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Glossary of pregnancy terms: A
Abruptio Placentae / Placental abruption Normally, the placenta remains firmly attached to the wall of the womb until after the baby has been born. In a small number of cases (about 1 per cent), though, it separates before the baby is born. Acceleration of labour The speeding up of labour by the use of drugs,…
Posted in Glossary of pregnancy terms Tagged Abruptio Placentae, Acceleration of labour, AFP, afterpains, Amniotic fluid, Anal fissure, Apgar score, Artificial rupture of membranes, assisted delivery, assisted labour, augmentation of labour, Glossary of pregnancy terms, placental abruption, Pregnancy Leave a comment
Glossary of pregnancy terms: B
Baby blues A short period of mild depression, the ‘baby blues’ which affect almost half of all mothers in the first few days after birth. BP or bp Blood pressure. Braxton Hicks contractions Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular tightenings of the uterus. Some people call them ‘practice contractions’. Breech presentation The baby enters the birth…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: C
Cephalic presentation Your baby is lying with his or her head above your vagina ie head down. Cephalopelvic disproportion When a baby’s head or body is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis. Cervix The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: D
Deep transverse arrest A condition of vaginal delivery that occurs when the baby’s head fails to rotate despite steady descent down the birth canal. Dilation In the first stage of labour the cervix, or neck of the womb, gradually opens up to make space for the baby. It needs to open to approximately 10 centimetres…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: E
Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) The continuous monitoring of the baby during labour, either through transducers which are attached by belts to the mother’s abdomen, or by a scalp electrode which is inserted through the mother’s vagina and attached to the baby’s scalp. Embryo For the first 10 weeks of pregnancy the baby is called an embryo. After…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: F
Fallopian tubes Part of the female reproductive system. The eggs produced in the ovaries have to travel down the fallopian tubes before embedding in the lining of the uterus. Occasionally a fertilised egg will embed in the tube, causing an ectopic pregnancy. Fetal blood sampling (FBS) If a baby appears to be in distress during…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: H
Haemorrhage Sudden and severe bleeding. In pregnancy it is usually called antepartum haemorrhage and after the birth it is called postpartum haemorrhage. Any bleeding in pregnancy should be reported to a doctor or midwife. Spotting or slight bleeding is not unusual in early pregnancy and not usually an emergency. Sudden bleeding, especially if accompanied by…
Glossary of pregnancy terms: I
Induction A medical stimulus to get labour started. Induction may be necessary, for example, if the mother has pre-eclampsia or is overdue. Inverted nipples Nipples that do not protrude when cold or during sexual stimulation. A baby can still breastfeed from an inverted nipple and often breastfeeding itself will help the nipples protrude
Glossary of pregnancy terms: K
Ketones These are substances found in the blood which show that the body has used up all the available carbohydrate for energy and has begun to utilise protein instead. Often a woman in labour with ketones in her blood will feel shaky and weak, and labour can slow down. Eating little and often in early…
Posted in Glossary of pregnancy terms Tagged Glossary of pregnancy terms, ketones, Pregnancy Leave a comment
Glossary of pregnancy terms: L
Lanugo A fine covering of tiny hairs over the baby’s body at birth. Premature babies often have a great deal of this fine hair which eventually falls out. Lie The position of the baby in the uterus. Lithotomy position A position used for assisted deliveries, where the mother lies flat on her back with her…
