Unit 15: Birth and death: from cradle to grave

pregnancy

Condition in a female of having a developing embryo and fetus in her uterus for about 40 weeks

conception

the moment at which a female becomes pregnant

fertilised

made to start developing into new life

embryo

developing baby

implants

fixes itself

uterus

Female organ of reproduction used to house the developing fetus

conceive

to become pregnant

fertility drugs

drugs that help a woman to become pregnant

in vitro fertilization

IVF

test tube babies

a baby conceived by in vitro fertilization

foetus

what the embryo developing in the uterus is known as from eight weeks onwards

placenta

organ connecting the developing baby to the mother and giving it food

goes into labour

goes into the last stage of pregnancy

be induced

be helped medically to start the process of labour

give birth

to have a baby

midwife

a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies

deliver

help the mother to give birth

caesarean section

operation in which the mother's abdomen and womb are cut open to allow the baby to be removed

ripe old age

living well into old age

late

now dead

pensioner

elderly person, receiving an old age pension from the state

sheltered accommodation

special housing, usually for old people, where care staff also live

doddery

weak and unable to walk in a normal way, usually because you are old

gaga

unable to think clearly because of old age

have all her wits about her

is still able to think and react quickly

dementia

an illness that causes problems with memory loss

coffin

box where the dead person is put

wake

a ceremony to view or watch over the deceased person before the funeral

will

A legally enforceable declaration of how a person wishes his or her property to be distributed after death

ashes

remains of a body after cremation

mourning

expressing sadness after someone's death

cremation

The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber

scattered

to spread around

bereaved

deprived or left desolate, especially through death

condolences

expressions of sympathy

to be at death's door

(informal) to be very ill indeed

fatalities

A death resulting from and accident or a disaster

perished

suffer death, typically in a violent, sudden, or untimely way

slaughtered

violently killed

the deceased

no longer living; dead

to bequeath

to hand down, to give or to leave in a will

to inherit

to receive something from someone after that person's death

intestate

dying without a will