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Episodes when the baby stops breathing for at least 15 seconds and
the baby's heart rate slows down to less than 100 beats per minute
(normal is around 120-160 beats per minute).
The abnormal joining of adjacent tissues following infection or
other inflammation. This is often used to refer to fallopian tubes
that can develop adhesions and prevent conception.
The placenta and other associated membranes which are passed from
the uterus after the birth
A plasma protein normally produced by the foetus' liver. AFP eventually
finds its way into the mother's blood and the amniotic fluid. When
too much or too little AFP enters the mother's blood stream it can
be a sign of foetal problems, such as birth defects. High AFP levels
in the mother's blood indicate an increased risk of Foetal Spina
Bifida or other malformations. Low AFP levels are associated with
an increased risk of Down's Syndrome and other chromosomal problems.
The absence of menstruation
Amniocentesis-Sometimes called an "amnio", this minor
surgical diagnostic test allows the doctor to obtain a sample of
the amniotic fluid by inserting a long, thin, hollow needle through
the mother's abdomen into the uterus. The amniotic fluid is then
analysed to look for genetic characteristics of the baby.
Fluid inside the membrane that forms a sac around the embryo and
later the foetus. This buoyant fluid helps the foetus grow uniformly,
helps the bones and muscles develop, and allows the baby to move
within the uterus.
The membranous bag that surrounds the foetus and becomes filled
with amniotic fluid as pregnancy advances.
Medical care for a pregnant woman and her developing baby for the
duration of the pregnancy
Medical tests conducted during pregnancy to determine any genetic
disorders in the foetus or to check the well-being of the woman
A baby in the anterior position faces the back of the mother's pelvis
during pregnancy and/or during labour
Refers to any medication that relieves pain while allowing the patient
to remain conscious.
The first test most babies are given (at one and five minutes after
birth). It assesses five basic indicators of health: respiration,
pulse, activity level, response to stimulation, and appearance
A medical procedure to place sperm inside the reproductive tract.
Baby Blues During the first few weeks after delivery up to 15% of
new mothers experience post natal depression. This is characterized
by mood swings, lethargy, feelings of inadequacy, and anxiety.
Just before ovulation, a woman's basal (resting) temperature increases.
The temperature should be taken early in the morning, which is usually
the lowest temperature of the day to time intercourse to increase
the likelihood of conception.
The tunnel comprising of the vagina and cervix through which the
baby must pass from the uterus during birth.
The rapidly dividing fertilised egg at around the stage when it
enters the uterus.
As the cervix dilates, blood and the cervical mucous plug (from
the cervical canal) pass from the vagina. The bloody show is a classic
indicator of beginning or progressing of labour
"Practice" contractions, starting around the eighth month,
which prepare the uterus for labour.
A breast pump is designed to extract milk from a mother's breasts
so that she can feed her baby later with the expressed milk in a
bottle. Pumps range from inexpensive manual models to powerful machines
which can empty both breasts at the same time within a few minutes
When baby is aligned in the uterus to come out buttocks first, as
opposed to head first
Delivery of the baby through an incision in the abdominal and uterine
walls when delivery through the birth canal is impossible or dangerous
Sometimes the baby's head is larger than the mother's pelvis, therefore,
the safest way to deliver the infant is to do so by caesarean section
Inability of the cervix to remain closed during pregnancy, which
may result in miscarriage or premature delivery. To avoid premature
delivery, the cervix may be stitched up or the mother may be confined
to bed
This is a natural birth control method accomplished by timing intercourse
according to the consistency of the woman's cervical mucous. Mucous
similar to raw egg white signifies a time close to ovulation, when
a woman is most fertile, while thick and cloudy mucous indicates
a time when conception is less likely
The cervix keeps the foetus from falling out of the uterus. During
labour, the cervix thins and dilates to allow the baby to pass out
of the uterus and into the vagina
A shortened form of Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that is the
most common cause of sexually transmitted disease in women of reproductive
age.
Brown markings on the skin of a pregnant woman caused by hormonal
changes, often seen on the face, in a pattern called 'butterfly'
marking. These fade after pregnancy
Chorion The outermost layer of the two foetal membranes, which envelope
the growing foetus and serves as a protective barrier against infection
A method of diagnosing abnormalities in a foetus, done at 8-10 weeks
of pregnancy, in which a small sample of chorionic tissue is taken
from the placenta for laboratory analysis
when an infant, who is otherwise completely well, is irritable,
cries or screams excessively and draws up the legs. Common in 6%-13%
of all infants.
The thin, human breast milk produced shortly after delivery and
before the regular breast milk is produced.
Examination of the cervix under illuminated magnification
Conception occurs when a sperm and an egg join to form a single
cell. It usually takes place in the Fallopian tubes. The fertilised
egg then travels into the uterus, where it implants in the lining
before developing into an embryo and then a foetus.
