Chapter 6: Pregnancy and Childbirth

Hyaluronidase

An enzyme secreted by the sperm that allows one sperm to penetrate the egg.

Zygote

A fertilized egg.

Placenta

An organ formed on the wall of the uterus through which the fetus receives oxygen and nutrients and gets rid of waste products.

Umbilical Cord

The tube that connects the fetus to the placenta.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone secreted by the placenta; it is the hormone detected in pregnancy tests.

Amniotic Fluid

The watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus.

Edema

Excessive fluid retention and swelling.

Colostrum

A watery substance that is secreted from the breasts at the end of pregnancy and during the first few days after delivery.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions

Contractions of the uterus during pregnancy that are not part of labor.

Teratogen

A substance that produces defects in a fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Serious growth deficiency and malformations in the child of a mother who abuses alcohol during pregnancy.

Effacement

A thinning out of the cervix during labor.

Dilation

An opening up of the cervix during labor; also called dilatation.

First-Stage Labor

The beginning of labor, during which there are regular contractions of the uterus; the stage lasts until the cervix is dilated 8 centimeters (3 inches).

Transition

The difficult part of labor at the end of the first stage, during which the cervix dilates from 8 to 10 centimeters (3 to 4 inches).

Second-Stage Labor

The stage during which the baby moves out through the vagina and is delivered.

Episiotomy

An incision made in the skin just behind the vagina, allowing the baby to be delivered more easily.

Third-Stage Labor

The stage during which the afterbirth is expelled.

Cesarean Section (C-section)

A method of delivering a baby surgically by an incision in the abdomen.

Lamaze Method

A method of “prepared” childbirth involving relaxation and controlled breathing.

Postpartum Depression

Mild to moderate depression in women following the birth of a baby.

Ectopic Pregnancy

A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus e.g., the fallopian tubes.

Pseudocyesis

False pregnancy, in which the woman displays the signs of pregnancy but is not pregnant.

Preeclampsia

A serious disease of pregnancy, marked by high blood pressure, severe edema, and proteinuria.

Amniocentesis

A test done to determine whether a fetus has birth defects; done by inserting a fine tube into the woman’s abdomen in order to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A technique for prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, involving taking a sample of cells from the chorionic villus and analyzing them.

Miscarriage

The termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable, as a result of natural causes (not medical intervention); also called spontaneous abortion.

Infertility

The inability of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after 1 year or more of trying.

Artificial Insemination

A procedure in which sperm are placed into the female reproductive system by means other than sexual intercourse.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

A procedure in which an egg is fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish.

ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

A type of assisted reproductive technology in which one sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of the egg to accomplish a fertilization outside the body.

Embryo Transfer

A procedure in which an embryo is transferred from the uterus of one woman into the uterus of another.

GIFT

Gamete intrafallopian transfer, a procedure in which sperm and eggs are collected and then inserted together into the fallopian tube to accomplish fertilization.

ZIFT

Zygote intrafallopian transfer, an assisted reproductive technology in which the egg is fertilized by sperm in the laboratory, and then the developing fertilized egg (zygote) is placed in the fallopian tube.