Gestation & Nägele’s Rule: Estimating Due Dates

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Study Tools For Gestation & Nägele’s Rule: Estimating Due Dates

Gestational Age Accuracy (Image)
Karl Franz Naegele (Image)
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Outline

Overview

  1. Gestation refers to the time period of carrying the pregnancy
  2. Nägele’s Rule is used to estimate date of delivery
  3. It is also estimated by ultrasound measurement

Nursing Points

General

  1. Gestation is around 40 weeks long
  2. Estimation of due date is most accurate if ovulation day is known
  3. Nägele’s Rule is most accurate for the patient that has normal 28-day menstrual cycle
  4. Ultrasound (U/S) can be used in early pregnancy to measure the gestational age of the fetus
    1. Crown to rump length
    2. Can be off by 7-10 days

Assessment

  1. Nägele’s Rule
    1. Find out when the last menstrual period happened (LMP)
    2. Subtract 3 months, Add 7 days to the first day of the last period, add a year
      -OR-
    3. Add 7 days to the first day of the last period, then count ahead 9 months
  2. Obtain measurement of embryo length to estimate gestational age
    1. Position woman comfortably on U/S table
    2. Transvaginal or external U/S performed

Therapeutic Management

  1. No medical treatment is necessary.
  2. Comfort can be offered in explaining transvaginal ultrasound to ease the patient’s mind since this is intrusive.

Nursing Concepts

  1. Human Development
  2. Reproduction

Patient Education

  1. Educate on what due date is calculated and give necessary pregnancy education

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Transcript

Okay guys, in this lesson, we’re going to talk about gestation. Let’s talk about the basics first. Gestation refers to the time period of carrying pregnancy so that is when we say, “How many weeks is she/you?”. A pregnancy is 40 weeks longs. Now we have to be able to figure out how far someone is in gestation. One of the ways is to do Nägele’s Rule. This is a little math equation and is most accurate on someone that has a normal 28 day cycle. It is done by asking the pating the first day of her last menstrual cycle. We take that day and subtract 3 months, add 7 days, add a year. So for example December 1st 2018 was the first day of the last cycle. We subtract 3 months which would be September 1, 2018. We add 7 days, which is September 8th, 2018 and then add 1 year. This is September 8, 2019. So what happens in cases where the patient is irregular or doesn’t know when her last cycle started. With this a ultrasound can be done. The crown to rump or head to bottom is measured. This measurement will give an estimated gestion of the fetus. This can be off by 7-10 days and this is because it all depends on when implantation has actually occurred.

Let’s compare the two ways to obtain the gestational age. So for Nägele’s again we subtract 3 months from the last menstrual period, add 7 days, and add 1 year. Keep in mind if this patient’s last menstrual period was in January then you have to pay careful attention to subtracting the year with it and re-adding or you will end up with someone being pregnant for 2 years and that wouldn’t be right. This could be tricky on a test so make sure to subtract the year so it does not mess you up. With an ultrasound the patient should be comfortable at an incline and the ultrasound will either be external or internal depending on how far along they believe the patient to be.. Usually if they are 6-11 weeks it will be internal because the fetus is so small.

There is not medical management necessary. It is important to help explain to the patient what we are doing with ultrasound. An external ultrasound is not as intrusive but a transvaginal can be intrusive so we want to educate on the process and ease any discomforts. It will be important to educate on why we are calculating the due date and what it means. We should also educate on the importance of coming back for future prenatal appointments and caring for herself during pregnancy.

Pregnancy gestation deals with human development so this is a nursing concept and pregnancy had to deal with reproduction so this is another concept.
Let’s review our key points. Length of pregnancy is what gestation is referring to. Nägele’s rule is done to estimate the due date. Again we ask the last menstrual cycle started, subtract 3 months, add 7 days, add a year. Ultrasound will either be transvaginal or external. This will be done to get a measurement of the embryo/fetus from crown to rump length. This measurement will determine the gestational age.

Make sure you check out the resources attached to this lesson. Now, go out and be your best selves today. And, as always, happy nursing.

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Concepts Covered:

  • Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
  • Test Taking Strategies
  • Respiratory Disorders
  • EENT Disorders
  • Prenatal Concepts
  • Studying
  • Prefixes
  • Suffixes
  • Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
  • Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
  • Integumentary Disorders
  • Oncology Disorders
  • Preoperative Nursing
  • Musculoskeletal Trauma
  • Bipolar Disorders
  • Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
  • Hematologic Disorders
  • Community Health Overview
  • Immunological Disorders
  • Renal Disorders
  • Childhood Growth and Development
  • Labor Complications
  • Upper GI Disorders
  • Medication Administration
  • Neurological Emergencies
  • Adulthood Growth and Development
  • Disorders of Pancreas
  • Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Cardiac Disorders
  • Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
  • Integumentary Important Points
  • Pregnancy Risks
  • Urinary Disorders
  • Vascular Disorders
  • Eating Disorders
  • Learning Pharmacology
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Basics of NCLEX
  • Factors Influencing Community Health
  • Lower GI Disorders
  • Intraoperative Nursing
  • Integumentary Disorders
  • Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
  • Trauma-Stress Disorders
  • Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
  • Somatoform Disorders
  • Dosage Calculations
  • Depressive Disorders
  • Personality Disorders
  • Cognitive Disorders
  • Substance Abuse Disorders
  • Psychological Emergencies
  • Circulatory System
  • Postoperative Nursing
  • Hematologic Disorders
  • Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
  • Infectious Respiratory Disorder
  • Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
  • Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
  • Concepts of Population Health
  • Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
  • Note Taking
  • Female Reproductive Disorders
  • Oncologic Disorders
  • Postpartum Complications
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
  • Fetal Development
  • Shock
  • Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
  • Respiratory Emergencies
  • Labor and Delivery
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • EENT Disorders
  • Postpartum Care
  • Cardiovascular Disorders
  • Newborn Care
  • Renal and Urinary Disorders
  • Newborn Complications
  • Urinary System
  • Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Infectious Disease Disorders
  • Nervous System
  • Psychotic Disorders

