After 20 weeks, the spontaneous loss of a fetus is called a stillbirthor intrauterine fetal demise.
Abruption:When the placenta begins to separate from the wall of the uterus before the baby is born.
Symptoms of an abruption usually include bleeding and abdominal pain.
Symptoms of an abscess include throbbing pain, swelling, tenderness, localized heat and fever.
Treatment includes antibiotics and possible surgical drainage.
Active labor:Part of the firststage of laborwhen the cervix dilates from approximately six to 10 centimeters.
Active labor lasts an average of four to 10 hours.
Acupressure:A form ofcomplementary and alternative medicinethat has roots in ancient Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture:A form of complementary and alternative medicine.
In pregnancy, acupuncture can be used to combat morning sickness, labor pains and back pains.
The test is used to decide whether more invasive testing, such as an amniocentesis, should be considered.
Alveoli:Tiny milk-producing sacs that are arranged in clusters throughout the breast.
Each breast has hundreds of alveoli.
Once the milk is produced, it’s secreted into tube-shaped ducts that travel to the nipple.
Amenorrhea:Absence of menstruation.
Amniocentesis:A diagnostic test to determine whether the fetus has any abnormalities.
Amniotic fluid:The clear fluid in the amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy.
Throughout pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is constantly being replenished.
Also called the bag of waters, the amniotic sac will rupture naturally or be ruptured artificially during labor.
Amniotomy is done with an instrument that looks like a long crochet hook with a sharp tip.
Anal fissures:Cracks in the anus that can cause bleeding.
Anal fissures can be accompanied by hemorrhoids or appear independently.
Constipation causes and/or compounds them.
Analgesia:Any intervention that reduces the sensation of pain.
Analgesic:A medication that reduces the sensation of pain without loss of consciousness.
Demerol is a commonly used analgesic during labor.
Anemia:A decrease in the number of red blood cells, usually due to a shortage of iron.
Anesthesia:A general term describing techniques to ease pain.
Types of anesthesia often used during childbirth includelocal anesthesia, generalanesthetic or analgesics.
Anesthetic:A medication that produces a loss of sensation, either partially or completely.
Antenatal:Occurring or formed before birth; prenatal.
Antepartum:Occurring before childbirth, with reference to the mother.
Aorta:The artery responsible for bringing blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Lying faceup during pregnancy can compress the aorta.
Apgar score:A newborn baby’s first test.
A perfect Apgar score is 10; typical Apgar scores are seven, eight, or nine.
Areola:The dark area on the breast surrounding the nipple.
During pregnancy, the areola can spread and darken.
While breastfeeding, the baby compresses the areola to extract breast milk.
Aromatherapy:Scented oils that are used to heal body, mind and spirit.
Most experts advise caution when using aromatherapy during pregnancy, since someessential oilsin a concentrated form could be hazardous.
Artificial insemination:A process used to help a woman trying to conceive when natural methods fail.
Sperm is inserted into the woman’s uterus using a catheter.
Practitioners often rupture the membranes to speed up a labor that has slowed.
Aspiration:Drawing a substance into or out of the air passages.
Assisted reproductive technology:Any procedure performed to help a woman become pregnant.
See IVF and gamete intra-fallopian transfer.
Augmentation of labor:An intervention to help labor that has begun naturally to progress more rapidly.
Autologous transfusion:A transfusion of a person’s own blood.
Sometimes, in anticipation of surgery, a woman may donate her own blood for use later.
AZT:An antiretroviral drug that may be used to treat an HIV-positive pregnant woman.
See Retrovir, zidovudine.
B
Baby blues:Mild depression that follows childbirth.
Baby blues affects 60 to 80 percent of all new mothers.
Back labor:Excruciating pain in the back during labor.
Treatment with antibiotics is effective.
Also called the amniotic sac, the bag of water will rupture naturally or be ruptured artificially during labor.
Basal body temperature(BBT):The body’s temperature upon first waking up in the morning.
In pregnancy, biofeedback can help relieve headaches, insomnia and possibly morning sickness.
Using ultrasound, this test assesses fetal breathing, fetal movement, fetal tone, and amniotic fluid volume.
Birth canal:The passageway the baby travels through during birth.
It is made up of the cervix, vagina and vulva.
Birth defect:An abnormality in a baby due to an error during fetal development.
Birth defects may or may not be genetic.
Birthing ball:A large air-filled rubber ball that a woman can sit on during labor.
Birthing center:A facility offering a homelike setting for childbirth.
Birthing room:A room designed and equipped for a woman giving birth.
Bishop score:An evaluation of readiness for delivery.
Bladder:The part of the body that holds urine.
Blastocyst:The rapidly dividing fertilized egg when it enters the mother’s uterus.
Blighted ovum:A fertilized egg that fails to form into a baby.
Blood pressure:The amount of pressure blood exerts against the walls of the arteries.
During pregnancy, blood pressure drops toward the second trimester and then rises again in the third trimester.
High blood pressure during pregnancy can be due to preeclampsia.
Bloody show:The discharge of the blood-tinged mucous plug.
A gelatinous “cork” of mucus seals the opening of the uterus during pregnancy.
This show usually means that labor will start anywhere between 24 hours and several days away.
Body mass index (BMI):The relationship of a person’s height to weight.
Bradycardia:Slow heartbeat, usually fewer than 100 beats per minute for a baby.
