BODY PARTS ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
Skin,Hair, Nails  Inspect the skin. Note
hyperpigmented
areas associated with
pregnancy
 Observe skin for
vascular markings
associated with
pregnancy
 Inspect the hair and
nails
Head and Neck Inspect and palpate the neck.
Assess the anterior and
posterior cervical chain
lymph nodes. And also
palpate thyroid gland
Eyes Inspect eyes. Examine
Cornea, lens, iris, and pupil.
Use an ophthalmoscope to
examine the fundus of the
eye.
Ears Inspect the ears
Mouth, Throat, and Nose  Inspect the mouth.
FINDINGS
 Linea nigra, striae,
gravdarum, chloasma,
and spider nevi are
present
 Angioma is present
 Hair and nails
increase in growth,
presence of lice
Smooth, nontender, small
cervical nodes are palpable.
Slight enlargement of thyroid
gland.
 Pupils are equal and
round, reactive to
light, and
accommodate.
 Near Visual Acuity
and Distant Visual
Acuity has normal
findings which is
14/14 and 20/20
 Tympanic membranes
clear: landmarks
visible.
 Air conduction sound
heard longer than
bone conduction
sound
 Hypertrophy of
 Pay particular
attention to the teeth
and the gingival
tissues, which may
normally appear
swollen and slightly
reddened
gingival tissue is
noted. Bleeding often
occurs when the
patient brush her
teeth.

 Inspect the throat  Throat pink, no

redness or exudate

 Inspect the nose  Nasal mucosal

swelling and redness.
Epistaxis is present
because of the
increased vascular
supply to the nares
during pregnancy
 Can distinguish
between sweet and
salty
 No unusual odor is
noted

Thorax and Lungs Inspect, palpate, percuss, Increased anteroposterior

and auscultate the chest
Breast Inspect and palpate the
breasts and nipples for
symmetry and color
dimeter, thoracic breathing,
slight hyperventilation. Lung
sounds are clear to
auscultation bilaterally
 Venous congestion is
noted with
prominence of veins.
Montgomery
tubercles are
prominent. Breast
size increased and
nodular. Breast is
more sensitive to
 touch. Colostrum is
excreted.
Hyperpigmentation of
nipples and areola s
evident.
 A milky discharge is
noted
Heart Auscultate the heart  Normal sinus rhythm

 Soft systolic murmurs

Peripheral Vascular  Inspect face and
extremities. Note
color and edema.
are audible due to
increased blood
volume.
 Dependent edema is
present. Varicose
veins is also present.

 Percuss deep tendon  Normal reflexes 1-2+.

reflexes Clonus is absent.
 Capillary beds refill in
less than 2 seconds
 Pulses are bilaterally
strong (2+)
 Edema is noted which
is common during
pregnancy
Abdomen  Inspect the abdomen.  Striae and linea-nigra
For this part of the are present. The size
examination, ask the of the abdomen
client to recline with a indicate gestational
pillow under her head age. The shape of the
and her knees flexed. uterus suggest fetal
Note striae, scars, and presentation and
the shape and size of position in later
the abdomen. pregnancy.

 Palpate the  The uterus is palpable

abdomen. Note
 organs and any
masses

 Palpate for fetal  Fetal movement was

movement after 24 felt during 20 weeks.
weeks

 Palpate uterine  The uterus contracts

contractions. Note and feels firm
intensity, duration,
and frequency of
contractions.

 Intensity of
 Palpate the
contraction is noted.
abdomen. Notice the
difference between
the uterus at rest and
during a contraction.
 Contraction last 54
 Time the length of seconds and occur
the contraction from every 5 minutes
the beginning to the
end. Also note the
frequency of the
contractions, timing
from the beginning of
one contraction until
the beginning of one
contraction until the
beginning of the next.
 Uterine size is
approximately equal
 Measure Fundal
the number of weeks
height
of gestation (26 cm)

 A longitudinal lie, in
 Using Leopold which the fetal spine
Maneuvers, palpate axis is parallel to the
the fundus, lateral maternal spine axis.
 aspects of the The presentation is
abdomen and the cephalic.
lower pelvic area.
 The top part of the
 First Maneuver/ abdomen is soft mass
Fundus Grip is the fetal buttocks.
The bottom part is
fetal head feels round
and hard.

 On right side of the

 Second Maneuver/
Umbilical Grip
abdomen, palpated
round nodules: these
are fist and feet of the
fetus. The left side of
the abdomen feels
smooth: this is the
fetus’s back

 Third Maneuver/  The unengaged head

Pawlik Maneuver is round, firm, and
ballotable, whereas
the buttocks are soft
and irregular.

 Fourth Maneuver  The hands move

together easily, the
fetal head has not
descended into the
maternal pelvic inlet.

 Fetal Heart.  Fetal Heart rate

Determine the ranges from 136-145
location, rate, and beats/min.
rhythm of the fetal
heart.
Musculoskeletal  Inspect the  Spine is curved
musculoskeletal forward
 Shoulders droop
 forward
 Gait changes often
called “waddling”