Ballottement (Noun)
Meaning
A palpatory technique for feeling a floating object in the body (especially for determining the position of a fetus by feeling the rebound of the fetus after a quick digital tap on the wall of the uterus).
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- To assess fetal size and position, the nurse practitioner used ballottement to gently tap the abdominal wall while feeling the uterus.
- During the prenatal exam, the doctor applied ballottement by tapping her fingers on the patient's belly to elicit a floating sensation that helped determine the baby's position.
- A medical provider may use ballottement to estimate gestational age by palpating the fetal parts within the abdomen.
- The healthcare provider performed ballottement to locate the fetus's head and evaluate its descent into the birth canal.
- To assess uterine tone and fetal well-being, the nurse-midwife performed ballottement, noting the speed and distance the fetal body rebounded after the gentle tap.