Pregnancy + Childbirth

Ovum

A mature female reproductive cell

Sperm

A cell that is produced by the male sexual organs

Conception

The fertilization of an ovum by a sperm

Embryo

The developing baby from the 3rd to 8th week of pregnancy, when all major systems and organs are forming

Fetus

An unborn human baby more than eight weeks after conception

Placenta

A temporary organ in the uterus that transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus and permits the release of waste products from the fetus through the umbilical cord

Amniotic fluid

A clear liquid that surrounds and protects the unborn baby during pregnancy

Umbilical cord

A long tube that attaches a fetus to the placenta

Fallopian

Either of a pair of tubes along which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus

Uterus

The organ in the lower body of a woman in which a baby develops during pregnancy

Cervix

The narrow neck-like passage forming the lower end of the uterus

Quickening

The initial signs of fetal life felt by the mother as a result of the movements by the fetus

Lightening

A drop in the level of the uterus during the last weeks of pregnancy as the head of the fetus engages in the pelvis

Chromosomes

A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes

Genes

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring

Dominant

The stronger gene

Recessive

The weaker gene

Identical

Twins who develop from a single fertilized ovum and therefore have the same genotype; called monozygotic

Fraternal

Twins who develop from two separately fertilized ova; called dizygotic - no more genetically alike than any other sibling pair.

Infertility

The inability to conceive a child

Miscarriage

The expulsion of a fetus from the womb prior to 20 weeks gestation, most often due to genetic abnormalities

Stillbirth

The death of a developing baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy

Amniocentesis

The sampling of amniotic fluid using a hollow needle inserted into the uterus, to screen for developmental abnormalities in a fetus

Chorionic villi sampling

A prenatal test in which a catheter is used to remove a tissue sample from the placenta for testing

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A congenital syndrome caused by excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy, characterized by retardation of mental development and of physical growth, particularly of the skull and face of the infant

Anemia

A condition caused by lack of iron that results in poor appetite, tiredness, and weakness

Rh factor

A characteristic of the blood indicating the presence or absence of a certain protein

Genetic counselor

One who gives advice to prospective parents concerning the chances of inherited disorders in a future child

Pediatrician

A medical practitioner specializing in children

Obstetrician

A medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth

Lay midwife

A person with special training in the care of pregnant women and normal deliveries, but who does not have a nursing or doctor's degree

Maternity leave

A period of absence from work granted to a mother before and after the birth of her child

Postpartum

The period following childbirth or the birth of young

Contractions

A shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth

Dilates

Make or become wider, larger, or more open (hint: what happens to the cervix in the first stage of labor)

Breech presentation

A position of a fetus in which the feet or buttocks appear first during birth

Cesarean birth

A surgical procedure in which a fetus is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus

Fontanels

A space between the bones of the skull in an infant or fetus

Relaxin

A female hormone that helps soften the cervix and relax the pelvic ligaments in childbirth

Forceps

A large instrument with broad pincers, used to encircle a baby's head and assist in birth

Lanugo

Fine, soft hair, especially that which covers the body and limbs of a human fetus or newborn

Vernix

Waxy or cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborn human babies

Milia

Tiny white bumps that appear across a baby's nose, chin or cheeks

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that plays a role in stimulating labor, producing breast-milk, and helping mothers to bond with their new babies

Colostrum

A yellowish liquid, especially rich in immune factors, secreted by the mammary gland of female mammals a few days before and after the birth of their young

Jaundice

A medical condition with yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, arising from excess of the pigment bilirubin due to improper liver functioning; treated with phototherapy (light therapy)

Incubator

An enclosed apparatus providing a controlled environment for the care and protection of premature or unusually small babies

Grasp (palmar) reflex

An involuntary bending of the fingers in response to stimulation on the palm

Startle (moro) reflex

The automatic response of an infant in which the limb and neck muscles contract when the infant is allowed to drop a short distance or is alarmed by a sudden noise or jolt

Rooting (head-turning) reflex

Involves a newborn automatically turning towards a touch on the face and beginning to suck

Temperament

A person's inborn style of reacting to the world and relating to others

Formula

A substitute for breast milk for feeding infants

APGAR scale

A simple assessment of how a baby is doing at birth (assesses appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration), which helps determine whether your newborn is ready to meet the world without additional medical assistance (a low score means medical assistance is necessary)

Rooming-in

The practice followed in hospitals where the baby's crib is kept by the side of the mother's bed

Birth defect

A physical or biochemical abnormality that is present at birth and that may be inherited or the result of environmental influence

Alternative birth center

A facility separate from any hospital that has homelike rooms for giving birth

Withdrawal

The group of symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation or decrease in intake of medications or recreational drugs

Budget

An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time

Spina Bifida

A congenital defect of the spine in which part of the spinal cord and its meninges are exposed through a gap in the backbone

PKU

An inherited disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood causing usually severe mental impairment and seizures unless phenylalanine is restricted from the diet beginning at birth (need a low protein diet)

Ultrasound

A method of producing images of the inside of the body by using a machine that produces sound waves which are too high to be heard

Down Syndrome

A congenital condition characterized especially by cognitive impairment, short stature, upward slanting eyes, a flattened nasal bridge, broad hands with short fingers, decreased muscle tone, and by trisomy of the human chromosome numbered 21 —called also trisomy 21

Zygote

A cell that is formed when an egg and a sperm combine : a fertilized egg

Fetal Alcohol Effects

One of a spectrum of neurological impairments that can affect a child who has been exposed to alcohol in the womb; considered less serious than Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Cerebral Palsy

A condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth

Postpartum Depression

Depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue. Symptoms include crying a lot, appetite/sleep changes, and obsessive, negative thoughts

Postpartum Psychosis

A severe episode of mental illness which begins suddenly in the days following childbirth; symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, rapidly shifting moods, and bizarre behavior

Signs of labor

Water breaking, bloody show, contractions that become stronger and closer together

Stages of labor

1 - contractions dilate the cervix

2 - contractions help the mother to push out baby

3 - contractions expel the placenta

Muscular Dystrophy

A hereditary condition marked by progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles

Tay Sachs Disease

A rare inherited disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord; usually causes death by age 4

Cystic Fibrosis

A hereditary disorder that causes a buildup of mucus, affecting the respiratory and digestive systems

Cleft lip

A congenital split in the upper lip on one or both sides of the center, often associated with a cleft palate

Sickle-cell Anemia

A severe hereditary form of anemia where red blood cells are distorted into a crescent shape

Premature

A baby born before 37 weeks gestation

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Federal law requiring organizations with 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons

Teratogens

Various harmful environmental agents that may affect fetal development