Terminology
Amniotic fluid:
The liquid the baby floats in inside the uterus. Sometimes called 'the waters'
Amniotomy:
A midwife or obstetrician breaks the sac that the baby is in, releasing the amniotic fluid.
Antenatal:
The period before giving birth, eg pregnancy.
Apnoea:
The baby stops breathing and needs help to start again.
Augmentation:
Medical treatment which helps labour progress.
Braxton-Hicks contractions:
Contractions that some women feel in late pregnancy. But they're not the real thing - more like the body 'practising' for labour.
Breech birth:
Baby is presenting with bottom or legs or both first.
Caesarean:
When the baby is delivered surgically through the abdomen rather than vaginally after a labour.
Cervix:
Neck of the womb.
Cephalic:
baby is presenting head first
Contraction:
When the muscle in the uterus (womb) tightens. This may be painful.
Ectopic pregnancy:
When a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. This is usually within the fallopian tubes and can be very dangerous for the expectant mother.
Episiotomy:
A surgical cut in the area between the vagina and the anus that may be done during birth.
Fallopian tubes:
Tubes that lead from each ovary to the womb.
Foetus:
The baby is known as a foetus after about the 12th week of pregnancy. Prior to this it is known as an "embryo"
Folate:
An important trace element found in many fruits, dark green leafy vegetables and wholegrain foods.
Hypertension:
High blood pressure.
Induction:
Using a medical treatment to start the labour rather than waiting for it to happen naturally.
Internal examination:
The doctor or midwife puts one or two gloved fingers into the vagina to check on the pregnancy or progress of labour.
Intervention:
Using a medical treatment or instrument to help in labour or birth (eg forceps or an induction).
Jaundice:
When a baby's skin looks slightly yellow in the first few days of life.
LOA – “left occipito-anterior”:
This is one of the most common positions for baby to lie within the uterus. Baby is facing the floor with back to the mothers left.
Lochia:
Bleeding from the vagina in the weeks after giving birth.
LOP – “left occipito-posterior”:
A description of how the baby is lying. Baby is facing the sky, with baby’s back lying against the mother’s backbone, to the left side of the backbone. This is not abnormal, but can give increased back pain to mother and result in a long latent phase of labour.
LOT – “left occipito-transverse”:
A description of how the baby is lying. Baby is facing sideways, rather than facing the floor. Baby is facing the mothers right leg. This is not abnormal.
Mastitis:
Infection in the breast during the period of breastfeeding.
Midwife:
Health professional who specialises in caring for women during pregnancy, labour, birthing and the postnatal period.
Miscarriage:
The death of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy.
Neonatal:
To do with the first 28 days after birth. 'Neonatal care' means care of newborn babies.
OA – “occipito-anterior”:
This is the most common position a baby lies in when in utero (within the uterus). Baby is facing the floor, with back uppermost.
Obstetrician:
Doctor who specialises in caring for women during pregnancy, labour and birth.
OP – “occipito-posterior”.
A description of how the baby is lying. Baby is facing the sky, with baby’s back lying against the mother’s backbone. This is not abnormal, but can give increased back pain to mother and result in a long latent phase of labour.
OT – “occipito-transverse”:
A description of how the baby is lying. Baby is facing sideways, rather than facing the floor. This is not abnormal.
Placenta:
The afterbirth. This provides the baby with food and oxygen. It's attached to y our baby by the umbilical cord.
Postnatal:
After pregnancy and birthing - as in postnatal care or postnatal exercise.
Postnatal depression:
Feelings of sadness and inadequacy which continue for weeks after the birth.
Postpartum haemorrhage:
Heavier than normal bleeding after giving birth.
Pre-eclampsia:
Serious condition with symptoms of very high blood pressure and rapid swelling of the hands and feet.
Premature:
When a baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Quickening:
The baby's first movements in pregnancy felt by the mother.
ROA – “right occipito-anterior”:
This is one of the most common positions for baby to lie within the uterus. Baby is facing the floor with back to the mothers right.
ROP – “right occipito-posterior”:
A description of how the baby is lying.Baby is facing the sky, with baby’s back lying against the mother’s backbone, to the right side of the backbone. This is not abnormal, but can give increased back pain to mother and result in a long latent phase of labour.
ROT – “right occipito-transverse”:
A description of how the baby is lying. Baby is facing sideways, rather than facing the floor. Baby is facing the mothers left leg. This is not abnormal.
Show:
Passing the mucus 'plug' which sits within the cervix.
Spontaneous abortion:
Medical words for a miscarriage.
Stillbirth:
When a baby dies in the uterus and is born after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Transverse:
Baby is crossways in the uterus rather than “up and down” (longitudinal).
Trimester:
Pregnancy is divided into three 'trimesters' - 1-12 weeks, 12-28 weeks and 28-40 weeks.
Ultrasound:
A procedure that looks inside the body using soundwaves. Used in pregnancy to check how many weeks old the unborn baby (fetus) is. Also used to check baby's growth and for some abnormalities.
Umbilical cord:
The cord that joins the afterbirth to the baby.