Birth and Postpartum Period

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CHR)

Hormone secreted by the placenta in late pregnancy that triggers the release of various hormones during labor.

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that initiates and speeds up contractions during labor.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Mild, irregular contractions that occur during the second or third trimester as the body prepares for labor.

Apgar Scale

A quick test performed on a new baby to assess their health immediately after birth, evaluating criteria like appearance, pulse, grimace response, activity, and respiration.

Dilation Stage

The first stage of labor, lasting 16 to 24 hours, characterized by regular and intense uterine contractions that cause the cervix to dilate.

Expulsion Stage

The second stage of labor, typically lasting 45 to 60 minutes, when the baby’s head moves through the cervix and out of the birth canal.

After Birth Stage

The third stage of labor, which is the shortest, involving the expulsion of the umbilical cord and placenta from the mother.

Skin-to-skin contact

A practice where the newborn is placed directly on the mother's skin to enhance bonding and stabilize the baby's heart rate.

Anoxia

A condition during labor where there is a restriction of oxygen to the fetus, which can produce brain damage if prolonged.

Newborn Blood Spot Screening

A blood sample collected from a newborn to screen for various treatable conditions within 24-48 hours after birth.

Vaginal Delivery

A method of childbirth where the baby is born through the vagina, potentially involving techniques such as natural childbirth without drugs.

Caesarean Delivery

A surgical procedure to deliver a baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus.

Epidural

A pain relief method during childbirth that involves administering anesthesia through a catheter placed in the lower back.

Postpartum Blues

A temporary emotional disturbance occurring in 70-80% of new mothers characterized by mood swings and anxiety occurring 2-3 days after delivery.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

A more severe and long-lasting form of depression occurring in approximately 7.5% of women after childbirth, lasting longer than two weeks.

Involution

The process by which the uterus returns to its pre-pregnant size after childbirth.

Fetal malpresentation

A factor contributing to an increased caesarean birth rate where the fetus is not positioned correctly for birth.

Labor dystocia

A condition during labor characterized by slow or difficult labor progress, often contributing to the need for a caesarean delivery.

Kangaroo Mother Care

A technique involving skin-to-skin contact between the mother and newborn to promote bonding and health benefits.

Thoughts of harming oneself or the baby

A severe symptom of postpartum depression that requires immediate medical attention.

Multiple fetuses

A condition where a woman is pregnant with more than one fetus, which can increase the likelihood of a caesarean delivery.