Here’s a quick guide to the words, terms and abbreviations that could be part of your pregnancy, birth and the early weeks with your baby.
| A |
|
| Adrenaline | Too much adrenaline in labour could cause contractions to slow or stop but during birth it can help to give women energy and focus |
| Afterpains | Cramping with discomfort or pain as the uterus contracts and shrinks after birth |
| Amniotic Fluid/Sac | In the uterus, your baby develops inside the amniotic sac, which is filled with amniotic fluid |
| Anaesthetist | The doctor who administers epidurals, 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, regulate 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 Ball | To sit on and lean against during pregnancy and labour to aid comfort and rest. |
| Birth Canal | Vagina |
| Birth Centre | A midwifery-led maternity unit |
| Birth Pool | A large pool of water used for pain relief and comfort so a labouring woman’s boobs, bump and back are submerged in the water |
| Braxton Hicks | ‘Practice’ contractions during pregnancy |
| 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 |
| Colostrum | The first breastmilk which can be produced at the end of pregnancy, as well as during the first few days after birth. |
| Contractions | When the muscles of the uterus tighten and then relax during labour |
| Crowning | When a baby’s head starts to be born |
| 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 will dilate/open to about 10cm |
| Doula | A professional birth partner |
| Due Date | An approximate date of when your baby is due to be born |
| 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 |
| Endorphines | Beta-endorphines is a hormone which acts as a calm painkiller. These levels rise during labour |
| 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 |
| Fundus | This is the top of your uterus which can be felt to assess your baby’s growth in pregnancy |
| 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 |
| Hyperemesis Gravidarum | This is severe and ongoing vomiting, which can take place throughout pregnancy |
| Hypnobirthing | A form of pain management for labour and birth |
| I |
|
| Induction | When labour is started with medication |
| Instrumental Delivery | A birth using forceps or ventouse |
| L |
|
| Lactation Consultant | A breastfeeding specialist |
| 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 pool, 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 |
| Morning Sickness | Nausea and vomiting which may ease or stop in the second trimester of pregnancy |
| Mucus Plug | A mucus jelly around the cervix to protect babies from infection |
| Multigravida | This is not a 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 | This hormone is needed to stimulate strong and powerful contractions |
| Oxytocin Drip | Artificial oxytocin (syntocinon) is used in labour or as part of the induction process to create strong contractions |
| P |
|
| Paediatrician | A doctor who specialises in treating babies and children |
| 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 | The placenta provides babies with oxygen and nutrients to grow and develop throughout pregnancy |
| Planned Caesarean | This is a caesarean which takes place before labour as started |
| Postnatal | The weeks and months 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 |
| Prolactin | This is the hormone needed to create breastmilk. Prolactin production increases during pregnancy and it peaks during birth |
| 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 |
| Pre-eclampsia | A complication during pregnancy, which can be serious for mum and baby |
| Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) | This is high blood pressure during pregnancy |
| R |
|
| Relaxin | This hormones rises in pregnancy to allow the muscles, ligaments and joints of the pelvis to loosen and relax |
| Retained Placenta | When all or part of the placenta stays in the womb. Drugs can be used to create contractions to 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 your baby directly on your chest |
| 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, which will probably need to be repaired with stitches |
| Tear – 3rd degree | A more severe tear which goes into the muscles of the anal sphincter |
| Tear – 4th degree | This is a rare type of tear that goes through the anal sphincter |
| Tongue Tie | |
| 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 | 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 | Uterus |
Let me know if you would like me to add anymore more words , terms or abbreviations to this list.
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