Unlike true labor, Braxton Hicks contractions aren’t painful and don’t get stronger and closer over time.
Breaking of water:The bursting of the sac holding the amniotic fluid.
Practitioners often break the water using an instrument that resembles a crochet hook with a pointy tip.
This speeds up labor that has slowed.
Breastfeeding:When a baby extracts breast milk from the mother’s breasts.
Three to four percent of full-term babies are positioned this way.
C
Candida:A yeast that can cause an infection.
Carpal tunnel syndrome sparked by pregnancy swelling usually goes away after delivery.
Catheter:A small flexible tube used to draw fluids from the body.
Cephalic presentation:When the baby is positioned head first toward the mothers pelvis as labor nears.
This is the typical presentation for a full-term baby.
This condition usually results in a cesarean section.
Certified nurse-midwife (CNM):A nurse (an R.N.)
who has completed graduate-level programs in midwifery and is licensed by the state.
Most CNMs have a collaborative relationship with a physician.
CPMs generally assist only in home births.
Cervical mucus:Menstrual cycle secretions.
The discharge resembles raw egg white and is very stretchy around the time of ovulation.
It is white, thick and cloudy when conception is less like to happen.
Cervical os:The opening of the cervix.
Cervical ripening:The process that prepares the cervix for labor, making the cervix soft and thin.
Cervical ripening either occurs naturally or can be accomplished artificially using prostaglandins or misoprostol.
Cervidil:A medication used to ripen or soften the cervix before labor is induced.
Cervix:The narrow, lower end of the uterus.
During labor, the cervix softens, thins and opens to allow the baby to leave the uterus.
Used when a woman can’t give birth vaginally.
Chadwick’s sign:An early sign of pregnancy.
The cervix and/or vagina turn a deep bluish-purple color.
Chlamydia:A common sexually transmitted disease, often with no visible symptoms.
Left untreated, chlamydia can make a woman infertile.
Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics.
All babies receive antibiotics in their eyes after they are born to protect against chlamydia.
It gradually fades after delivery.
Chorioamnionitis:Inflammation of the membranes and the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus.
Choriocarcinoma:An extremely rare cancer that grows in the uterus, in most cases during a pregnancy.
Half of all first-trimester miscarriages are estimated to be the result of chromosomal abnormalities.
Chromosome:The part of the cell that carries the genetic material of a person.
Chronic hypertension:Ongoing high blood pressure that is present when the patient is not pregnant.
It is used at the beginning and end of a contraction to help restore normal breathing and reduce stress.
Cleft lip:A birth defect in which the upper lip isn’t formed properly.
Club foot is treated with exercises, splinting or surgery.
Colostrum is rich in fats, protein and antibodies.
Some women notice small amounts of colostrum during and toward the end of pregnancy.
Complete miscarriage:When all the products of conception (fetus, tissue) are expelled from the uterus.
Conceive:To initiate a pregnancy, which is what happens when a sperm fertilizes an egg.
Conception:When a sperm and egg join to form a single cell, usually in the fallopian tubes.
The fertilized egg travels into the uterus, where it implants in the lining.
Congenital disorder:A condition existing at or from birth.
Constipation:Bowel movements that are irregular, hard, dry and difficult to push out.
Contraception:Methods to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.
Contraction:The strong, rhythmic tightening of the uterus during labor.
Regular strong and painful contractions dilate the cervix and push the baby through the birth canal.
A CST tests how the baby responds to the stress of uterine contractions.
Convulsion:A series of spasm-like contractions of muscles.
Cord:See umbilical cord.
Cord blood banking:The collecting and storing of the baby’s umbilical-cord blood for future medical use.
It can then be banked, or stored for future use.
If the prolapsed cord is compressed, it may cut off the baby’s blood and oxygen supply.
It rarely presents a problem, but a practitioner will monitor its size as a precaution.
Cortisol:A stress hormone that rises during pregnancy.
This position is recommended once mothers and babies have become comfortable with nursing, usually after the first month.
Crown-to-rump length:The measurement of a fetus’s size from the top of the head to the buttocks.
This measurement is usually used during a first-trimester ultrasound to determine the gestational age of the fetus.
Cystic fibrosis:An inherited disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive systems.
Cytomegalovirus(CMV):A common and highly contagious viral infection.
D
D&C:Abbr.
See dilation and curettage.
Deep vein thrombosis:A blood clot that develops in a vein deep in a limb.
Dehydration:When the body loses more fluid than it takes in.
Demerol:An analgesic used to reduce the sensation of pain during labor and delivery.
Depo-Provera:A form of birth control.
Depo-Provera is a high dose of the hormone progestin, which is injected every three months.
DES:A synthetic form of estrogen once given to women to prevent miscarriage.
The muscles slowly return to normal after delivery.
Dilation:The opening of the cervix.
Dilation is measured as the diameter of the cervix in centimeters.
It is performed after an incomplete miscarriage.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA):A polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid.
Eating a diet rich in DHA while pregnant and nursing is extremely important.
A doula often acts as a liaison among the practitioner, nurses and the parents-to-be.
Some doulas will also provide at-home assistance after the baby is born.
It causes mild to severe mental disability, as well as other physical problems such as heart defects.
Due date:The estimated date a baby might be born.
