Skip to main content
-
Abruption
: Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the womb
-
Amnion
: An embryonic membrane that encircles a developing fetus and contains amniotic fluid.
-
Amniocentesis
: A procedure in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is removed from around the fetus
-
Amniotic fluid
: The fluid surrounding the fetus
-
Amniotomy
: (artificial rupture of membranes, ARM) Breaking the membranes using a special plastic hook
-
Anemia
: Lack of hemoglobin in red blood cells, due to iron deficiency or disease
-
Antepartum Hemorrhage
: (APH) Vaginal bleeding that happens after 24 weeks of pregnancy and before delivery
-
Breech
: The baby is lying bottom down in the womb
-
Celiac sprue
: Nutrient absorption impairment which is improved when gluten is removed from the diet. Characteristic mucosal lesion of the small intestine.
-
Cephalic
: The baby is lying head down in the womb
-
Chorion
: The embryonic membrane that forms the outermost covering around the developing fetus.
-
Chorionic Villus Sampling
: (CVS) A method for sampling placental tissue for genetic or chromosome studies.
-
Colostrum:
the fluid that is made late in pregnancy and the first few days postpartum in the breast that contains immunologic substances and essential nutrients.
-
Cleavage
: The early successive divisions of embryonic cells into smaller and smaller cells.
-
Cilia
: The fine hairs that line the fallopian tubes
-
Cordocentesis
: The procedure for taking blood from the fetal umbilical cord via a needle through the mother’s abdomen
-
Copulation
: (Coitus, sexual intercourse) is the procreative act of a man's erect penis is inserted into a woman's vagina. At climax, semen is ejaculated from the penis at the cervix of the uterus. Sperm then propel themselves into the fallopian tubes where fertilization may occur if an ovum is present.
-
Crohn's disease
: Skip lesions in the colon and is a malabsorptive disease.
-
Cystitis
: Infection of the bladder
-
Dizygous
: Not identical (fraternal) twins
-
Doppler
: A form of ultrasound used specially to investigate blood flow in the placenta or in the fetus
-
Down Syndrome
: (Trisomy 21) A disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 in the cells
-
Ectopic Pregnancy
: A pregnancy that develops outside of the womb
-
Edema
: Swelling of the fingers, legs, toes, and face.
-
Embryo
: The medical term for the baby from conception to about six weeks
-
Engagement
: The process in which the head of the baby moves down from high in the mother's abdomen and settles deeper into her pelvis in preparation for birth. This can happen any time between 36 weeks and labor.
-
Epidural Anesthesia
: A method of numbing the nerves of the lower spinal cord to ensure a pain-free labor
-
Episiotomy
: A cut of the perineum and vagina performed to make the delivery easier
-
External Fetal Monitor
: An electronic monitor used to record the fetal heartbeat and mother’s contractions
-
Fallopian Tubes
: (uterine tubes) Two tubular structures (one on each side of the womb) leading from the ovaries to the uterus
-
Fertilization
: The union of an egg cell and a sperm cell is present wherein 23 chromosomes from each parent come together to form a zygote. After sperm penetrates, the ovum undergoes a chemical change to prevent other sperm from entering. Multiple births can occur from complete division of the conceptus during early cleavage or from fertilization of multiple ova. Birth control techniques are designed to prevent ovulation or to prevent fertilization by barriers that keep sperm and ova separated.
-
Fetus
: Medical term for the baby from six weeks after conception until birth
-
Forceps
: Metal instruments that fit on either side of the baby's head and are used to help deliver the baby
-
Fundus
: The top of the womb
-
Germ layer
: Layers of cells within an embryo that form the body organs during development.
-
Glial Cells
(neuroglia; glia): Non-neuronal cells that provide support and nutrition, maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and participate in signal transmission in the nervous system. In the human brain, glia are estimated to outnumber neurons by about 10 to 1. Glial cells provide support and protection for neurons, the other main type of cell in the central nervous system. They are thus known as the "glue" of the nervous system. The four main functions of glial cells are to surround neurons and hold them in place, to supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons, to insulate one neuron from another, and to destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons.
-
Hemoglobin
: (Hb)The oxygen carrying constituent of red blood cells
-
Induction of labor
: (IOL) the procedure for initiating labor artificially
-
In utero death
: (IUD)the death of the unborn fetus after 24 weeks
-
In vitro fertilization
: (IVF) a method of assisted conception in which fertilization occurs outside the mother's and the embryo is replaced in the womb
-
Lanugo
: fine hair that covers the fetus in the womb
-
Lochia
: blood loss after birth
-
Mastitis
inflammation of the breast most frequently in lactation.
-
Neonatal
: baby less than 28 days old
-
Nuchal scan
: special ultrasound scan that gives an estimate of the risk of Down syndrome
-
Oocyte
: one ovum that is released from the ovary at each ovulation
-
Placenta
: The structure by which an unborn child is attached to its mother's uterine wall and through which it is nourished.
-
Postnatal
: After birth
-
Prenatal
: Before birth
-
Quickening
: The process that occurs between the seventeenth and twentieth weeks of fetal development, the fetus's leg bones achieve their final relative proportions. In this process the muscles contract, causing movement at the fetus's synovial joints. The joint movement enhances the nutrition of the articular cartilage and prevents the fusion of connective tissues within the joint. It also promotes bone hardening. It is this stage, where the fetus's bones become more developed and harder, that the mother begins to notice fetal movement.
-
Rudimentary
: Basic; minimal; with less than, or only the minimum, necessary
-
Thrush
: Creamy white flakes on a red papillae on tongue and tongue may be enlarged.
-
Umbilical cord
: The cord-like structure that connects the fetus to the placenta.
-
Zygote
: A cell produced by the fusion of an egg and a sperm; a fertilized egg cell