The normal cervical canal is 2cm in length. Effacement is the thinning of the cervix as the body prepares for delivery. Thus, a 2cm cervix is 0% effaced and a 0cm cervix is 100% effaced.

All of these could be possible reasons for bleeding in early pregnancy, including physiologic or implantation bleeding. Bleeding may indicate threatened miscarriage or other serious condition, or it may simply be due to the implantation of the embryo into the endometrium.

Menometrorrhagia is a term used to describe a menstrual cycle that is irregular, of shorter duration than normal, and of excessive volume or duration. Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual cycle. Metrorrhagia is a term for a menstrual cycle that is of normal flow duration and volume, but which is irregular and has a shorter-than normal cycle length. Oligomenorrhea describes a menstrual cycle that is longer than 35 days, often characterized by a prolonged follicular phase.

If the placenta is not whole upon delivery, a piece may still be present in the uterus. This inhibits the ability of the uterus to shrink in size and may cause hemorrhage. The missing piece needs to be located immediately.

The incidence of endometriosis increases significantly in individuals with a family history of the condition. Other contributing factors are sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise), presence of an intrauterine device, a diet high in fat, the presence of estrogen dominance, and liver dysfunction (due to decreased estrogen metabolism).

The triad of presenting symptoms for endometriosis is dysmenorrhea (painful menses), infertility, and dyspareunia (pain on sexual intercourse). The most common presenting symptom is extreme, intense uterine cramps which may radiate to the back or down the thighs. Endometriosis is also a common cause of infertility due to a local paracrine effect. Pain on intercourse may be due to the implantation of endometrial cells in the vagina or the area around the cervix. Endometriosis will not necessarily result in menorrhagia, or excessively heavy bleeding. Hirsutism, infertility, and oligomenorrhea are symptoms commonly seen in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), rather than endometriosis.

Uterine conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Endometriosis is the inappropriate growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors within the uterus. Sexually transmitted infections can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease which can result in scarring. Scarring of the reproductive system greatly increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Yeast infections are common after antibiotic therapy and are treated with an over-the-counter medication. They generally do not cause permanent damage to the body.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes include: obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, recurrent urinary tract infections, vaginitis, polyhydramnios, previous large infants (9lbs or greater than 4000g), glycosuria or proteinuria on two or more occasions. While poor diet may contribute to diabetic concerns, it is not directly associated with a higher risk of gestation diabetes as the other risk factors are. During the prenatal period, nurses are responsible for educating their patients on all of these risk factors as well as a proper prenatal diet.

When considering where to hear fetal heart rate best, the nurse must consider the location of the fetal back. Weeks gestation or size may also effect the location of the best place to assess fetal heart rate. LOA, or left occiput anterior, is the most common fetal lie. A fetus in LOA is in vertex presentation with the fetal occiput on the mother's left side toward the front of her pelvis. In LOA, the FHR is best heard below the umbilicus on the mother's left side.

In LOP (left occiput posterior), the FHR is best heard on the mother's left side at the level of the umbilicus. In ROA (right occiput anterior): the mother's right side below the umbilicus. In ROP (right occiput posterior): the mother's right side at the level of the umbilicus. In LSA (left sacrum anterior): the mother's left side above the umbilicus. In RSA (right sacrum anterior): the mother's right side above the umbilicus.

Asian ethnicity is not considered a risk factor. Hispanic, Native American and African American ethnicities are considered risk factors for gestational diabetes. Others include maternal obesity, previous pregnancies with gestational diabetes, delivery of a very large baby, and a family history of diabetes.