It is typically determined based on the first day of a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
See Naegele’s rule.
Dystocia:When labor does not progress.
E
Early term:A baby born betweenweek 37andweek 39of pregnancy.
The only cure for eclampsia is delivery of the baby.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include abnormal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or shoulder pain.
The ectopic pregnancy must be surgically removed to prevent rupture and damage of the fallopian tubes.
Edema:Swelling due to the accumulation of fluids in the tissues.
Swelling in the ankles and feet occurs in about 75 percent of pregnant women.
Effacement:Also referred to as ripening, effacement is the thinning of the cervix in preparation for delivery.
During effacement, the cervix starts out more than an inch thick and ends up paper-thin.
Egg:A female’s reproductive cell produced by the ovary and fertilized by sperm to form an embryo.
Also called an ovum.
Egg donation:When a woman provides her eggs to help an infertile woman.
Ejaculate:The fluid emitted from a man’s penis that contains sperm.
Ejaculation:When a man expels semen from his penis during orgasm.
It records the fetal heartbeat and the mother’s contractions.
Electronic fetal monitoring can be external or internal.
Embolism:A detached blood clot that blocks circulation in a blood vessel to a part of a body.
After eight weeks it is called a fetus.
Embryonic stage:The second through eighth week after conception.
Endometrium:The lining of the uterus into which the embryo implants.
Endorphin:A hormone that helps reduce pain and promote a feeling of calmness.
A laboring woman secretes endorphins.
Enema:No longer routinely administered in hospitals for laboring women, an enema empties the bowels.
Engaged:When the baby’s head has moved down into the pelvis in preparation for birth.
In first-time mothers, this usually happens two to four weeks before delivery.
Engorgement:Swollen and tender breasts postpartum.
Engorgement shows up when the mother’s milk comes in between two days and a week after childbirth.
Symptoms usually disappear in a few days when nursing is well established.
It reduces pain significantly by making the mother unable to feel contractions during labor and delivery.
It is determined based on the first day of a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
See Naegele’s rule.
It is determined based on the first day of a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
See Naegele’s rule.
Estimated date of delivery (EDD):The estimated date a baby might be born.
It is determined based on the first day of a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
See Naegele’s rule.
Estriol:A hormone produced by the fetus and passed into the mother’s bloodstream.
Levels of this hormone can be tested via a blood test (quad screen) during the second trimester.
Estrogen:A hormone produced in the ovaries that works with progesterone to regulate menstruation.
Exclusive breastfeeding:Breastfeeding a baby without supplementing with formula.
Expressing breast milk:Removing breast milk from the breasts using a pump to store for a later feeding.
It records the fetal heartbeat and the mother’s contractions.
Symptoms of an extrauterine pregnancy include abnormal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or shoulder pain.
The extrauterine pregnancy must be surgically removed to prevent rupture and damage of the fallopian tubes.
F
Failure to progress:When labor has stopped due to weak contractions or cephalopelvic disproportion.
Fertilization most often occurs in the fallopian tubes.
Family practitioner:The updated term for the general practitioner who provides medical service for the whole family.
Fecal incontinence:The inability to hold in bowel movements.
Sometimes, a tear or large episiotomy during labor can cause fecal incontinence.
Fertility:Being able to conceive and carry a baby to term.
Fertility medications:Medications used to enable a woman conceive a baby.
Fertility specialist:An obstetrician-gynecologist who specializes in treating people with fertility problems.
Fetal acoustic stimulation:A test to check on how the baby is doing while inside the uterus.
Also called vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS).
Fetal anomaly:An abnormality or malformation in the fetus.
Fetal blood sampling:A genetic test that screens blood from a fetus umbilical cord for abnormalities.
Fetal diagnostic testing:Tests to determine the well-being of the fetus during pregnancy.
Fetal distress:When a fetus is not receiving enough oxygen.
Signs of fetal distress include a slowed heartbeat or absence of fetal movement.
Immediate delivery of the baby is warranted when there is fetal distress.
The FFN test is usually reserved for women at risk of preterm labor.
Fetal growth restriction(FGR):Slower than normal growth of a fetus in the womb.
Fetal heart rate:The rate of the baby’s heartbeat while in the uterus or during delivery.
Normal fetal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute.
Fetal loss:When a fetus dies inside the uterus.
Fetal monitoring:Tracking a fetus’s heartbeat and a woman’s uterine contractions during labor.
Times can vary, but 10 or more movements within one to two hours is considered normal.
Fetal scalp stimulation:A test to check on how the baby is doing while inside the uterus.
This test assesses how a fetus reacts to pressure on, or pinching of, the scalp.
Fetus:The name given to a baby in utero from eight weeks of development until birth.
Fibroids:Growths on the uterus.
Fibroids can be small or large and are almost always benign.
Follicle:An egg-containing cavity in the ovary that ruptures and releases an egg during ovulation.
At birth, there are six fontanelles they completely fuse by a child’s second birthday.
Footling breech:When one of the fetuss legs is lowered over the mothers cervix at term.
Fraternal twins:Twins born at the same time but resulting from the fertilization of two different eggs.
Full-term:A baby born between 39 and 41 weeks gestation.
The fundal height is measured to determine fetal growth.
Fundus:The rounded top part of the uterus.
General anesthesia:Drugs that make a person unconscious and unable to feel pain.
