Memory AnchorsMidwife Licensure Exam · Normal Pregnancy, Labor & PostpartumReal content

Midwife Licensure Exam Normal Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum — Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological ChangesMemory Anchors

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Under the clock, Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological Changes facts fade unless they have a hook. Mnemonics are the hook. This page collects the memory anchors that reliably work for Filipino Midwife Licensure Exam candidates on Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Midwifery's Normal Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum items — acronyms, visual pairings, and short rhymes you can rehearse on your commute.

Exam context

On the Midwife Licensure Exam 2026, the Normal Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum subtest carries a "Core" weight in Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Board of Midwifery's pattern. Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological Changes lands at position 1st out of 4 in the standard review order. Target score is 75% weighted average, and roughly a meaningful share of items come from Normal Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum on a typical Midwife Licensure Exam paper.

Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological Changes - Memory Anchors

Memory anchors are not just tricks — they are your brain's shortcuts. Research in cognitive science shows that emotionally vivid, story-driven, and image-based memories are stored more deeply in the brain than plain facts. For the NLE, where you must recall dozens of signs, milestones, and clinical values under pressure, a strong memory anchor can mean the difference between a confident correct answer and a frustrating blank. This collection uses mnemonics, analogies, micro-stories, visual maps, and rhymes designed for Filipino nursing graduates — rooted in clinical accuracy and spiced with cultural familiarity. Study each anchor, rehearse the recall trigger, and watch your retention soar.

Anchors

Topic

Signs of Pregnancy

Concept

Three categories of pregnancy signs: Presumptive, Probable, Positive

Anchor Id

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Think of a DETECTIVE solving a pregnancy case. First she has a HUNCH (Presumptive — she suspects it). Then she finds CLUES (Probable — her examiner observes signs). Finally she gets the CONFESSION (Positive — absolute proof). The 3 Ps: Hunch → Clues → Confession. Or use the acronym PPP: 'Parang Pregnant, Probably Pregnant, Positively Pregnant!'

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The detective story gives a narrative frame to an abstract classification, and the Filipino phrase 'Parang Pregnant' makes it personally relatable and humorous — humor boosts memory encoding.

Example Usage

Question: 'A positive pregnancy test is classified as what sign?' Trigger PPP — a positive HCG test is a CLUE (Probable), not the final CONFESSION (Positive). Answer: Probable sign.

Recall Trigger

Think: 'Parang, Probably, Positively' — like a detective building a case

Topic

Signs of Pregnancy — Probable

Concept

Probable signs: Goodell's, Hegar's, Chadwick's — what each refers to

Anchor Id

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Use the body order from bottom to top and the phrase: 'Good Hips, Cute Vagina' — Goodell's = Cervix softens, Hegar's = isthmus (lower uterine segment) softens, Chadwick's = bluish-violet Colour of cervix/vagina. OR match them alphabetically to body parts: C comes before H and G in importance but think: CHAD turns BLUE (Chadwick = Blue), HEGAR is LOW (lower segment softens), GOOD CERVIX (Goodell = cervix). Vivid image: Imagine Chad, the boyfriend, turning blue with shock when he sees the soft cervix on an exam — 'Hega! (Higa! — Filipino for 'lie down') the lower part is soft!'

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

Combining a Filipino exclamation (Higa!) with a visual of a character named Chad turning blue creates a dual encoding (verbal + visual) that dramatically improves recall of all three signs at once.

Example Usage

Question: 'Softening of the lower uterine segment is called?' Trigger: HEGAR says HIGA — it refers to the lower part (isthmus). Answer: Hegar's sign.

Recall Trigger

CHAD turns BLUE, HEGAR says HIGA (it's low), GOODELL checks the CERVIX

Topic

Signs of Pregnancy — Positive

Concept

Positive (diagnostic) signs of pregnancy — only THREE

Anchor Id

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

The three absolute proofs spell FEV: F — Fetal Heart Tones heard by examiner; E — Examiner feels fetal movement; V — Visualization of fetus on ultrasound. Remember: 'FEV is the FEVER of certainty — once you have FEV, you KNOW she's pregnant!' FEV = Fetal sounds, Examiner touch, Visual proof.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

A three-letter acronym is easy to encode, and the 'fever of certainty' metaphor makes it emotionally charged — certainty feels like a fever-level intensity.

