Pregnancy is a whole new world for expectant parents - a place filled with jargon
and medical procedures, some of which can be quite confusing. Below you
will find some common pregnancy and labor terms and their definitions to help you find your way. Have a word you'd like to see here? Let us know.
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When the placenta prematurely breaks away from the uterine wall.
Also called abruptio placentae.
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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is a private, voluntary, nonprofit organization of women's healthcare professionals. The ACOG currently has over 37,000 physician members. For more information, visit their website at http://www.acog.com/.
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The period
of time when your cervix dilates between four and eight centimeters.
Contractions usually come between three and five minutes apart, dilating
the cervix approximately one centimeter (one "finger") per hour.
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A test that assesses the risk (does not diagnose) of neural tube defects and Down Syndrome. Usually given between the 15-20 weeks; preferred at 16 weeks.
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This procedure
entails drawing a small quantity of amniotic fluid from the sac surrounding
the fetus. The particles of the baby's sloughed-off skin cells floating
in the water are then tested for fetal abnormalities.
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This protective
liquid, consisting mostly of water, fills in the sac surrounding the fetus.
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The sac that holds the protective
liquid called amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus.
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An iron deficiency common in pregnancy.
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A doctor who administers drugs like an epidural.
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Baby faces the correct way (face down) when emerging from the uterus.
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This is
a measurement of a newborn's response to birth and life outside the womb. Ratings are based on Appearance (color); Pulse (heartbeat); Grimace (reflex); Activity (muscle tone) and Respiration (breathing). The
score is taken at 1 and 5 minutes (sometimes also at 10 minutes) after birth, the high score being 10
and the low score being 1. This scale was named for its creator, Virginia Apgar
(1909-1974).
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The dark
area encircling the nipple. (When breastfeeding, you will need to make
sure the baby latches onto the areola, not just the nipple.)
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Acronym stands for artificial rupture of membranes. It means that a doctor or midwife breaks the woman's water to begin labor.
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Another term for the membranes that surrounds the fetus.
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Your base body temperature - that is, before movement, caloric consumption or anything else is factored in.
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A common drug used to help develop the baby's
lungs when it appears the woman will deliver prematurely. Given by
injection into the mother's muscle.
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The waste product that results from the breakdown of hemoglobin molecules from worn out red blood cells. It is normally excreted from the body as the main component of bile. See Jaundice.
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A large rubber ball, about 25 inches in circumference, used during labor. The woman can sit on the ball and rock or bounce lightly, or she can lie on top of the ball and rock.
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A medical facility used as an alternative to a homebirth or a hospital birth. Usually simulates the homebirth experience, but has
medical resources.
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Blood-tinged mucous from the vagina. May mean you are losing the
mucous plug that has sealed off the cervix up to this point.
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Also known as "Husband-coached Childbirth," instructors teach natural breathing, encourage husband support, breastfeeding, etc. For more information, see the Bradley Method site.
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These
"practice" contractions occur at various times during pregnancy,
but can increase in intensity during your last month. They happen at random
and are typically not painful. They do not dilate the cervix as "real"
contractions do.
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Where
the fetus is positioned head up to be born buttocks first or with one or
both feet first. Breech positioning is relatively uncommon, occurring in
fewer than five percent of all births.
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Drug used in pregnancy to slow or stop labor because even though it is an asthma medication, it relaxes smooth muscles, and the uterus is a smooth muscle.
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A small, flexible tube. Catheters are commonly used in epidurals and when a woman cannot urinate (a catheter is placed up the urethra and into the bladder)--commonly referred to as "being cathed."
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The term given when the size, presentation,
and position of the baby's head in relationship to the mom's pelvis prevents dilation of
the cervix and/or decent of the baby's head.
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A medication used to ripen the cervix before induction (or to induce labor by itself).
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The entrance
to the uterus.
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The baby
is delivered via an incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus.
(-section, -birth, -delivery)
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This procedure
tests for genetic fetal defects by analyzing a piece of chorion, which
is the outer tissues of the sac surrounding the embryo. CVS can be done
earlier than amniocentesis, typically between 9 and 11 weeks of pregnancy.
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Baby's
first food, this is a thin white fluid discharged from the breasts at the
beginning of milk production, and usually noticeable during the last few
weeks of pregnancy (though may appear in tiny amounts as early as 16 weeks).
Colostrum is rich in antibodies.
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The baby's buttocks are presenting at the cervix, but the legs are folded
"indian style," making vaginal delivery difficult or impossible.
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When the sperm penetrates the egg, a new life has been created.