General anesthesia is sometimes used for emergency cesarean sections.
General practitioner:A physician who provides basic care.
Genetic:Determined by genes.
Inherited conditions are genetic.
Appropriate prenatal screening and testing, as well as treatment options, are also discussed.
Genetic disorder:A disease or condition because of abnormal genes.
Genetic screening:Any test used todetermine the risk ofgenetic abnormalities.
Genital herpes:A virus that affects the genital area.
A mother with untreated genital herpes can pass the infection onto her newborn during childbirth.
Genitals:External sex organs in the male and female.
Women who haven’t had German measles should confirm they’re immunized before conception.
Gestational diabetes can be treated, and it usually disappears after pregnancy.
Glucose:A form of sugar present in the blood.
Glucose challenge test:See glucose screening test.
Glucose screening test:A preliminary test used to check for diabetes.
Also called a glucose challenge test (GCT).
A person consumes a sweet glucose drink one hour before having some blood drawn.
If the blood work shows elevated levels of glucose, a glucose tolerance test is ordered to confirm diabetes.
Glucose tolerance test:This is the next step if a glucose screening test comes back elevated.
Glucosuria:Glucose in the urine.
Gravida:The medical term for a pregnant woman.
Testing for GBS is usually scheduled between weeks 35 and 37.
Gynecologist (GYN):A physician who specializes in gynecology.
H
Habitual miscarriage (or abortion):Three or more consecutive miscarriages.
See human chorionic gonadotropin.
The pressure of the growing uterus also puts pressure on the stomach, allowing acid to travel back.
Hegar’s sign:Used by physicians and midwives as a sign of pregnancy.
The area between the cervix and the uterus softens in early pregnancy.
HELLP syndrome:An abbreviation for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets.
HELLP is a rare, serious condition occurring during pregnancy on its own or in association with preeclampsia.
Symptoms include severe upper-right abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting in the third trimester as well as full-body itching.
The treatment is to deliver the baby.
Hematocrit:In a blood test, the number (or percentage) of red blood cells.
Hemoglobin:A bang out of protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to body tissues.
Hemophilia:A hereditary blood disorder in which blood does not clot properly.
It almost always occurs in males, though women can be carriers.
Hemorrhage:Heavy bleeding from the uterus.
Hemorrhage is rare and can occur postpartum.
Hemorrhoids:Varicose veinsof the rectum, afflicting 20 to 50 percent of pregnant women.
They can also appear postpartum as a result of pushing during labor.
Constipation can cause hemorrhoids or compound them.
Hepatitis B:An infection of the liver due to a blood-borne virus or through sexual contact.
Herpes:A sexually transmitted disease involving the genital area.
A woman with untreated genital herpes can pass the infection onto her newborn during childbirth.
High-risk pregnancy:A pregnancy with a higher than normal risk of developing complications.
HIV:The virus that causes AIDS, often sexually transmitted.
If untreated, an HIV-positive mother can transmit the virus to her fetus.
Home birth:Labor and delivery that takes place at home, usually with a midwife present.
Some home pregnancy tests can be used even before the day the next menstrual period is due.
Hormone:A chemical secretion that the body produces to stimulate or slow down various body functions.
Human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG):A hormone produced during pregnancy.
Excreted in urine, hCG is used in testing to detect pregnancy.
Hydatidiform mole:An abnormal pregnancy in which there is no fetus, only an abnormal mass growth.
Hydramnios:When there is too much amniotic fluid in the uterus.
Hydrocephalus:A relatively rare condition due to an abnormal amount of fluid in the brain.
It is sometimes the first sign of spina bifida.
A complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) technique.
Hyperglycemia:Having too much glucose in the blood.
Hyperglycemia is usually a sign of gestational diabetes.
Hypertension:High blood pressure.
Hyperthyroidism:Elevated levels of the thyroid hormones.
If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause problems during pregnancy.
Hyperventilation:Breathing too fast, leading to dizziness and tingling.
Can occur during labor.
HypnoBirthing:Using hypnosis during labor.
It employs suggestions and the power of the mind to control labor pain.
Hypnosis:CAM technique that can be useful in providing pain management during labor and delivery.
It may also sometimes help turn a breech baby and hold off premature labor.
Hypotension:Low blood pressure.
Some women experience hypotension when they get an epidural during labor.
Hypothyroidism:A deficiency of thyroid hormone due to an underactive thyroid gland.
If left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause problems during and/or after pregnancy.
Hysterectomy:The surgical removal of the uterus.
They are genetically identical and will look exactly alike.
Immune system:The protective system of the body that defends against infection and disease.
Implantation:The process in which a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus.
Most disorders can be tested for at birth or diagnosed prenatally.
Incision:A cut made to fire up the body during surgery.
During a cesarean section, an incision is made in the abdomen and uterus.
It can cause a miscarriage in the second trimester or preterm labor in the third.
Incompetent cervix is often treated with a cerclage.
Incomplete miscarriage:A miscarriage in which not all of the uterine contents are expelled.
The remaining tissue is usually removed with a D&C.
Incontinence:The inability to control one’s bladder or bowel movements.
See urinary incontinence; fecal incontinence.
Inferior vena cava:The vein responsible for returning blood from the lower body to the heart.
Lying faceup during pregnancy can compress the inferior vena cava.
Infertility:The inability to conceive or carry a child to term.