Example Usage

Question: 'Which finding CONFIRMS pregnancy?' Look for one of the FEV trio: FHT heard, Examiner feels movement, or Visualization on ultrasound. A pregnancy test alone is NOT in FEV — it is probable.

Recall Trigger

FEV — the three fevers of confirmation

Topic

Estimating the Due Date

Concept

Naegele's Rule: LMP − 3 months + 7 days + 1 year = EDD

Anchor Id

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Sing to the tune of a simple counting song: 'Take the first day of your last period, MINUS 3 months back, ADD 7 days forward, then bump the YEAR on track!' OR use the phrase: 'SUBTRACT 3, ADD 7, go to HEAVEN (next year).' Imagine the baby is doing math: she goes back 3 months in time, then forward 7 days, then jumps one year into the future — that is her birthday.

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

Rhyme and rhythm use the brain's musical memory system (cerebellar-procedural memory), making sequences far easier to recall under exam pressure.

Example Usage

LMP = 10 August 2025 → subtract 3 months = 10 May → add 7 days = 17 May → next year = 17 May 2026. EDD = May 17, 2026.

Recall Trigger

Subtract 3, Add 7, go to Heaven (next year)

Topic

Estimating the Due Date — McDonald's Rule

Concept

Fundal height landmarks: symphysis pubis ~12 wks, umbilicus ~20 wks, xiphoid ~36 wks

Anchor Id

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Imagine the uterus as a slowly rising SAN MIGUEL BOTTLE being filled: at 12 weeks, the foam just reaches the BOTTLE NECK (symphysis pubis — base of the pelvis). At 20 weeks, the liquid is at the MIDDLE LABEL (navel/umbilicus). At 36 weeks, it is filled to the BOTTLE TOP (xiphoid). Then at 40 weeks, it drops a little (lightening) — the baby settles into the pelvis. Numbers to pin: 12-20-36 = SYM-NAV-XIP.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Mapping abstract anatomical levels onto a familiar object (a bottle) creates a concrete spatial image that the brain can 'see' and retrieve instantly.

Example Usage

Question: 'At what gestational age is the fundus expected at the level of the umbilicus?' Recall the middle label of the bottle = 20 weeks.

Recall Trigger

The rising San Miguel bottle: 12=bottom, 20=middle, 36=top

Topic

Cardiovascular Changes

Concept

Blood volume rises ~40–50% causing physiologic (dilutional) anaemia

Anchor Id

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Think of HALO-HALO. You have a fixed amount of leche flan and ube (red blood cells), but you pour in a HUGE extra cup of shaved ice (plasma). The dessert looks the same size, but the red cell RATIO is now diluted — less leche flan per spoonful. That is exactly what happens: plasma rises MORE than red cells, so Hemoglobin appears low — not because of true loss, but because of dilution. This is NORMAL in pregnancy. Anaemia threshold: Hgb <11 g/dL (1st/3rd trimester), <10.5 g/dL (2nd trimester).

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Halo-halo is a quintessential Filipino treat, making the analogy instantly vivid and emotionally resonant; the dilution metaphor is scientifically accurate.

Example Usage

Question: 'A pregnant woman has Hgb of 10.8 g/dL in her 2nd trimester. Is this anaemia?' Yes — it is below the 2nd trimester threshold of 10.5 g/dL. Wait — 10.8 > 10.5, so it is NOT anaemia in 2nd trimester. Confirm using the halo-halo rule: threshold is 10.5 in trimester 2.

Recall Trigger

Pregnancy blood = halo-halo with too much shaved ice — diluted, not truly anemic

Topic

Cardiovascular Changes

Concept

Supine hypotensive syndrome — cause and position of relief

Anchor Id

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Imagine Ate Maria, 8 months pregnant, lying on her back (supine) watching a teleserye. Suddenly she feels dizzy and her vision dims — the baby is SITTING ON HER IVC (inferior vena cava) like a heavy upo on a hose, blocking blood return to the heart. The nurse rushes in and says: 'Ate, GUMALAW KA SA KALIWA!' (Move to your LEFT!). Ate rolls left — baby rolls off the IVC — blood flows again — Ate wakes up smiling. KEY: Heavy uterus on IVC = Supine Hypotension → ROLL TO THE LEFT.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

A vivid story set in a familiar Filipino domestic scene (teleserye, kitchen vegetables) creates an episodic memory that is deeply stored and easily retrieved.

