid index, and amniocentesis: what each test means and the nursing care.

Fetal heart rate pattern comparison chart — accelerations, early, variable, and late decelerations compared by description, cause, NICHD category, and nursing response.

Stages of labor comparison chart — all four stages compared by key events, cervical changes, typical duration, and nursing focus for NCLEX and clinical practice.

Postpartum assessment checklist in BUBBLE-LE format — fundus, lochia, perineum, breasts, bladder, bowel, emotional status, and vital signs with normal findings and warning signs.

Newborn assessment findings chart — normal vs. concerning findings across respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and skin systems with nursing actions.

Gravida-Para-GTPAL quick-reference chart with worked examples demonstrating correct obstetric history notation for NCLEX and clinical documentation.

Chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, severe features, eclampsia, and HELLP compared — onset, defining criteria, key risks, and management focus.

Tone, Trauma, Tissue, Thrombin side by side — share of hemorrhages, exam findings, the management ladder, and risk factors for each cause.

The classic antepartum bleeding comparison — painless bright-red bleeding vs painful rigid uterus: exam findings, fetal impact, risk factors, the no-vaginal-exam rule, and management.

Gestational diabetes vs pre-existing type 1 and type 2 — detection, management, hypoglycemia and DKA risk, fetal and neonatal risks, labor care, and the postpartum course.

Engorgement, plugged duct, mastitis, and thrush compared by onset, presentation, fever, one breast vs both, and management — so you can tell the common breastfeeding problems apart and treat each correctly.

Breast milk vs infant formula by composition, immune protection, digestibility, feeding frequency, stool characteristics, supplementation, and practical considerations — to support informed, non-judgmental family feeding decisions.

Long-acting reversible (IUD, implant), combined and progestin-only hormonal, barrier, sterilization, and fertility awareness — how each works, typical-use effectiveness, STI protection, and the key nursing teaching point, side by side.

Estrogen-only vs estrogen-plus-progestin, systemic vs low-dose vaginal, and non-hormonal options — who each is for, what it treats, benefits, and contraindications, including why a woman with a uterus needs added progestin.

Pathophysiology, hallmark presentation (anovulation/hyperandrogenism vs cyclic pelvic pain/dysmenorrhea), diagnosis, management, and the shared infertility risk — the two chronic gynecologic disorders side by side.

Amenorrhea (primary vs secondary), dysmenorrhea (primary vs secondary), abnormal uterine bleeding/menorrhagia, and PMS vs PMDD — definition, typical cause, and management, side by side for quick review.