Inhibin-A:A hormone produced by the placenta and passed into the mother’s bloodstream.
Levels of this hormone can be checked via a blood test (quad screen) during the second trimester.
Insomnia:Inability to fall or stay asleep.
Intrapartum fever:Elevated body temperature in a pregnant woman during labor and/or delivery.
Intrauterine insemination:Used to help couples trying to conceive when natural methods fail.
Sperm is inserted into the woman’s uterus using a catheter.
In utero:Inside the uterus.
Women with inverted nipples may have to try techniques to draw them out before attempting to breastfeed.
Involution:The postpartum process of the uterus returning to its normal size after the birth of a baby.
L
Labia:The two sets of skin folds that protect a woman’s genitals.
Laceration:In labor, a laceration refers to a tear in the perineal area that occurs during childbirth.
Lactation:The production of milk that usually begins between two and five days after a woman gives birth.
Lactation consultantor specialist:A person trained to assist breastfeeding women.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, diarrhea, gas, pain or cramps.
See Naegele’s rule.
Late term pregnancy:A pregnancy between weeks 41 and 42.
Laxative:A food or medicine that stimulates evacuation of the bowels.
Lay midwife:An uncertified or unlicensed midwife who has no formal medical training but has experience with childbirth.
Only a few states allow lay midwives to practice, and then only at home births.
Layette:Clothing and other supplies for a newborn baby.
See labor-delivery-postpartum recovery room.
See labor-delivery-postpartum recovery room.
Leboyer birth:A childbirth technique that advocates a trauma-free birth.
Leg cramps:Painful leg spasms common at night during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Leopold’s maneuvers:Techniques used by physicians and midwives to determine fetal presentation and position in utero.
Leukorrhea:A thick, milky, mild-smelling vaginal discharge that is normal during pregnancy.
It usually increases as pregnancy progresses and can get heavy at times.
During pregnancy, it darkens and is renamed the linea nigra.
This darkening is because of pregnancy hormones.
The linea nigra may be more noticeable in dark-skinned women than those who are fair-skinned.
The symptoms of listeriosis are similar to those of the flu.
The illness can be transmitted in utero to a baby and lead to serious complications.
See last menstrual period.
Local anesthesia:An injection of anesthetic to numb a small area on the body.
Women are often given a local before receiving an epidural or an episiotomy.
Low birth weight baby:A full-term infant weighing less than five pounds eight ounces at birth.
It is common to diabetic mothers.
Magnesium sulfate:A medication used to prevent and treat eclampsia.
Malpresentation:An abnormal position of a baby’s body or head during childbirth.
Mammary glands:The glands of the breast that produce breast milk.
It gradually fades after delivery.
Mastitis:An infection of a milk duct in the breast.
Symptoms include swelling, tenderness, redness, and fever.
Treatment for mastitis includes massage, warm compress, continued breastfeeding from the infected side, and usually antibiotics.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist:An ob-gyn who specializes in the care of high-risk pregnancies.
Maternity center:A facility designed and equipped for childbirth.
It is intended for women with low-risk pregnancies.
Also called a birthing center.
Maternity leave:Paid or unpaid time off work to care for a new baby.
The mouth and nose are suctioned to prevent aspiration ofmeconium-stainedfluid.
Meconium staining:When the baby passes meconium before birth into the amniotic fluid.
Mercury:A toxic substance that can harm an unborn baby’s developing brain and nervous system.
Misoprostol:A drug used to soften the cervix and induce labor.
Molar pregnancy:An abnormal pregnancy in which there is no fetus, only an abnormal mass growth.
Molding:The temporary reshaping of a baby’s head to facilitate its passage through the birth canal.
Montgomery’s tubercles or follicles:The small goosebump-like glands that appear on the areola during pregnancy.
Moxibustion:A traditional Chinese treatment that combines acupuncture and burning herbs.
In pregnancy it may be used to help turn a breech baby.
MSAFP:Abbreviation for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening.
The test is used to decide whether a woman should undergo more invasive testing, such as an amniocentesis.
Multigravida:A woman who has previously been pregnant.
Multipara:A woman who has previously had one or more babies.
Multiple birth:When a woman delivers more than one baby.
Mutation:A noninherited genetic disorder that happens when an egg, sperm, or embryo undergoes spontaneous changes.
N
Naegele’s rule:The method used for estimating a pregnant woman’s due date.
Take the first day of the last menstrual period and add 280 days.
The estimation was first developed in the 1800s by Franz Naegele, a German obstetrician.
Natural childbirth:A term used to describe a labor and delivery without medication and/or medical intervention.
Nausea:A queasy feeling in the stomach that can, but does not always, lead to vomiting.
Nausea is very common in the first trimester.
Neonatal:The time from a baby’s birth to four weeks of age.
Neonatal death:The death of a live-born baby anytime between birth and four weeks of age.
Neonatal intensive care unit(NICU):A special care nursery for sick and premature newborns .
Neonate:A newborn.
Neonatologist:A physician who specializes in the care of newborns.
Neural tube defect:A birth defect related to the baby’s brain or spine.
Newborn:The term for a baby between birth and one month old.
Also referred to as the neonatal period.
See neonatal intensive care unit.
Nipple confusion may make breastfeeding more difficult.
Nipples:The small projection near the center of the breast containing the outlets of the milk ducts.