Example Usage

Question: 'A pregnant woman in her third trimester becomes dizzy while lying flat. What is the priority nursing action?' Recall Ate Maria — move her to the LEFT LATERAL position to relieve IVC compression.

Recall Trigger

Ate Maria lying down, nurse shouts 'Gumalaw sa kaliwa!' (Move to the left!)

Topic

Fetal Development

Concept

Embryonic period (weeks 3–8) is the period of greatest teratogen vulnerability

Anchor Id

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Think of building a BAHAY KUBO. Weeks 3–8 are when the carpenter is laying the FOUNDATION and FRAME (organogenesis — all organs form). If a typhoon (teratogen: drugs, alcohol, radiation, infection) hits during this framing stage, the whole structure is ruined. But if the typhoon comes later (fetal stage, weeks 9+), when walls are already up, it may cause damage but not total collapse — the baby is more resilient. Rule: WEEKS 3–8 = FRAMING STAGE = Most dangerous for teratogens.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Bahay Kubo construction is a culturally familiar process; framing the building period as the riskiest phase makes the clinical principle intuitive and visual.

Example Usage

Question: 'During which period is the fetus MOST vulnerable to congenital defects from drugs?' Recall Bahay Kubo framing = weeks 3–8 embryonic period. Answer: 3rd to 8th week (embryonic stage).

Recall Trigger

Bahay Kubo under construction — weeks 3–8 is the framing; typhoon then = disaster

Topic

Fetal Development

Concept

Umbilical cord has 2 arteries and 1 vein (AVA rule)

Anchor Id

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

AVA is a girl's name — and her cord has the same letters: A-V-A: Artery–Vein–Artery. Two arteries bookend one vein, just like AVA is spelled with A on both sides of the V. Or: '2 arteries, 1 vein — AVA goes to the mall with TWO friends but only ONE bag.' A single artery (only one A in the cord) is a RED FLAG — assess the newborn more closely for renal/cardiac anomalies.

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

Using a Filipino girl's name (AVA) creates a personal, social memory hook. The mall analogy adds a second encoding layer.

Example Usage

Question: 'Normal umbilical cord has how many vessels?' AVA = 2 Arteries + 1 Vein = 3 vessels total. If only 2 vessels → alert for anomalies.

Recall Trigger

AVA — A-V-A — two arteries around one vein, always

Topic

Fetal Circulation

Concept

Three fetal circulation shunts: Ductus Venosus, Foramen Ovale, Ductus Arteriosus

Anchor Id

A10

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

The Three DOORS of fetal circulation spell DVD: D — Ductus Venosus (bypasses the liver; veins go there); V — foramen oVale (right-to-left atrial bypass — like a VALve in the heart wall); D — Ductus Arteriosus (pulmonary artery to aorta bypass). Think: The baby watches a DVD while in the womb — three DOORS let blood bypass unprepared organs. After birth, the DVD EJECTS (doors close with first breath).

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

DVD is a concrete cultural object; the three doors metaphor spatially maps each shunt's bypass function, and the ejection at birth cues the closure event.

Example Usage

Question: 'Which fetal shunt bypasses the liver?' DVD — D=Ductus Venosus bypasses the liver. A patent ductus arteriosus at birth = the D (ductus arteriosus door) failed to close.

Recall Trigger

DVD: Ductus Venosus, foramen oVale, Ductus arteriosus — three bypass doors

Topic

Nursing Assessment — Obstetric History

Concept

GTPAL obstetric history notation

Anchor Id

A11

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

GTPAL = 'Galing Talaga Pag Anak Lang!' (Tagalog: 'Amazing when it's just about giving birth!'). G = Gravida (total pregnancies — every pregnancy counts); T = Term births (born ≥37 weeks); P = Preterm (born 20–36⁶ weeks); A = Abortions/losses (<20 weeks); L = Living children. Remember the order: G-T-P-A-L, like going from CONCEPTION to LIVING CHILD. Tip: Gravida counts the CURRENT pregnancy too.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The Tagalog phrase makes the acronym culturally resonant and humorous; students rehearse the phrase which automatically cues the five letters in order.

Example Usage

A woman is pregnant now, had one term birth (1 living child), and one miscarriage at 10 weeks. → G2 T1 P0 A1 L1. Apply GTPAL: Gravida=2 (current + term), Term=1, Preterm=0, Abortion=1, Living=1.

