Copy of `The Baby Website - pregnancy glossary`

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The Baby Website - pregnancy glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Pregancy index Date & country: 29/05/2018, UK Words: 239

Miscarriage
End of pregnancy. Giving birth to an embryo or fetus before it can live outside the womb, usually defined as before 20 weeks of gestation.

Microcephaly
Abnormally small development of the fetal head.

Missed miscarriage
Failed pregnancy, without bleeding or cramping. Often diagnosed by ultrasound weeks or months after a pregnancy fails.

Meconium
First intestinal discharge of the newborn; green or yellow in color. It consists of epithelial or surface cells, mucus and bile. Discharge may occur before or during labor or soon after birth.

Melanoma
Pigmented mole or tumor, which may or may not be cancerous.

Lyme disease
Infection transmitted to humans by ticks.

Mask of pregnancy
Increased pigmentation over the area of the face under each eye. Commonly has the appearance of a butterfly.

Mammogram
X-ray study of the breasts to identify normal or abnormal breast tissue.

Menstruation
Regular or periodic discharge of a bloody fluid from the uterus,

Meningomyelocele
Congenital defect of the central nervous system of the baby in which membranes and the spinal cord protrude through an opening or defect in the vertebral column.

Leukorrhea
Vaginal discharge characterized by a white or yellowish color. Primarily composed of mucus.

Linea nigra
Line of increased pigmentation running down the abdomen from the bellybutton to the pubic area during pregnancy,

Lightening
Dropping or descent of fetus into the pelvis before or during labour.

Lochia
Vaginal discharge that occurs after delivery of the baby and placenta.

Labour
Contractions resulting in dilation of the cervix to make possible the delivery of a fetus.

Laparoscopy
Surgical procedure performed for tubal ligation, diagnosis of pelvic pain, diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and other procedures.

Kidney stone
Small mass or lesion found in the kidney or urinary tract that can block the flow of urine.

Isoimmunization
Development of specific antibody directed at the red blood cells of another individual, such as a baby in utero. Often occurs when an Rh-negative woman carries an Rh-positive baby or when she is given Rh-positive blood.

Jaundice
Yellow staining of the skin, sclera (covering of the eyes) and deeper tissues of the body. Caused by excessive amounts of bilirubin. Treated with phototherapy.

Ketones
Breakdown product of metabolism found in the blood, particularly in starvation or uncontrolled diabetes.

In vitro
Outside the body.

Incompetent cervix
Cervix that dilates painlessly, without contractions.

Incomplete miscarriage
Miscarriage in which part, but not all, of the uterine contents are expelled.

In utero
Within the uterus.

Iron-deficiency anemia
Anemia produced by lack of iron in the diet. Often seen in pregnancy. Also see anemia.

Induced labor
Labor started by doctor, usually with oxytocin (Pitocin).

Indigestion
Inability to digest food or difficulty digesting food.

Inevitable miscarriage
Pregnancy complicated with bleeding and cramping. Results in miscarriage.

Intrauterine-growth retardation
(IUGR) Inadequate growth of the fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy. Also called fetal-growth retardation.

Insulin
Peptide hormone made by the pancreas. It promotes the use of glucose.

Hyperglycemia
Increased blood sugar.

Hydrocephalus
Excessive accumulation of fluid around the brain of the baby. Sometimes called water on the brain.

Hyperbilirubinemia
Extremely high level of bilirubin in the blood.

Immune globulin preparation.
Substance used to protect against infection with certain diseases, such as hepatitis or measles.

Hyperemesis gravidarum
Severe nausea, dehydration and vomiting during pregnancy. Occurs most frequently during the first trimester. May require brief hospitalization.

Hyperthyroidism
Elevation of the thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.

Hypotension
Low blood pressure.

Hypoglycemia
Decreased or lowered blood sugar.

Hypoplasia
Defective or incomplete development or formation of tissue.

Hypertension, pregnancy-induced
High blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy. Defined by an increase in the diastolic or systolic blood pressure.

Hypothyroidism
Low or inadequate levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.

Heartburn
Discomfort or pain that occurs in the chest. Often occurs after eating.

High-risk pregnancy
Pregnancy with complications that requires special medical attention, often from a specialist. Also see perinatologist.

Homans' sign
Pain caused by flexing the ankle when a person has a blood clot in the lower leg.

Human chorionic gonadatropin
(HCG) Hormone produced in early pregnancy. Measured in a pregnancy test.

Group-B streptococcal infection
(GBS) Serious infection occurring in the mother's vagina and throat.

