![]() Often used to speed up a labour that has slowedīreech – when the baby is positioned inside the uterus with its bottom or feet down, instead of its headĬaesarean section – a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through a cut in the abdomen and uterus (also called a ‘C-section’)Ĭervix – the narrow, lower end of the uterus that softens and opens during labour to allow the baby to come outĬonception – the process of becoming pregnant,when a sperm and egg join to form a single cell (alternative terms include ‘fertilisation’, ‘impregnation’ and ‘insemination’)Ĭontraction – the often strong and painful tightening of the uterus during labour that causes the woman’s cervix to dilate and that helps push the baby through the birth canalĬrowning – time during labour when the baby’s head has reached the external vaginal opening and can be seen from the outsideĭilation – the opening of the cervix, measured as the diameter of the cervix in centimetersĮctopic pregnancy – when a fertilised egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. ![]() Braxton Hicks contractions are not painful and do not get stronger and closer together like true contractions (also called ‘false labour’)īreaking of water – when a healthcare practitioner bursts the sac holding the amniotic fluid using an instrument with a pointy tip. A score lower than seven means that the baby might need help breathingĪssisted reproductive technology – any procedure performed to help achieve a pregnancyīaby blues – mild depression that follows childbirth usually the result of hormonal swingsīirth canal – the passageway (made up of the cervix and vagina) that the baby travels through during birthīirth plan – a written document describing a woman’s preferences for her care during labour and birthīlood transfusion – a procedure where a woman is given bloodīraxton Hicks contractions – a tightening of the uterus (womb) that may feel like a labour contraction. A perfect Apgar score is 10 typical Apgar scores are seven, eight or nine. ![]() This can be achieved either through a surgical procedure or by taking a combination of prescribed medications (medical abortion)Īmniotic fluid – the liquid that surrounds a baby in the uterus (also called ‘waters’)Īmniotic sac – the sac around the baby inside the uterusĪnaesthetic – a drug that gives total or partial loss of sensation of a part or the whole of the bodyĪnaesthetist – a doctor who specialises in giving anaestheticĪntenatal – a term that means ‘before birth’ (alternative terms are ‘prenatal’ and ‘antepartum’)Īntepartum haemorrhage – bleeding from the vagina during pregnancyĪpgar score – a test given one minute after a baby is born, then again five minutes later, that assesses a baby’s appearance (skin colour), pulse, grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone) and respiration. ![]() The following list provides definitions for some of the more common terms.Ībortion – termination (end) of a pregnancy. Like all areas of medicine, pregnancy and childbirth has a number of specialised terms, many of which you will hear during your own pregnancy and labour and the birth of your baby.
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