The contracting of the muscles of the uterus during labour. The
uterus contracts in an effort to expel the foetus into and out of
the birth canal
A waxy, scaly, skin rash that is common in newborn infants. The
medical name is seborrhoeic dermatitis
Surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining
of the uterus scraped. A D&C may be necessary to empty completely
the uterus after a miscarriage. The D&C is also used on occasion
to investigate abnormal menstrual bleeding.
This injected form of birth control requires injections of progestin
every two or three months
Doppler ultrasound is used early in high-risk pregnancies to evaluate
the blood flow through the foetus's umbilical artery
A doula is a person specially trained to help during labour and
after the birth of a baby. A doula might help a new mother to breastfeed,
or cook, clean, and care for older children
Due Date (EDD) The estimated date of delivery. The due date is also
called the estimated date of confinement (EDC). Calculation of the
EDC or due date is performed by counting forward 280 days (40 weeks)
from the first day of the last menstrual period.
The estimated date of delivery. The due date is also called the
estimated date of confinement (EDC). Calculation of the EDC or due
date is performed by counting forward 280 days (40 weeks) from the
first day of the last menstrual period.
A rare, serious condition of late pregnancy, labour and the period
following delivery, characterised by convulsions in the mother which
can be life threatening
Pregnancy in which the embryo develops outside of the uterus, most
commonly in the fallopian tubes.
The estimated date of delivery. The due date is also called the
estimated date of confinement (EDC). Calculation of the EDC or due
date is performed by counting forward 280 days (40 weeks) from the
first day of the last menstrual period.
Effacement is the thinning (sometimes called ripening) of the cervix
in preparation for delivery. During effacement, the cervix goes
from more than an inch thick to paper thin.
This device monitors the progress and vital signs of a foetus during
labour. It records the foetal heartbeat and a woman's contractions
The name given to a developing infant from about two weeks after
conception to the end of the second month of pregnancy, when it
is then called a foetus.
The endometrium is the tissue which lines the uterus. Endometriosis
is a disease where endometrial cells grow outside the uterus, most
often on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, or the exterior of the uterus.
It is estimated that 10-15% of women of childbearing age have this
condition, many of them without symptoms, although the condition
is also associated with infertility.
Engagement is when the foetus descends into the pelvic cavity. In
first-time mothers, this usually happens two to four weeks before
delivery.
A gas, made up of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide. The vast majority
of maternity hospitals pump gas and air to all of their delivery
rooms from a central supply, so it's always available when you want
it.
An anaesthetic technique that reduces pain during childbirth without
altering the mother's level of consciousness. This type of local
anaesthesia is often given during labour to relieve the pain of
contractions and delivery. A needle is inserted through the skin
of the back into the epidural space. Anaesthetic is then injected
around the spinal cord which anaesthetises the nerves of the lower
part of the body
A minor surgical procedure which widens the birth canal by cutting
the vaginal opening to prevent the jagged, less controlled tearing
of tissue during the stretching associated with delivery
The ducts that conduct the egg from the abdomen to the uterus after
ovulation and conception. It is within the fallopian tube that the
sperm usually meets and fertilises the egg.
Fertilisation occurs when a sperm penetrates an egg. The moment
when a sperm fertilises an egg is also called conception, and conception
usually takes place in one of the Fallopian tubes.
This syndrome involves physical and mental birth defects caused
by a baby's mother drinking large amounts of alcohol (often defined
as more than five or six drinks a day) during pregnancy.
This describes the position of the baby - such as feet down (breech)
or head down (vertex) - inside a woman's uterus. About 96% of babies
present in the vertex position; some who initially present in breech
position turn before delivery begins
A procedure for directly observing a foetus inside the uterus by
means of fibre optic, tubular telescope inserted via a tiny incision
in the mother's abdominal wall.
The name given to the embryo after the 8th week. Technically this
name should be used until the baby is completely outside of the
mother's body
A vitamin which plays a crucial part in foetal growth, especially
in the development of the nervous system and the formation of blood
cells
The use of forceps (A tweezer like instrument) used by an obstetrician
to ease out the baby's head during a difficult birth
Refers to a full term pregnancy. Infants who are not prematurely
born are considered to be full-term. The World Health Organisation
considers full-term any infant born after 38 completed weeks of
gestation
The distance between the top of a pregnant woman's uterus (called
the fundus) to her pubic bone. It is measured to determine foetal
age.
A form of assisted conception, which involves the combining of egg
and sperm outside of the body and immediately placing them into
the fallopian tubes to achieve conception.
The period of time a baby is carried in the uterus; full-term gestation
is between 38 and 42 weeks (counted from the first day of the last
menstrual period).
Gestational age is basically a measure of the length of time that
a baby spends in the womb. The baby's age is calculated in weeks
as the time from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period
to the day of birth
The medical term for a pregnant woman. The term is often prefixed
to indicate the number of pregnancies. For example a primigravida
is a woman pregnant for the first time and secundagravida is someone
pregnant for the second time.
Haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the anus. They are caused
by increased blood volume and pressure from the uterus on the veins
in the legs and pelvis, and are common during pregnancy. Constipation
can also cause (or compound) the problem.
