| A |
|
| Afterpains | Cramping with discomfort or pain as the uterus contracts and shrinks |
| Anaesthetist | The doctor who administers epidural, spinals and a general anaesthetic |
| Antenatal | The period during pregnancy |
| Assisted Delivery | Birth using ventouse or forceps |
| Augmentation of labour | To increase and strengthen contractions after labour has started |
| B |
|
| Bear Down | Pushing during the birth of your baby |
| BMI | Body Mass Index – measuring your height and your weight to calculate your healthy weight |
| Birth Canal | The vagina |
| Birth Centre | A midwifery-led maternity unit |
| Birth Pool | A large pool of water used for pain relief so a labouring woman’s boobs, bump and back are submerged in the water. |
| Breech | When a baby’s position in pregnancy is bum first |
| C | |
| Caesarean | When your baby is born through an incision in the abdomen |
| Catheter | A thin tube which is usually used to empty the bladder |
| Cervix | The neck of the uterus |
| D |
|
| Delivery Suite | The room to labour and birth in at hospital |
| Diamorphine | An opiate drug offered in labour |
| Dilation | The opening of the cervix needs to dilate/open to about 10cm |
| Doula | A professional birth partner |
| E |
|
| Emergency Caesarean | A caesarean that takes place after labour has started |
| Entonox | Also known as gas & air. It is 50/50 oxygen and nitrous oxide which can be used in labour as pain relief for contractions |
| Episiotomy | When a cut is made in the perineum to aid the birth of a baby |
| Epidural | Local anaesthetic in the spine to block the pain of the contractions |
| ECV | External Cephalic Version – attempting to turn a breech baby |
| Engaged | When a baby’s head moves into the pelvis during pregnancy & birth |
| F |
|
| Fetal Growth | How much a baby is growing during pregnancy |
| Forceps | A medical instrument that is used to aid the birth of the baby |
| G |
|
| Gas & Air | This is entonox: 50/50 oxygen and nitrous oxide which can be used in labour as pain relief |
| Gestation | Pregnancy |
| Gestational Diabetes | Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy |
| H |
|
| Health Visitor | A health professional who works with families with babies and pre-school children |
| Homebirth | When you labour and birth at home |
| Hypnobirthing | A form of pain management for labour and birth |
| I |
|
| Induction | When labour is started artificially |
| Instrumental Delivery | A birth using forceps or ventouse |
| L |
|
| Latching | How a baby attaches to the breast to feed |
| Let-down Reflex | The Milk Ejection Reflex – when a baby starts to feed at the breast, hormones are released to enable the milk to flow |
| Lochia | Discharge from the uterus after birth. It is made up of blood, mucus and uterine tissue |
| M |
|
| Maternity Notes | This is the medical record of pregnancy |
| Maternity Unit | The hospital ward for labour and birth |
| Meconium | A baby’s first poo, which is dark and tar-like |
| Midwife | The health professional who provides care during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period |
| Midwife-led Unit | A maternity unit for low-risk women – it is only staffed by midwives |
| N |
|
| NICU | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – for babies who need intensive medical treatment |
| Normal Birth | This is a birth that doesn’t involve any medical interventions |
| O |
|
| Obstetrician | A doctor who specialises in childbirth |
| Obstetric Unit | This is a maternity unit which is staffed by doctors and midwives |
| P |
|
| Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) | A term to describe all pelvic and pubic pain |
| Perineum | The tissue between the anus and the vulva which needs to stretch when a baby is being born |
| Pethidine | An opiate drug which is used as pain relief and can be administered by injection |
| Placenta | Babies are attached to this organ in pregnancy by the umbilical cord – it provides babies with oxygen and nutrients to grow and develop |
| Planned Caesarean | This is a caesarean which takes place before labour as started |
| Postnatal | The period after pregnancy and birth |
| PPH | A Post-Partum Haemorrhage is a large bleed within the first 24 hours after giving birth |
| Pre-Eclampsia | This is a condition which midwives check for during pregnancy. Symptoms include protein in urine, high blood pressure and swelling. |
| PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes – when amniotic fluid leaks before 37 weeks pregnant |
|
Position
of baby
| OA: occiput anterior LOA: left occiput anterior ROA: right occiput anterior OP: occiput posterior |
| Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) | This is high blood pressure during pregnancy |
| R |
|
| Retained Placenta | When all or part of the placenta stays in the womb – drugs can be used to create contractions and deliver the placenta or it may need to be manually removed by an obstetrician |
| S |
|
| Scan | Ultrasound scans are used to check the health and position of a baby |
| Skin-to-Skin | Cuddles with a new baby when you and your baby are undressed |
| Sonographer | This is a health professional who performs the ultrasound scans during pregnancy |
| SROM | Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes – when the amniotic fluid/waters break at full term |
| T |
|
| TENS Machine | A form of pain relief for labour using electric pulses which are administered by 4 pads placed on the back |
| Tear – 1st degree | A small tear in the skin of the perineum which often doesn’t need stitches |
| Tear – 2nd degree | A deeper tear which has gone into the muscle – this will probably need stitching |
| Tear – 3rd degree | A more severe tear which goes into the muscles that surround the anal sphincter |
| Tear – 4th degree | This is a rare type of tear that goes through the anal sphincter |
| U |
|
| Umbilical Cord | This connects your baby to the placenta during pregnancy |
| Unplanned Caesarean | This is a caesarean which takes place after labour has started, so it was not planned in advance |
| Uterus | The womb |
| V |
|
| VBAC | Vaginal Birth After Caesarean – giving birth vaginally after a previous caesarean |
| Ventouse | A medical instrument used to aid the birth a baby |
| W |
|
| Waterbirth | Birth in a birthing pool |
| Womb | The uterus |
Find out more about your birth & baby preparation
Janine Smith – a specialist in pregnancy, birth & early parenting
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