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The regular
tightening of the uterus, working to dilate and efface the cervix and to
push the baby down the birth canal.
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Describes a condition where the umbilical cord slips down
below the baby and into the vaginal canal during birth and is directly
blocking the baby from
being born without compressing the cord (which would cut off baby's oxygen
and blood supply).
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Describes when the baby's head is pushing though the fully dilated cervix and ready to pass into the birth canal.
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A narcotic pain reliever commonly used in labor and delivery.
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The amount
the cervix has opened in preparation for childbirth, dilation is measured
in centimeters or, less accurately, in "fingers." "Fully
dilated" means you're at 10 centimeters and are ready to push. |
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A device
which employs ultrasound to listen to the fetal heart. Sometimes referred
to as a Doptone.
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The Greek definition is "trusted servant" or "woman's servant." Also known as a monitrice, the term refers to a woman who helps a couple through childbirth.
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This is
usually when you've had regular contractions for two hours or more, as
frequent as every five minutes to every twenty minutes. Your cervix dilates
up to three or four centimeters during this stage. |
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Pregnancy-induced
hypertension, a dangerous condition that may occur during pregnancy. Symptoms
may include elevated maternal blood pressure, swelling of ankles and hands,
sudden weight gain and protein in the urine. More
information here. See also pre-eclampsia.
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A pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. The large majority of
ectopic (tubal) pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube, but some can occur
in the abdominal cavity as well.
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Swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess water retention.
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This refers
to the thinning of the cervix in preparation for birth, and is expressed
in percentages. You'll be 100% effaced when you begin pushing.
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This electronic
instrument is used to record the heartbeat of the fetus and contractions
of the mother's uterus.
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From conception to the eighth week of pregnancy, the baby growing
inside you is called an embryo.
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The blood-rich mucus membrane lining the uterus (which is
usually shed as your period). The embryo implants into this lining, and
takes early nourishment from it.
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When the
baby's presenting part (usually the head) has settled into the pelvic cavity,
usually in the last month of pregnancy. You are likely to notice that the
baby's position has visibly changed and may also feel increased pressure
on your bladder.
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A common
method of administering anesthesia during labor. A small amount of anesthesia
is inserted through a narrow catheter threaded thorough a needle inserted
into the dura space near the spinal cord.
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An incision
made during childbirth to the perineum, the muscle between the vagina and
rectum, to widen the vaginal opening for delivery.
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Performed
late in pregnancy, this is where a doctor manually attempts to move a breech
baby into the typical head-down position for birth.
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A relatively
uncommon labor presentation, when the baby is head down but has its neck
extended, as if looking down the birth canal, rather than with its chin
tucked. (Also similar: brow presentation)
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Also called dysfunctional labor. Diagnosis given to a woman who
does labor does not follow a "normal" pattern and is severely prolonged.
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Two narrow "tubes" leading from either side of the uterus
to the ovaries.
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This is
where you experience regular and/or painful contractions that do not dilate
or thin the cervix. It may be impossible for you to differentiate from
"real" labor.
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A narcotic drug generally used sparingly. Many hospitals do not offer this type of narcotic for labor pain.
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When the
baby is not getting enough oxygen or is experiencing some other complication.
Immediate delivery may be required.
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Instrument used to monitor the baby's heartbeat while still in the uterus. This device is placed just under the skin of the baby's scalp. See Internal Monitoring.
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The baby in utero, after 8 weeks of pregnancy until delivery. (Before
then, it's considered an embryo.) The word fetus means "young one."
(Derivative: fetal)
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One of
two 'soft spots' between the unfused sections of the baby's skull. These
spots may allow the baby's head to compress slightly during passage through
the birth canal. |
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The baby is "upside-down" and one or both of the baby's feet are presenting at the cervix before the
buttocks.
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A tong-like
instrument which may be placed around the baby's head to help guide it
out of the birth canal during delivery.
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The baby's buttocks are presenting at the cervix and the baby's legs are
extended straight up to the baby's head.
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The length of pregnancy is called "Gestation."
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A form of diabetes that appears during pregnancy
(gestation). Most pregnant women are tested for this condition. It may or
may not remain after the baby is born.
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An infection that affects 10-25% of all pregnant women and
can cause serious health problems in a newborn. Many doctors screen
pregnant women now because the infection can be passed to the newborn during
delivery, more commonly under certain conditions (mother has fever or
infection is present, amniotic bag has been ruptured for more than 18 hours
or baby is premature). The bacteria that causes Strep B is commonly found
in the vagina and intestinal tract.
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Bleeding or flow of blood either internally or externally.