If the heart rate doesn’t respond as expected to fetal movement, the results are considerednon-reassuring.
See oxytocin challenge test.
Nuchal cord:A condition in which the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus’s neck in utero.
The presence of fluid can indicate increased risk of a chromosomal disorder or other birth defects.
Nulliparous:A woman who has never delivered a baby.
Nurse-midwife:A registered nurse who has completed graduate-level programs in midwifery.
Most nurse-midwives have a collaborative relationship with a physician.
O
OB/GYN:Obstetrician-gynecologist.
A physician specializing in women’s reproductive health.
Obstetrician:A physician specializing in obstetrics.
Obstetrics:The medical field dealing with the management of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Obstructed labor:When labor does not progress.
Occiput anteriorposition:When the baby faces the mother’s spine in utero and/or during labor.
This is the most common position for emerging babies.
Occiput posterior presentation:When the baby’s head is facing away from the mother’s spine.
Oligohydramnios:A condition in which there is too little amniotic fluid in the uterus.
Omega-3 fatty acids:Essential fatty acids such as DHA.
Eating a diet rich in DHA during pregnancy and while nursing is extremely important.
Operative vaginal delivery:A vaginal birth in which forceps or vacuum extraction is used.
Ovulation:The monthly release of a mature egg from an ovary.
A woman is most fertile around the time of ovulation.
Ovum:A human egg.
Oxytocin:A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.
When released, oxytocin causes uterine contractions.
Pitocin is a synthetic form of the hormone.
An OCT tests how the baby responds to the stress of uterine contractions.
Pap smear:A routine medical test to check for abnormalities in the cells of a woman’s cervix.
A pap smear is usually performed at the first prenatal visit.
Paracervical block:The injection of a local anesthetic into the tissues around the cervix to relieve pain.
May be used during childbirth.
Parturition:The act of giving birth.
Peak day:The best time to conceive during the monthly cycle (ovulation).
Pediatrician:A physician who specializes in treating infants and children up to adolescence.
These muscles can be strengthened by doing Kegel exercises.
PID can sometimes lead to infertility.
Pelvimetry:Measurements of the dimensions of the pelvis to determine whether a vaginal birth might be problematic.
Perinatal:The time before, during, and immediately following birth.
Perineal tear:A rip in the skin and muscles between the vagina and the rectum.
Perineum:The area between the vagina and rectum.
The perineum may tear during childbirth.
If not carefully regulated by diet early in infancy, PKU can cause mental disability.
Pica:The urge some pregnant women have to eat nonfood items such as dirt, chalk or clay.
It is thought to be connected to iron-deficiency anemia.
Pitocin:The brand name of a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin used to induce labor.
The placenta attaches to the uterine wall.
The baby is connected to the placenta with the umbilical cord.
The expelling of the placenta after the baby is born is called the third stage of labor.
Placenta accreta:A condition in which the placenta grows deeply into the uterine wall.
This makes it difficult to fully remove and increases the risk of bleeding after the baby is delivered.
Symptoms of an abruption usually include bleeding and abdominal pain.
The condition can cause bleeding during pregnancy or make vaginal delivery impossible.
Plasma protein A:A hormone produced by the fetus and passed into the mother’s bloodstream.
Levels of this hormone can be checked via a blood test during the first trimester.
This condition is often associated with infertility.
Polyhydramnios:The condition that exists when there is too much amniotic fluid in the uterus.
Postterm pregnancy:A pregnancy that lasts 42 weeks or more is considered to be postterm, or overdue.
Postmature pregnancy:An infant born at 42 weeks or later is considered postmature.
Postnatal period:The time following delivery until four to six weeks after birth.
Postpartum:The first six weeks after delivery.
Many women suffering from postpartum depression need professional treatment.
Postpartum hemorrhage:Heavy bleeding from the uterus after delivery.
Professional treatment is needed immediately.
Postpartum thyroiditis:Fluctuating thyroid function after childbirth.
Postterm pregnancy:A pregnancy that has lasted 42 weeks or more.
Precipitous birth:A very fast labor and delivery, usually fewer than three hours.
Symptoms include rapid weight gain and increased swelling.
If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to the more serious eclampsia.
Pregnancy Discrimination Act:A federal law barring discrimination against women for conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Pregnancy test:A test of a woman’s blood or urine to determine whether she’s pregnant.
The test works by detecting the pregnancy hormone hCG in the urine or blood.
Premature baby:A baby born before 37 weeks gestation.
Premature labor:Labor that occurs after 20 weeks gestation but before 37 weeks.
Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM):The bursting of the amniotic sac before the onset of contractions.
Usually, labor begins soon after rupture.
Depending on when this occurs during pregnancy, the practitioner may induce or augment labor.
Prenatal:Before birth.
Prenatal care:Medical care during pregnancy.
Presenting part:The part of the babys body that leads the way during labor and delivers first.
Preterm baby:A baby born before 37 weeks gestation.
Preterm delivery:The birth of a baby before 37 weeks gestation.
Preterm labor:Labor that begins after 20 weeks and before 37 weeks gestation.
Prompt medical treatment can sometimes halt or postpone early labor, improving the baby’s chances for survival.
Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM):The bursting of the amniotic sac before 37 weeks gestation.
Primigravida:A woman pregnant for the first time.
