Glossary of pregnancy-related terms

Find out what pregnancy-related medical terms, such as 'Amniocentesis','Neonate' and 'Zygote', really mean…

Gamete intrafallopian transfer

(GIFT)

A form of assisted conception, which involves the combining of egg and sperm outside of the body and immediately placing them into the fallopian tubes to achieve conception.

Gestation

The period of time a baby is carried in the uterus; full-term gestation is between 38 and 42 weeks (counted from the first day of the last menstrual period).

Gestational age

It is basically a measure of the length of time that a baby spends in the womb. The baby's age is calculated in weeks as the time from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period to the day of birth.

Gravida

The medical term for a pregnant woman. The term is often prefixed to indicate the number of pregnancies. For example a primigravida is a woman pregnant for the first time and secundagravida is someone pregnant for the second time.

Haemorrhoids

These are swollen blood vessels in the anus. They are caused by increased blood volume and pressure from the uterus on the veins in the legs and pelvis, and are common during pregnancy. Constipation can also cause (or compound) the problem.

Hyperemisis Gravitarum

Excessive vomiting in pregnancy.

Human Chorionic Gondotrophin (HCG)

A hormone produced by the placenta and which is essential to normal pregnancy. HCG can be detected as soon as 7-10 days after conception using a home pregnancy test kit.

Implantation

The attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining, which usually occurs about five days after ovulation.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Laboratory fertilisation of an egg by a sperm. The fertilised egg is then implanted in the female reproductive tract.

Induction

If labour has not started at an appropriate time or if there are maternal indications for delivery before labour starts naturally, medications may be used to induce labour.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Direct injection of sperm into an egg.

Latching on

To "latch on" to the breast, a baby needs to open his mouth wide. When a baby latches on to the breast successfully, he will be feeding from the breast and not just the nipple. It should not hurt when your baby feeds, although you may experience a h3 class="articleTitle3" sensation of sucking.

Lactation

The production and secretion of milk after childbirth.

Lochia

The discharge after childbirth of blood and fragments of the uterine lining from the site where the placenta was attached.

Luteal Phase

The second part of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation has occurred, on average 12 to 16 days.

Meconium

The thick sticky, greenish-black faeces passed by babies during the first day or two after birth, which consists of bile, mucus, and shed intestinal cells.

Menstrual Cycle

The regular growth and expulsion of the endometrium - the lining of the uterus - which occurs if no fertilised egg implants.

Miscarriage

Spontaneous abortion or loss of the foetus before 21 weeks of gestation.

Mucus Plug

A plug of mucus that fills the cervical canal during pregnancy. Discharge of the plug is usually followed by rupture of the membranes and progressive labour.

Multigravida

The name given to someone pregnant for the third or more time.

Multiple Birth

Delivery of more than one baby (twins, triplets etc.)

Natural Childbirth

The process of giving birth without anaesthesia or medication to relieve pain.

Neonate

A newly born infant under the age of one month.

Neonatology

The branch of Paediatrics concerned with the care of newborn infants.

Nipple Shield

Flexible plastic covers which can be placed on the breast before feeding.

Obstetrics

The branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and antenatal care, childbirth and postnatal care.

Oligohydramnios

A rare condition in which there is an abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus in the uterus during pregnancy.

Oligospermia

A condition in which there are too few sperm in the semen to allow a good chance of conception - sometimes referred to as a low sperm count.

Ovaries

Sex glands which produce key female hormones and eggs, and are found on either side of the uterus.

Ovulation

The moment at which a mature egg is released from the ovaries into the Fallopian tubes - the time around when a woman is most likely to conceive.

Paediatrics

The branch of medicine concerned with the growth and development of children. Peak day The final day in a menstrual cycle in which your cervical mucus has the consistency of egg white.

Perinatal

Relating to the period just before or just after birth. Usually defined as from 18th week of pregnancy to the end of the first week after birth.

Perineum

The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus. When an episiotomy is performed during childbirth, it is the perineum that is cut.

Pethidine

Pain-relieving drug, which is related to morphine and used during labour. It is usually given as an injection into the thigh. It can cause drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.

Placenta

The organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and links the blood supplies of mother and baby.

Placenta Praevia

Implantation of the placenta in the lower part of the uterus near or over the cervix.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

This is one of several causes of failure to ovulate among women. Multiple ovarian cysts often form and periods become highly irregular.

Post natal depression

Depression in a woman after childbirth.

Pre-eclampsia

A serious condition in which high blood pressure, accumulation of fluid in the tissues and protein in the urine develop in the woman in the second half of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia affects about 7 percent of pregnancies.

Sciatica

Common pregnancy-related condition. Pain in the leg, lower back, and buttocks is caused by pressure of the growing uterus on the sciatic nerve.

Six-week check

Both mother and baby will have a thorough medical examination and check-up approximately six weeks after the birth to monitor their overall progress and ensure their good health.

TENS machine

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a method of pain relief consisting of a pack of electrode pads placed on the back. It discharges an electrical stimulus that interferes with the passage of pain signals to the brain and may help the body to produce endorphins, its own pain-killing hormones. The pack has a hand-held control, which can be used to vary the strength of the stimulus.

Trimester

A third of a pregnancy. Trimesters divide pregnancy into three 13-week periods. The development and potential problems of pregnancy and the foetus vary by trimester. Ultrasound Scan In ultrasound procedures, high-frequency sound waves are used to create a moving image on a screen. Ultrasound images can be used to diagnose infertility and other medical problems.

Umbilical cord

The baby's lifeline from the mother during pregnancy. The umbilical cord is formed during the fifth week of gestation and connects the foetus' circulation with the mother's placenta. Through this vascular structure, the foetus receives nutrients such as oxygen, glucose, and protein. When the baby is born the cord is about 2 feet long and 1/2 inch thick.

Uterus

Also called the womb. The uterus is the organ that houses and protects the foetus during pregnancy. The uterus grows and expands with your baby's growth.

Varicose Veins

Dilatation of veins, usually in the legs, due to rupturing of the small valves in the veins. Many pregnant women experience distended, enlarged veins on their legs.

Ventouse extraction

In a ventouse delivery, a suction cup attached to a machine is placed on the baby's head to assist the baby's passage through the birth canal.

Vernix

A cheesy, white substance that covers a baby's skin at birth. The vernix is secreted by the sebaceous glands around the 20th week to protect the baby's skin from the amniotic fluid.

Yolk Sac

One of the protective membranes surrounding the embryo.

Zygote

This is a medical term for a newly fertilised egg before it implants into the uterus.