Movement of fetus, felt by a pregnant woman at about 18-20 week of pregnancy is known as?

PGIMER Chandigarh NO - 2015

Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: PGIMER Chandigarh NO - 2015

Explanation

Quickening is the medical term for the first time a mother perceives the movements of her fetus.
This typically occurs between 18-20 weeks of gestation for a woman in her first pregnancy (primigravida), which matches the timeframe given in the question.
For women who have had previous pregnancies (multigravida), this sensation may be felt earlier, around 16-18 weeks, as they are more familiar with the feeling.
It is considered a subjective or presumptive sign of pregnancy and is an important milestone for maternal-fetal bonding and reassurance of fetal life.

Option A: Molding refers to the temporary change in the shape of the fetal head, where the skull bones overlap to allow it to pass through the birth canal.
Option B: Weaning is the process of gradually introducing an infant to foods other than breast milk and eventually stopping breastfeeding altogether.
Option D: Lightening is the sensation a pregnant woman feels when the fetal head descends into the pelvic cavity. This often provides relief from pressure on the diaphragm.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology of Subjective Signs of Pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The onset of quickening is a reassuring sign for the expectant mother, confirming fetal viability and strengthening the maternal-fetal bond.
Nurses use the date of quickening as part of the clinical assessment to help estimate or confirm the gestational age of the fetus, especially if the date of the last menstrual period is uncertain.
What if? If a primigravida mother reports no fetal movements by 24 weeks, it is considered an alarm sign. The nurse should instruct her to seek immediate medical evaluation, which would likely include a non-stress test (NST) and/or an ultrasound to assess fetal well-being and rule out any complications.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements in the question stem: the event is 'movement of fetus', the person is a 'pregnant woman', and the timing is '18-20 weeks'.
This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of specific obstetric terminology.
Evaluate each option against the information provided in the question.
Recall the definition of 'Molding' (a labor event), 'Weaning' (a postpartum event), and 'Lightening' (a late-pregnancy event). These do not match the 18-20 week timeframe.
Recall that 'Quickening' is the specific term for the first fetal movements felt by the mother.
Confirm that the timing of quickening (18-20 weeks for a first pregnancy) matches the question's timeframe to select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Terminology of Subjective Signs of Pregnancy
Stem keywords: Movement of fetus, pregnant woman, 18-20 week
Lead-in keywords: known as
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 7-12