Prodromal labor:Contractions (such as Braxton Hicks) that occur before true labor begins.
Progesterone:A hormone produced by the ovaries that helps to regulate a woman’s reproductive cycle.
Prolactin:The hormone that activates a mother’s milk-producing glands.
While pregnant, prolactin levels rise and stay elevated if you are breastfeeding.
If compressed, it may cut off the baby’s blood and oxygen supply.
Prolonged labor:A labor that lasts 18 to 24 hours.
Prolonged pregnancy:A pregnancy that lasts longer than 40 weeks of gestation.
Prostaglandins:Hormones produced by the uterus to prepare the cervix and bring on labor.
Proteinuria:When excess protein is found in the urine.
It is often a sign of preeclampsia.
Protracted labor:A labor that lasts longer than expected.
These lesions aren’t dangerous and generally disappear after delivery.
Pruritus gravidarum:Itching during pregnancy.
Pubic symphysis:The front part of the pelvis.
During pregnancy, the practitioner will use this point to measure the growth of the uterus.
Pubic symphysis dysfunction:Pain in the pubic symphysis during or after pregnancy.
Pudendal block:A regional nerve block used during labor.
It’s often used when forceps or vacuum extraction is used.
Pyogenic granuloma of pregnancy:A lesion a pregnant woman may have on her gums that bleeds easily.
It is perfectly harmless and goes away on its own after delivery.
Quickening:The first fetal movements felt by a pregnant woman, usually between 18 and 22 weeks gestation.
The sensation is often described as a fluttering in the abdomen or butterflies in the stomach.
R
Rectum:The lower part of the large intestine, ending in the anal opening.
Rectus abdominis:The central muscle that runs down the front of the abdomen and supports the back.
During pregnancy it may separate, but it returns to normal after delivery.
Recurrent miscarriage (orspontaneousabortion):When a woman has had two or more miscarriages.
Regional anesthesia:Numbing a part of the body during labor.
An epidural is a regional anesthesia because it numbs only the lower part of the body.
Relaxin is also responsible for body changes, such as an increase in an expectant mother’s foot size.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS):A condition that affects one in four pregnant women.
The cause is unknown but usually disappears after delivery.
Retained placenta:A placenta that remains in the uterus for 30 minutes or more after delivery.
The practitioner will sometimes need to manually remove the placenta when this occurs.
In most cases, the uterus rights itself by the end of the first trimester.
Retrovir (AZT):An antiretroviral drug used to treat an HIV-positive pregnant mother.
See AZT, zidovudine.
Rh factor:A protein that is found on red blood cells.
If the Rh factor protein is present on the cells, a person is Rh-positive.
If there is no Rh factor protein, the person is Rh-negative.
An Rh-negative woman carrying an Rh-positive fetus may produce antibodies that attack the fetus’s blood.
Rh immunoglobulin:See RhoGAM.
Rh-negative women will receive Rhimmunoglobulinaround the 28th week of pregnancy or at the time of an amniocentesis.
Ripening:Thinning and softening of the cervix in preparation for delivery.
Women who haven’t had it should check that they’re immunized before conception.
Scan:Another word for ultrasound exam.
Sciatica:A painful condition characterized by pain in lower back, buttocks and leg.
In pregnant women, it is often brought on by pressure of the enlarging uterus on the sciatic nerve.
Rest, CAM, or a heating pad may ease the pain.
It provides sensory and motor function to the lower extremities.
May be used to treat morning sickness.
Secondhand smoke:When a person inhales the smoke exhaled by a smoker.
Secondhand smoke, like smoking, is dangerous for a developing fetus.
Semen:White fluid containing sperm ejaculated from a man’s penis.
Show:See bloody show.
Side-lying position:Breastfeeding position in which the baby and mother lie on their sides facing each other.
See sudden infant death syndrome.
Sonogram:An ultrasound image of a baby.
Sonograms are performed with an ultrasound machine.
Practitioners will often give expectant parents paper copies of their sonogram images to take home.
Sonographer:The technician who performs an ultrasound examination.
Sore nipples:Tender, red, cracked and painful nipples resulting from breastfeeding.
Proper positioning of the baby, as well as other remedies can help.
Speculum:A equipment used to spread a woman’s vaginal opening to make viewing of the cervix easier.
Sperm:The male reproductive cells produced by the testicles.
Sperm is deposited by the male into the female’s vagina and fertilizes an egg to produce an embryo.
Spermicides:Chemical agents that kill sperm; a form of birth control.
Sperm motility:The ability of sperm to move and swim quickly.
Spider veins may result from the hormonal changes of pregnancy and usually fade after delivery.
Spina bifida:A neural tube defect resulting from the improper closure of the fetal spine.
Spinal block:A labor anesthetic that is injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.
Spontaneous labor:Labor that begins on its own without any medical augmentation.
Spotting:Any punch in of bloody discharge from the vagina.
Stages of labor:Labor is divided into three stages.
The first stage begins at the onset of contractions and ends when the cervix is completely dilated.
The second stage is the delivery of the baby.
The third stage is delivery of the placenta.
A baby who has just begun to descend may be at -4 or -5 station.
Stillbirth:The death of a baby after 20 weeks gestation but before birth.
Stillborn:A baby showing no signs of life at birth.
Stress incontinence:The inability to hold in urine.
