Positive Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy: Examination Guidance
Examiner's Testing Focus
The examiner is testing the student's ability to differentiate between positive signs of pregnancy versus presumptive and probable signs.
Positive signs represent definitive evidence of pregnancy that cannot be attributed to any other condition.
The examiner does NOT want:
- Presumptive signs (subjective symptoms experienced by the woman)
- Probable signs (objective findings that could be caused by conditions other than pregnancy)
- Non-specific symptoms
- Maternal adaptations to pregnancy
Main Focus Point in Question
Focus on identifying only the definitive (positive) signs that confirm pregnancy with absolute certainty.
Mark Distribution
Marks likely distributed as follows:
- 1 mark for each correctly identified positive sign (5 marks total)
- No marks for presumptive or probable signs
- No marks for incorrect categorization of signs
Positive Signs of Pregnancy
Visualization of embryo/fetus
- Detection of gestational sac
- Visualization via ultrasound
- Direct observation during surgery
Fetal heart activity
- Detection separate from maternal pulse
- Auscultation with Doppler
- Visualization on ultrasound
Fetal movements
- Objectively detected by examiner
- Not maternal perception of movement
Detection of fetal parts
- Palpation of fetal parts through abdominal wall
- Identification of fetal skeleton on imaging
Presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
- Detection in maternal blood or urine
- Produced by placental tissue
- Not present in non-pregnant state
Presence of fetal DNA
- Detection in maternal circulation
- Used in non-invasive prenatal testing
Ultrasound evidence
- Crown-rump length measurement
- Fetal biometry
- Multiple parameters confirming fetal development
Demonstration of fetal skeleton
- Radiographic evidence
- Ultrasound identification of ossification centers