Recall Trigger

Galing Talaga Pag Anak Lang = G-T-P-A-L

Topic

Signs of Pregnancy — Presumptive / Fetal Development

Concept

Quickening — first felt by the mother; 18–20 weeks for primigravida, ~16 weeks for multigravida

Anchor Id

A12

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Imagine a FIRST-TIME MAMA (primigravida) who is shy and unsure — she waits longer to raise her hand in class. She doesn't feel the baby's tap until 18–20 weeks. But the EXPERIENCED MAMA (multigravida) knows that subtle flutter immediately — she raises her hand at 16 weeks. The baby taps equally for both, but only the experienced mama recognizes it earlier. Key image: timid first-timer vs. confident veteran — same tap, different recognition time.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

The classroom metaphor maps neatly onto clinical reality and creates a character-based story that is easier to recall than raw numbers.

Example Usage

Question: 'At what weeks does a primigravida typically first perceive fetal movement?' Recall the shy first-timer who waits — 18 to 20 weeks.

Recall Trigger

Timid first-timer = 18–20 weeks; Confident veteran = 16 weeks

Topic

Psychological Changes

Concept

Psychological stages by trimester: 1st = Ambivalence, 2nd = Acceptance, 3rd = Preparation

Anchor Id

A13

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

AAP — like the Filipino word for FATHER (APA/AMANG), but here AAP stands for: A — Ambivalence (1st trimester: 'Am I ready? Is this real?'), A — Acceptance (2nd trimester: 'I feel the baby! I love this!'), P — Preparation (3rd trimester: 'I need to pack my bag and buy diapers!'). Think: Ama (father) also goes through AAP alongside the mother — even dads feel ambivalent, then accepting, then panicky about preparation!

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The Filipino family reference (Ama/father) personalizes the content; Couvade syndrome even makes the father connection clinically accurate.

Example Usage

Question: 'A primigravida says she sometimes wishes she were not pregnant even though she planned this pregnancy. What trimester response is this?' AAP — first trimester Ambivalence is NORMAL even in planned pregnancies.

Recall Trigger

AAP — like saying APA three ways: Ambivalence, Acceptance, Preparation

Topic

Prenatal Danger Signs

Concept

Danger signs of pregnancy — 10 key signs to report immediately

Anchor Id

A14

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Use the mnemonic 'FEVER PACKS': F — Fever and chills; E — Epigastric/RUQ pain; V — Visual changes (blurring, spots); E — Edema of face and hands; R — Ruptured membranes (gush of fluid); P — Painful urination; A — Absent/decreased fetal movement; C — Contractions before 37 weeks; K — Konvulsyon (Convulsions/eclampsia); S — Severe headache / Severe vomiting. If you have FEVER PACKS, your bag is packed — go to the hospital NOW!

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

FEVER PACKS uses a Filipino code-switching (Konvulsyon) that makes it culturally sticky; the 'hospital bag packed' image reinforces urgency and action.

Example Usage

Question: 'Which symptom requires IMMEDIATE reporting?' Any item in FEVER PACKS. E.g., 'severe headache with visual spots' = V and S in FEVER PACKS = signs of pre-eclampsia. Report at once.

Recall Trigger

FEVER PACKS — pack your bag and go to the hospital

Topic

Nursing Assessment — Fetal

Concept

Normal fetal heart rate (FHR) is 110–160 bpm

Anchor Id

A15

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Picture a JEEPNEY SPEEDOMETER showing 110 km/h on the LEFT (minimum) and 160 km/h on the RIGHT (maximum). The fetal heart runs at JEEPNEY SPEED — not too slow (bradycardia <110), not too fast (tachycardia >160). If the baby's heart is driving outside that speed zone, there is fetal distress. Normal FHR = Jeepney range: 110–160.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

The jeepney is a quintessential Filipino icon; mapping numbers onto a speedometer creates a vivid visual scale that students can mentally 'read' during the exam.

Example Usage

Question: 'FHR of 105 bpm. What does this indicate?' Recall jeepney: 105 is BELOW 110 (left limit) = fetal bradycardia = possible distress. Notify physician.