Many women find they leak urine during the last trimester when they laugh, cough, or sneeze.
It is a result of the mounting pressure of the growing uterus on the bladder.
Some women also experience stress incontinence postpartum as a result of the stretching of the perineal muscles.
Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles.
Stretch marks:Discolored linear patterns that result from stretching of the skin.
Striae:See stretch marks.
Stripping of the membranes:A technique used to encourage the onset of labor.
Suckling:When the baby breastfeeds.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS):The sudden death of an infant from unexplained causes.
SIDS occurs most frequently in infants two to four months old.
Sweeping of the membranes:Another term for stripping of the membranes.
Symphysis pubis dysfunction(SPD):Pain in the pubis symphysis during or after pregnancy.
Symphysis pubis:The front part of the pelvis.
During pregnancy, a practitioner will use this point to measure the growth of the uterus.
Syphilis:A sexually transmitted disease that can affect a fetus.
A preconception test can determine whether potential parents are carriers of the disease.
See transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Terbutaline:A medication used to halt the contractions of preterm labor.
Term:The length of a pregnancy, or 40 weeks.
Termination:Another word for abortion.
Thalassemia:An inherited genetic disorder of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Most common in individuals of Mediterranean, black, or Southeast Asian ancestry.
Thrombophlebitis:The inflammation of a vein associated with a blood clot.
Thyroiditis:Fluctuating thyroid function after childbirth.
In most cases, the uterus rights itself by the end of the first trimester.
Tipped uterus:Another term for a tilted uterus.
Tocolysis:The administration of medications to stop uterine contractions during premature labor.
Symptoms include rapid weight gain and increased swelling.
If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to the more serious eclampsia.
Pregnant women are advised to avoid contact with cat feces.
The theory is that this stimulation jams other sensory inputs along those pathways, such as pain.
The intensity of stimulation is controlled by the laboring woman.
The transition stage lasts only a short time.
Transverse:When the fetus is turned sideways in the uterus.
Trimester:A time span of three months.
Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, each approximately 13 to 14 weeks long.
Generally speaking, each trimester is marked by different phases of fetal development.
The test is used to decide whether more invasive testing, such as an amniocentesis, is needed.
Trophoblastic disease:An abnormal pregnancy in which there is no fetus, only an abnormal mass growth.
Also called an ectopic pregnancy, symptoms include abnormal bleeding, severe abdominal pain or shoulder pain.
The tubal pregnancy must be surgically removed to prevent rupture and damage of the fallopian tubes.
During pregnancy, ultrasound is routinely used to monitor the health and development of the fetus.
Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry:A test to check on how the baby is doing while inside the uterus.
Through the use of ultrasound, the flow of blood through the umbilical artery is assessed.
A weak, absent, or reverse flow indicates the fetus is not getting adequate nourishment.
The umbilical cord contains two arteries and one large vein.
Umbilical cord blood banking:See cord blood banking.
Many times the condition corrects itself.
Other cases need to be surgically corrected.
Unripe cervix:When the cervix is not ready for delivery.
Your practitioner will not have you begin to push until dilation is complete.
Urinalysis:An analysis of urine to find out its content.
Urinary incontinence:Involuntary loss of urine.
Many women find they leak urine during the last trimester when they laugh, cough, or sneeze.
It is a result of the mounting pressure of the growing uterus on the bladder.
Some women also experience stress incontinence postpartum as a result of the stretching of the perineal muscles.
Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles.
Urinary tract infection(UTI):An infection anywhere in the urinary system, usually in the bladder.
Symptoms include fever, increased need to urinate, or a burning sensation while urinating.
UTIs are common during pregnancy and are treated with antibiotics.
Uterine rupture:When the scar from a previous cesarean ruptures during labor.
Signs of a rupture include searing pain in the abdomen and fetal distress.
Immediate cesarean is necessary, followed by repair of the uterus, if possible.
Uterus:The hollow, pear-shaped, muscular organ in which a baby grows.
V
Vacuum-assisted birth:When vacuum extraction is used during childbirth.
Vagina:The female genital passage that leads from the uterus to the opening between the labia.
Vaginitis:An infection in the vagina.
Symptoms may include green, yellow, or strong smelling discharge, burning, itching or soreness.
They usually disappear after delivery.
See vaginal birth after cesarean.
Venous thrombosis:A blood clot that develops in a vein, usually in a leg.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to clots during pregnancy and postpartum.
Vernix caseosa:A greasy white substance that covers the fetus in utero.
The vernix protects the fetus from the amniotic fluid and makes the baby slippery and easier to deliver.
Version:See external cephalic version.
Vertex presentation:When the baby is positioned head down in the uterus at term.
Very low birth weight baby:A baby weighing less than three pounds three ounces at birth.
Viable:A baby mature enough to survive outside the womb.
Also called fetal acoustic stimulation.
Vulva:A woman’s external genital organs, including the labia and clitoris.
Not widely used in the medical community, water birth finds more acceptance among midwives.
Womb:Another name for the uterus.
Y
Yeast infection:A vaginal infection common during pregnancy.
Symptoms include itching and a white strong-smelling discharge from the vagina.
Z
Zidovudine (ZDV):An antiretroviral drug used to treat an HIV-positive expectant mother.
See AZT, Retrovir.
Zygote:The fertilized egg before it begins to divide and grow into an embryo.
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