Here’s a quick guide to the words, terms and abbreviations that could be part of your pregnancy and birth.
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 |
AROM or Artificial rupture of membranes. | Breaking the waters /rupturing the amniotic sac during labour or as part of the induction process to encourage strong contractions |
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 |
BP | Blood pressure |
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 or Cx | 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 |
|
E, Eng or Engaged | When a baby’s head moves into the pelvis during pregnancy & birth. Engaged – your baby’s head is engaged into your pelvis 0/5 or 1/5: deeply engaged in your pelvis 2/5: engaged with most of baby’s head in your pelvis 3/5: head is still above the brim of your pelvis 4/5: baby’s head is sitting on the brim of the your pelvis 5/5: your baby’s head is free, it has not engaged into the pelvis |
ECV | External cephalic version – a procedure which can be used to try to turn a breech baby at the end of pregnancy |
EDD | Estimated date of delivery/Estimated due date |
EFM | Electronic Fetal Monitoring – continuous monitoring of a baby during labour and birth |
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 |
F |
|
FBS | Fetal blood sampling – a blood test which can be used to measure the oxygen levels in a baby’s blood during labour |
Fetal Growth | How much a baby is growing during pregnancy |
FHH | Fetal Heart Heard |
FHHR | Fetal Heart Heard and Regular |
FMF | Fetal Movements Felt |
Forceps | A medical instrument that is used to aid the birth of the baby |
G |
|
GA | Gestational Age – the weeks & days of your pregnancy |
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 |
LMP | Last menstrual period |
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 |
Membrane Sweep | An internal examination, with a sweep around the cervix, to encourage labour to start |
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 |
Multigravida | This is not your first pregnancy |
N |
|
NAD | Nothing abnormal detected |
Neonatal Period | The first 28 days of your baby’s life |
Not Eng, NEng or NE | Not engaged – your baby’s head is not engaged into your pelvis |
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 |
Oedema/Oed | Swelling due to water retention |
Oxytocin Drip | Artificial oxytocin (syntocinon) is used in labour or as part of the induction process to create strong contractions |
P |
|
Para 0 | You haven’t had any pregnancies beyond 24 weeks. |
Para 1 | You have had one pregnancy beyond 24 weeks. (Para 2 is two pregnancies, Para 3 is three pregnancies, etc) |
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) | A term to describe all pelvic and pubic pain |
Perinatal | The period covering your pregnancy and up to a year with your baby |
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 |
Postnatal Depression | Also referred to as PND. A depression which can happen within the first year with your baby |
Postpartum | The first 6 weeks with your baby |
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. |
Primagravida | This is your first pregnancy |
PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes – when amniotic fluid leaks before 37 weeks pregnant |
Prostaglandin Pessary | Or it can be a gel or tablet, used as part of an induction process to soften your cervix |
Position of baby | OA: occiput anterior LOA: left occiput anterior ROA: right occiput anterior OP: occiput posterior Cephalic/Ceph: head down BR: breech |
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 |
SFH | Symphysis fundal height – a measurement of your bump |
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 |
Trimester | A period of three months 1st Trimester: the first three months of pregnancy 2nd Trimester: the middle three months of pregnancy 3rd Trimester: the final three months of pregnancy 4th Trimester: The first 12 weeks with your baby |
U |
|
Ultrasound Scan | Also called a sonogram. Usually completed by a sonographer, this procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your baby and womb. Scan measurements can include: AC: abdominal circumference BPD: biparietal diameter (skull measurement) CRL: crown rump length (head to bum measurement) FL: femur length (thigh bone) HC: head circumference TD: trunk diameter |
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 |
VE | Vaginal examination |
Ventouse | A medical instrument used to aid the birth a baby |
W |
|
Waterbirth | Birth in a birthing pool |
Womb | The uterus |

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