Recall Trigger

Fetal heart = jeepney speedometer: 110–160 bpm

Topic

Fetal Development

Concept

Surfactant adequacy: L/S ratio ≥2:1 at ~34–36 weeks indicates lung maturity

Anchor Id

A16

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Think of SURFACTANT as the DISH SOAP inside the lungs. Without soap (surfactant), the tiny air sacs (alveoli) STICK TOGETHER and collapse after each breath (like a wet bag collapsing). Surfactant is made enough by ~34–36 weeks. The L/S ratio (Lecithin/Sphingomyelin) is like checking if there is ENOUGH SOAP: if L/S ≥2:1, the soap is sufficient — lungs are mature. If <2:1, the baby needs more time or steroids to make the soap. L=Lecithin (the good soap), S=Sphingomyelin (the baseline). Mature lungs = L is TWICE S.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Soap-and-alveoli analogy is scientifically accurate and visually concrete; the dish soap is familiar in Filipino households.

Example Usage

Question: 'An amniocentesis shows L/S ratio of 1.8:1. What does this indicate?' Recall: needs to be ≥2:1. 1.8 is LESS than 2 — lungs are NOT yet mature. Risk for RDS if delivered now.

Recall Trigger

Surfactant = dish soap; L/S ≥2:1 means enough soap = mature lungs

Topic

Gastrointestinal Changes

Concept

Progesterone causes GI discomforts: nausea, heartburn, constipation

Anchor Id

A17

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Progesterone is like a MAKULIT NA TRAFFIC ENFORCER (annoying traffic enforcer) who tells every smooth muscle in the body: 'STOP! HUWAG GUMALAW!' (Stop! Don't move!). The stomach valves don't close well (acid reflux/heartburn), the intestines stop churning (constipation), and the whole digestive system is slowed. Meanwhile, hCG makes the brainstem nauseous in early pregnancy. Result: The pregnant woman feels queasy, gassy, constipated, and has heartburn — all because Progesterone the traffic enforcer froze the smooth muscles.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

The personification of progesterone as a Filipino traffic enforcer is humorous and culturally familiar; it links the hormone to all the GI effects through one memorable character.

Example Usage

Question: 'Why does a pregnant woman experience constipation?' Recall the traffic enforcer — progesterone slows peristalsis (smooth muscle relaxation). Teaching: increase fiber, fluids, and activity.

Recall Trigger

Progesterone = traffic enforcer saying 'Huwag gumalaw!' to all smooth muscles

Topic

Signs of Pregnancy — Probable

Concept

Chadwick's sign — bluish-violet discolouration of cervix and vagina

Anchor Id

A18

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

CHADWICK = CHAD who is BLUE. Imagine CHAD (the boyfriend) turning BLUE-VIOLET with emotion when he sees the bluish cervix for the first time at the prenatal exam. The colour change happens because of increased blood flow and venous congestion in the pelvic tissues. Blue/violet = Chadwick. Easy colour code: C for Chadwick = C for Colour change = Cool blue-violet.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Assigning the colour directly to the name via a character (Chad turning blue) creates a vivid, emotionally charged image that is hard to forget.

Example Usage

Question: 'A midwife notes a bluish discolouration of the vaginal mucosa during examination. This is called?' Recall Chad turning blue = Chadwick's sign. It is a PROBABLE sign.

Recall Trigger

Chad is blue — Chadwick = bluish-violet cervix/vagina

Topic

Musculoskeletal Changes

Concept

Physiologic lordosis ('pride of pregnancy' posture) and waddling gait from relaxin

Anchor Id

A19

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

RELAXIN is like the body's LUBRICANT SPRAY — it loosens joints and ligaments to widen the pelvis for birth. But it has a side effect: it also loosens the lower back, so the uterus tilts forward and the lower back curves excessively (lordosis). The woman looks like she is walking with great PRIDE (chest out, back arched) — hence 'pride of pregnancy.' And because the hip joints are looser too, she WADDLES like a duck near term. Relaxin = looser joints = Pride posture + Duck walk.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

The lubricant spray metaphor makes the mechanism of relaxin clear; the pride posture and duck walk images are visual and slightly amusing, boosting retention.

Example Usage

Question: 'What hormone is responsible for softening ligaments and joints in pregnancy?' Recall the lubricant spray = Relaxin. Normal result: lordosis and mild pelvic instability.