Excessive vomiting in pregnancy
A hormone produced by the placenta and which is essential to normal
pregnancy. HCG can be detected as soon as 7-10 days after conception
using a home pregnancy test kit.
Attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining. This usually
occurs about five days after ovulation.
Laboratory fertilisation of an egg by a sperm. The fertilised egg
is then implanted in the female reproductive tract
If labour has not started at an appropriate time or if there are
maternal indications for delivery before labour starts naturally,
medications may be used to induce labour.
Direct injection of sperm into an egg
To "latch on" to the breast, a baby needs to open his
mouth wide. When a baby latches on to the breast successfully, he
will be feeding from the breast and not just the nipple. It should
not hurt when your baby feeds, although you may experience a strong
sensation of sucking
The production and secretion of milk after childbirth
The discharge after childbirth of blood and fragments of the uterine
lining from the site where the placenta was attached
The second part of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation has occurred,
on average 12 to 16 days
The tick sticky, greenish-black faeces passed by babies during the
first day or two after birth, which consists of bile, mucus, and
shed intestinal cells.
The regular growth and expulsion of the endometrium - the lining
of the uterus - which occurs if no fertilised egg implants.
Spontaneous abortion or loss of the foetus before 21 weeks of gestation
A plug of mucus that fills the cervical canal during pregnancy.
Discharge of the plug is usually followed by rupture of the membranes
and progressive labour.
The name given to someone pregnant for the third or more time
Delivery of more than one baby (twins, triplets etc.)
The process of giving birth without anaesthesia or medication to
relieve pain.
A newly born infant under the age of one month
The branch of Paediatrics concerned with the care of newborn infants
Flexible plastic covers which can be placed on the breast before
feeding
The branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and antenatal care,
childbirth and postnatal care.
A rare condition in which there is an abnormally small amount of
amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus in the uterus during pregnancy
A condition in which there are too few sperm in the semen to allow
a good chance of conception - sometimes referred to as a low sperm
count
Sex glands which produce key female hormones and eggs, and are found
on either side of the uterus.
The moment at which a mature egg is released from the ovaries into
the Fallopian tubes - the time around when a woman is most likely
to conceive
The branch of medicine concerned with the growth and development
of children.
Peak day The final day in a menstrual cycle in which your cervical
mucus has the consistency of egg white
Relating
to the period just before or just after birth. Usually defined as
from 18th week of pregnancy to the end of the first week after birth
The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus. When an episiotomy
is performed during childbirth, it is the perineum that is cut
Pain-relieving drug, which is related to morphine and used during
labour. It is usually given as an injection into the thigh. It can
cause drowsiness, dizziness and nausea
The organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and links
the blood supplies of mother and baby
Implantation of the placenta in the lower part of the uterus near
or over the cervix.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) This is one of several causes of
failure to ovulate among women. Multiple ovarian cysts often form
and periods become highly irregular.
Depression in a woman after childbirth
A serious condition in which high blood pressure, accumulation
of fluid in the tissues and protein in the urine develop in the
woman in the second half of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia affects about
7 percent of pregnancies
Common pregnancy-related condition. Pain in the leg, lower back,
and buttocks is caused by pressure of the growing uterus on the
sciatic nerve.
Both mother and baby will have a thorough medical examination and
check-up approximately six weeks after the birth to monitor their
overall progress and ensure their good health
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a method of pain
relief consisting of a pack of electrode pads placed on the back.
It discharges an electrical stimulus that interferes with the passage
of pain signals to the brain and may help the body to produce endorphins,
its own pain-killing hormones. The pack has a hand-held control,
which can be used to vary the strength of the stimulus.
A third of a pregnancy. Trimesters divide pregnancy into three 13-week
periods. The development and potential problems of pregnancy and
the foetus vary by trimester.
Ultrasound Scan In ultrasound procedures, high-frequency sound waves
are used to create a moving image on a screen. Ultrasound images
can be used to diagnose infertility and other medical problems.
The baby's lifeline from the mother during pregnancy. The umbilical
cord is formed during the fifth week of gestation and connects the
foetus' circulation with the mother's placenta. Through this vascular
structure, the foetus receives nutrients such as oxygen, glucose,
and protein. When the baby is born the cord is about 2 feet long
and 1/2 inch thick.
Also called the womb. The uterus is the organ that houses and protects
the foetus during pregnancy. The uterus grows and expands with your
baby's growth.
Dilatation of veins, usually in the legs, due to rupturing of the
small valves in the veins. Many pregnant women experience distended,
enlarged veins on their legs
In a ventouse delivery, a suction cup attached to a machine is placed
on the baby's head to assist the baby's passage through the birth
canal
A cheesy, white substance that covers a baby's skin at birth. The
vernix is secreted by the sebaceous glands around the 20th week
to protect the baby's skin from the amniotic fluid.
One of the protective membranes surrounding the embryo
This is a medical term for a newly fertilised egg before it implants
into the uterus
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