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Enlarged veins in the anus or rectum, generally caused by constipation or straining to have a bowel movement. Very common in pregnancy or after childbirth.
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A pregnancy
where there are complications or special circumstances that may require
specific medical attention or bed rest.
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The hormone pregnancy tests look for,
secreted by the placenta. This hormone prolongs the life span of the corpus
luteum as well as stimulates production of progesterone, thereby creating
the ideal environment for the embryo.
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The medical term for a condition which involves having too much
amniotic fluid.
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Extremely severe nausea ("morning sickness"), resulting in
weight loss of five percent or more, ketosis, and electrolyte imbalance. It
can lead to hospitalization if dehydration occurs.
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A congenital defect of the penis where the urethra is not at the tip of the penis, but rather in the shaft. Corrected surgically.
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A cervix that does not function properly during
pregnancy and is likely to dilate prematurely and cause a miscarriage.
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Inability to control excretions. During pregnancy, urinary
incontinence can occur as the baby becomes heavy on the bladder.
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When labor
is started or accelerated through intervention, such as by using an IV
drip of the hormone oxytocin (Pitocin), placing prostaglandin gel on the
cervix, or by rupturing the membranes.
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During labor, internal monitoring may be needed and is usually in the form of an electrode placed under the baby's scalp. See Fetal Scalp Electrode.
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Pain relievers that are administered by injection
into the muscle.
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This procedure involves administering medicine into the fluid around the
spinal cord.
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Meaning "to put a tube in," refers to procedure where a tube is
placed down the person's throat to assist breathing or for other medical
reasons.
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Intrauterine growth retardation: The growth of the fetus is
abnormally slow. After the birth, the baby appears smaller than the dates
say he or she should be.
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A somewhat
common condition in newborn babies, marked by a yellowing of the skin and
caused by the immature liver's inability to process excess red blood cells.
Treatment for mild cases will include allowing your baby to spend time
in sunlight, though in more severe cases, the baby will be admitted to
the hospital and placed under lights which synthesize the sun's rays (minus
harmful UV radiation).
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These
exercises are done in order to strengthen the pelvic floor during delivery (to help you push more efficiently) and to assist your body in recovering from childbirth. They are most simply done by contracting and holding the
muscles used to stop the flow of urine.
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The inner and outer "lips" of the vulva (vagina) - the external
female genitalia. The outer labia (labia majora) usually have pubic hair and
the smaller inner lips (labia minora) are mostly hidden inside.
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Regular
contractions of the uterus that result in dilation and effacement of the
cervix.
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A childbirth preparation method where relaxation, breathing techniques and informed decisions are paramount. For more information, see the Lamaze homepage.
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A set of four movements used to ascertain the baby's
position within the uterus. This is done by your healthcare provider placing
his or her hands on your belly, and to used determine the baby's presentation
(head up or down) and lie (facing right, left, back or front).
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Whitish mucousy vaginal discharge, common during pregnancy. Talk
to your healthcare provider if there is a lot of discharge, you notice a
strong or offensive odor, or if accompanied by labial/.vaginal itching or
swelling.
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When the
baby "drops" in preparation for delivery. See also Engagement. |
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Acronym stands for last menstrual period.
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A period-like
discharge from the vagina that occurs after delivery. The discharge will
probably be exceptionally heavy at first and may last five to six weeks.
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One of the stronger drugs given through IV to stop or slow labor.
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Baby is not "presenting" (positioned in the pelvis) in the
anterior (normal) position. There are different types of malpresentation
(see breech presentation, face presentation, and
posterior).
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Baby's
first bowel movement, this is the greenish substance that builds up in
the bowels of a growing fetus and is normally discharged shortly after
birth.
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A DEM (Direct Entry Midwife) assists homebirths while a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) assists births that take place in the hospital or birthing center. Both health care providers offer prenatal care and strive to reduce c-section rates, traumatic deliveries and un-needed medical intervention.
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Some women feel an abdominal pain or twinge - mittelschmerz,
literally meaning "middle pain" - upon ovulation.
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Because the newborn's skull bones are not yet fused (to assist the
birthing process), baby's heads can look "coned" or squished. This molding
will not be permanent.
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Pinkish
mucous discharge - which blocks the cervix during pregnancy - that you
may see when the cervix starts to open. Also called the 'show' or 'bloody show,' it is generally
considered a sign that labor will soon begin.
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Referring to the newborn period (the first four weeks of life).
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A specialist who cares for newborns.
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Acronym stands for neonatal intensive care
unit.
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A noninvasive
test in which fetal movements are monitored and recorded, along with changes
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