Recall Trigger

Relaxin = WD-40 spray on joints = proud posture + duck walk

Topic

Fetal Development

Concept

Age of viability is ~24 weeks; term is 37–42 weeks

Anchor Id

A20

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Use the NUMBER LADDER: 20 (quickening felt) → 24 (viable with NICU support) → 34–36 (surfactant adequate) → 37 (term begins) → 40 (full term) → 42 (post-term). Think of climbing a ladder: each rung is a survival milestone. You cannot jump from 20 to 40 — each rung matters clinically. PIN: 24 = SURVIVAL FLOOR (below this, extremely unlikely to survive). 37 = SAFE LANDING.

Anchor Type

chunking

Why It Works

Chunking numbers into a sequential ladder uses spatial-sequential memory, which is highly reliable for ordered numerical information under exam conditions.

Example Usage

Question: 'What is the age of viability?' Climb the ladder: 24 weeks = survival floor. Below 24 = previable. Answer: approximately 24 weeks gestational age.

Recall Trigger

Number ladder: 20-24-34/36-37-40-42 — each rung = a milestone

Revision Game

Goodell's Sign (probable sign — softening of the cervix)

Clue

I am seen by the EXAMINER but I cannot CONFIRM the pregnancy. I turn the cervix soft and I am named after a doctor. What am I?

Memory Link

Anchor A2 — CHAD turns BLUE (Chadwick), HEGAR says HIGA, GOODELL checks the CERVIX

L/S Ratio (Lecithin to Sphingomyelin) ≥ 2:1 indicating lung maturity

Clue

I am the only hormone you need to DOUBLE to prove the baby's lungs are ready. What ratio am I?

Memory Link

Anchor A16 — Lecithin is the dish soap; leader must be twice as strong as the sidekick

The heavy uterus is compressing the inferior vena cava (IVC) causing supine hypotensive syndrome — nurse should position her on her LEFT LATERAL side

Clue

Ate Maria is lying on her back watching her favorite teleserye. Suddenly she feels dizzy. What is pressing on her vein and what should the nurse do?

Memory Link

Anchor A7 — 'Gumalaw sa kaliwa!' (Move to the left!)

The pregnant woman's psychological progression through the three trimesters — AAP: Ambivalence, Acceptance, Preparation

Clue

I am ambivalent, then I accept, then I prepare. I happen over 9 months in three chapters. Who am I describing?

Memory Link

Anchor A13 — AAP like saying APA (father) three ways

The umbilical cord — AVA pattern: 2 Arteries and 1 Vein (3 vessels total). A single artery is a warning sign.

Clue

I have two A's and one V. I connect the baby to the placenta. If I only have one A, the newborn needs closer checking. What am I?

Memory Link

Anchor A9 — AVA goes to the mall with two friends but only one bag

The Embryonic stage (weeks 3–8) — period of organogenesis and highest teratogen vulnerability

Clue

I am the MOST DANGEROUS TIME in fetal life for drugs and alcohol. I happen in the first two months after conception. What stage am I?

Memory Link

Anchor A8 — Bahay Kubo framing stage; typhoon during framing = disaster

October 10 minus 3 months = July 10. July 10 plus 7 days = July 17. Plus 1 year = July 17, 2026. EDD = July 17, 2026.

Clue

A pregnant woman's LMP is October 10, 2025. Using Naegele's Rule, what is her EDD?

Memory Link

Anchor A4 and Formula Mnemonic 1 — Subtract 3, Add 7, go to Heaven (next year)

Progesterone — the traffic enforcer that tells smooth muscles to stop moving

Clue

I slow down your intestines, relax your valve between stomach and esophagus, and cause heartburn and constipation. I am a hormone. Who am I?

Memory Link

Anchor A17 — Progesterone the makulit na traffic enforcer saying 'Huwag gumalaw!'

Hgb = hemoglobin level in g/dL; <11 in 1st/3rd trimester = anemia; <10.5 in 2nd trimester = anemia (normal dip due to maximum plasma volume expansion during mid-pregnancy)

F — Fever and chills
E — Epigastric or RUQ pain
V — Visual changes (blurring, spots)
E — Edema of face and hands
R — Rupture of membranes (gush/leak of fluid)
P — Painful urination
A — Absent or decreased fetal movement
C — Contractions before 37 weeks (preterm labor)
K — Konvulsyon (Convulsions = eclampsia)
S — Severe headache / Severe vomiting

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Midwife Licensure Exam Normal Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum — Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological ChangesMemory Anchors

Exam context

Normal Pregnancy: Physiologic & Psychological Changes - Memory Anchors

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