Study Plan Lessons

Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
12 Points to Answering Pharmacology Questions
ABGs Nursing Normal Lab Values
Care of the Pediatric Patient
Glaucoma
Menstrual Cycle
Time Management
X-Ray (Xray)
54 Common Medication Prefixes and Suffixes
ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) Interpretation-The Basics
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney (Renal) Injury (AKI)
Addisons Disease
Burn Injuries
Cataracts
Computed Tomography (CT)
Family Planning & Contraception
Informed Consent
Lung Sounds
Study Setting
Vitals (VS) and Assessment
Alveoli & Atelectasis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cushings Syndrome
Goal Setting
Macular Degeneration
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Preoperative (Preop)Assessment
Pressure Ulcers/Pressure injuries (Braden scale)
Therapeutic Drug Levels (Digoxin, Lithium, Theophylline, Phenytoin)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Diabetes Insipidus (DI)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Epidemiology
Essential NCLEX Meds by Class
Gas Exchange
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Glomerulonephritis
Growth & Development – Infants
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Herpes Zoster – Shingles
Isotonic Solutions (IV solutions)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis (OA)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Pancreatitis
Preoperative (Preop) Education
6 Rights of Medication Administration
Cerebral Angiography
Growth & Development – Toddlers
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Hearing Loss
Hypotonic Solutions (IV solutions)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Osteoporosis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
Preoperative (Preop) Nursing Priorities
Respiratory Acidosis (interpretation and nursing interventions)
Thrombocytopenia
Blood Transfusions (Administration)
Cardiovascular Angiography
Fractures
Growth & Development – Preschoolers
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hyperthyroidism
Hypertonic Solutions (IV solutions)
Integumentary (Skin) Important Points
Preload and Afterload
Respiratory Alkalosis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Echocardiogram (Cardiac Echo)
Growth & Development – School Age- Adolescent
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hypothyroidism
Metabolic Acidosis (interpretation and nursing diagnosis)
Performing Cardiac (Heart) Monitoring
Metabolic Alkalosis
The SOCK Method – Overview
Ultrasound
The SOCK Method – S
The SOCK Method – O
Base Excess & Deficit
The SOCK Method – C
The SOCK Method – K
Biopsy
Anxiety
Basics of Calculations
Critical Thinking
Cultural Care
Gestation & Nägele’s Rule: Estimating Due Dates
Potassium-K (Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Angina
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Appendicitis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Asthma
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Chronic Kidney (Renal) Disease (CKD)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Dimensional Analysis Nursing (Dosage Calculations/Med Math)
Environmental Health
General Anesthesia
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Gravidity and Parity (G&Ps, GTPAL)
Impetigo
Leukemia
Levels of Consciousness (LOC)
Sodium-Na (Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Diabetes Management
Dialysis & Other Renal Points
Local Anesthesia
Lymphoma
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Oral Medications
Pediculosis Capitis
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Routine Neuro Assessments
What is the NCLEX?
Adjunct Neuro Assessments
Anatomy of an NCLEX Question
Burn Injuries
Chloride-Cl (Hyperchloremia, Hypochloremia)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Fundal Height Assessment for Nurses
Injectable Medications
Moderate Sedation
Oncology Important Points
Somatoform
Technology & Informatics
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Hyperglycaemic Hyperosmolar Non-ketotic syndrome (HHNS)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IV Infusions (Solutions)
Malignant Hyperthermia
Maternal Risk Factors
Complex Calculations (Dosage Calculations/Med Math)
Intracranial Pressure ICP
Mood Disorders (Bipolar)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Ulcerative Colitis(UC)
Cerebral Perfusion Pressure CPP
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Crohn’s Disease
Depression
Paranoid Disorders
Personality Disorders
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Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa)
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Grief and Loss
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Normal Sinus Rhythm
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Absolute Words
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cholecystitis
Discomforts of Pregnancy
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Heart Failure (CHF)
Hemoglobin (Hbg) Lab Values
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Influenza (Flu)
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Sinus Bradycardia
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Antepartum Testing
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Opposites
Sinus Tachycardia
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Tuberculosis (TB)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cirrhosis (Liver Disease, Hepatic encephalopathy, Portal Hypertension, Esophageal Varices)
Discharge (DC) Teaching After Surgery
Nutrition in Pregnancy
Pacemakers
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Pneumonia
Same
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Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib)
Communicable Diseases
Platelets (PLT) Lab Values
Priority
Coagulation Studies (PT, PTT, INR)
Disasters & Bioterrorism
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Acute vs Chronic
Miscellaneous Nerve Disorders
Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)
What do you want me to know?
Duplicate Facts
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Repeating Words
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Denying Feelings
NCLEX® Question Traps
Albumin Lab Values
Outline Question Method (Note taking)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Benzodiazepines
Cholesterol (Chol) Lab Values
Drawing Pictures
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hemorrhagic Stroke (CVA)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Hypertension (HTN)
Ammonia (NH3) Lab Values
Artificial Airways
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Endometriosis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Ischemic Stroke (CVA)
Nephroblastoma
Airway Suctioning
Chorioamnionitis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Menopause
Stroke Assessment (CVA)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cardiomyopathy
Gestational Diabetes (GDM)
Stroke Therapeutic Management (CVA)
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Stroke Nursing Care (CVA)
Ectopic Pregnancy
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Thrombophlebitis (clot)
Hydatidiform Mole (Molar pregnancy)
Gestational HTN (Hypertension)
Infections in Pregnancy
Preeclampsia: Signs, Symptoms, Nursing Care, and Magnesium Sulfate
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Lab Values
Fever
Creatinine (Cr) Lab Values
Dehydration
Fetal Development
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hypovolemic Shock
Seizure Causes (Epilepsy, Generalized)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cardiogenic Shock
Fetal Environment
Seizure Assessment
Chest Tube Management
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Fetal Circulation
Seizure Therapeutic Management
Urinalysis (UA)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Seizure
Glucose Lab Values
Process of Labor
Vomiting
Pediatric Gastrointestinal Dysfunction – Diarrhea
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)
Mechanisms of Labor
Leopold Maneuvers
Celiac Disease
Fetal Heart Monitoring (FHM)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Meningitis
Appendicitis
Intussusception
Constipation and Encopresis (Incontinence)
Conjunctivitis
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Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
Placenta Previa
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Tonsillitis
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Dystocia
Postpartum Physiological Maternal Changes
Bronchiolitis and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
MAOIs
Postpartum Discomforts
Breastfeeding
Asthma
SSRIs
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
TCAs
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
Defects of Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
Defects of Decreased Pulmonary Blood Flow
Mastitis
Insulin
Obstructive Heart (Cardiac) Defects
Mixed (Cardiac) Heart Defects
Histamine 1 Receptor Blockers
Initial Care of the Newborn (APGAR)
Nephrotic Syndrome
Enuresis
Newborn Physical Exam
Body System Assessments
Histamine 2 Receptor Blockers
Newborn Reflexes
Babies by Term
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System
Meconium Aspiration
Meningitis
Transient Tachypnea of Newborn
Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice)
Spina Bifida – Neural Tube Defect (NTD)
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) Inhibitors
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Newborn of HIV+ Mother
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers
Calcium Channel Blockers
Cardiac Glycosides
Scoliosis
Metronidazole (Flagyl) Nursing Considerations
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) Nursing Considerations
Vancomycin (Vancocin) Nursing Considerations
Anti-Infective – Penicillins and Cephalosporins
Atypical Antipsychotics
Rubeola – Measles
Mumps
Varicella – Chickenpox
Pertussis – Whooping Cough
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Sympathomimetics (Alpha (Clonodine) & Beta (Albuterol) Agonists)
Parasympathomimetics (Cholinergics) Nursing Considerations
Parasympatholytics (Anticholinergics) Nursing Considerations
Diuretics (Loop, Potassium Sparing, Thiazide, Furosemide/Lasix)
Epoetin Alfa
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
Magnesium Sulfate
NSAIDs
Corticosteroids
Hydralazine (Apresoline) Nursing Considerations
Nitro Compounds
Vasopressin
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney (Renal) Injury (AKI)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Anemia
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Heart Failure (CHF)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Dissociative Disorders
Eczema
Fractures
Hemodynamics
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hemorrhagic Stroke (CVA)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Parkinsons
Asthma
Pediatric Gastrointestinal Dysfunction – Diarrhea
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
Preeclampsia: Signs, Symptoms, Nursing Care, and Magnesium Sulfate
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Schizophrenia
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate antidiuretic Hormone Secretion)