Habitual miscarriage
Occurrence of three or more miscarriages.

Hematocrit
Measurement of the proportion of blood cells to plasma. Important in diagnosing anemia.

Hemoglobin
Pigment in red blood cell that carries oxygen to body tissues.

Hemolytic disease
Destruction of red blood cells. See anemia.

Hemorrhoids
Dilated blood vessels in the rectum or rectal canal.

Gonorrhea
Contagious venereal infection, transmitted primarily by intercourse. Caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea.

Glucose-tolerance test
Blood test done to evaluate the body's response to sugar. Blood is drawn at intervals following ingestion of a sugary substance.

Globulin
Family of proteins from plasma or serum of the blood.

Glucosuria
Glucose in the urine.

Gestational diabetes
Occurrence or worsening of diabetes during pregnancy.

Gestation
Pregnancy.

Gestational age
Dating a pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period; 2 weeks longer than fertilization age. See fertilization age.

Genetic counseling
Consultation between a couple and a specialist about genetic defects and the possibility of presence or recurrence of genetic problems in a pregnancy.

Genital herpes simplex
Herpes simplex infection involving the genital area.

Frank breech
Baby presenting buttocks first. Legs are flexed and knees extended.

Full-term infant
Baby born between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy.

Ferrous gluconate
Iron supplement.

Ferrous sulfate
Iron supplement.

Forceps
Special instrument placed around the baby's head, inside the birth canal, to help guide the baby out of the birth canal during delivery.

Fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS) Birth defects in an infant born to a mother whose alcoholic intake persisted during pregnancy. Infant will have physical abnormalities and/or mental deficiencies.

Fertilization age
Dating a pregnancy from the time of fertilization; 2 weeks shorter than the gestational age.

Fertilization
Joining of the sperm and egg; conception.

Fetal anomaly
Fetal malformation or abnormal development.

Fetal period
Time period following the embryonic period (first 10 weeks of gestation or 8 weeks of development) until birth.

Fetal distress
Problems with the baby that occur before birth or during labor. These endanger the baby and require immediate delivery.

Fetal monitor
Device used before or during labor to listen to and to record the fetal heartbeat. Can be external monitoring (through maternal abdomen) or internal monitoring (through maternal vagina) of the baby inside the uterus.

False labor
Tightening of uterus without dilation or thinning of the cervix.

Fasting blood sugar
Blood test to evaluate the amount of sugar in the blood following a period of fasting.

Face presentation
Situation in which baby comes into the birth canal face-first.

Fallopian tube
Tube that leads from the cavity of the uterus to the area of the ovary. Also called uterine tube.

Fetus
Refers to the unborn baby from 10 weeks of gestation until birth,

External cephalic version
(ECV) Procedure done late in pregnancy in which doctor manually attempts to move a baby from the breech position into the normal head-down position.

Enema
Fluid injected into the rectum for the purpose of clearing out the bowel.

Engorgement
Congested; filled with fluid.

Endometrium
Mucous membrane that lines the inside of the uterine wall.

Epidural block
Type of regional anesthesia. Medication is injected into the epidural space during labor or for some types of surgery.

Episiotomy
Surgical incision of the area behind the vagina and above the rectum. Used during delivery to avoid tearing of the vaginal opening and rectum.

Embryonic period
First 10 weeks of gestation (8 weeks of fetal development).

Ectopic pregnancy
Pregnancy that occurs outside the uterine cavity.

Edema
Swelling of the feet or legs due to water retention,

Effacement
Thinning of cervix.

Electronic fetal monitoring
Use of electronic instruments to record the fetal heartbeat and the mother's contractions.

Embryo
Organism in the early stages of development.

Eclampsia
Convulsions and coma in a woman with pre-eclampsia. Not related to epilepsy.

Down syndrome
Condition in which baby is born mentally retarded and with a generally dwarfed appearance, including a sloping forehead, short, broad hands, a flat nose and low-set ears.

Dysplasia
Abnormal, precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix.

Dysuria
Difficulty or pain urinating.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Infection caused by any of a group of viruses from the herpes virus family.

Developmental delay
Condition in which the development of the baby or child is slower than normal.

Dizygotic twins
Twins derived from two different eggs. Often called fraternal twins.

Diastasis recti
Separation of abdominal muscles.

Dilatation
Expansion of an organ or vessel. Also, dilation.

Cystitis
Inflammation of the bladder.

Contraction stress test
(CST) Response of fetus to uterine contractions to evaluate fetal well-being.