Movements of the baby felt by the pregnant mother are known as

RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Explanation

Quickening is the specific medical term for the first fetal movements a pregnant woman perceives.
It is often described as a faint flutter or bubbling sensation in the abdomen.
For first-time mothers (primigravidas), this is typically felt between 18-20 weeks, while for mothers who have been pregnant before (multigravidas), it can be as early as 16-18 weeks.
It serves as a subjective but reassuring sign of fetal life and can assist in confirming gestational age.

Option A: Lightening refers to the sensation of the fetus 'dropping' lower into the pelvis, not the baby's movements.
Option B: Engagement is a clinical determination that the widest part of the fetal head has passed through the pelvic inlet. It is a specific event in the process of labor, not a sensation of movement felt by the mother.
Option D: Ballottement is a diagnostic sign elicited by a healthcare provider during a physical examination, where the fetus is pushed and rebounds within the amniotic fluid.

Visual 1: Infographic - An illustration comparing the different signs of pregnancy. One panel shows a depiction of 'quickening' as flutters in the abdomen. Another panel shows 'lightening' with an arrow indicating the fetus dropping into the pelvis. A third panel illustrates 'ballottement' with a clinician's hands performing the maneuver.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology of Pregnancy Signs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The onset of quickening is an important milestone for expectant mothers, providing reassurance of the baby's well-being and fostering maternal-fetal bonding.
Nurses use the timing of quickening as part of the clinical picture to help confirm or estimate the gestational age, especially if the date of the last menstrual period is uncertain.
A significant decrease or absence of fetal movement after quickening has been established is a critical warning sign that requires immediate medical evaluation to rule out fetal distress or demise.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'Movements of the baby felt by the pregnant mother'.
This is a definition-based recall question. You need to know the specific obstetrical terms for different phenomena in pregnancy.
Evaluate each option based on its definition.
Recall that 'Lightening' and 'Engagement' relate to the baby's position and descent into the pelvis, not its movements.
Remember that 'Ballottement' is a sign elicited by a clinician, not a sensation felt by the mother.
Identify 'Quickening' as the correct term for the mother's first perception of fetal movement.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Terminology of Pregnancy Signs
Stem keywords: Movements of the baby, felt by the pregnant mother
Lead-in keywords: known as
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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