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Here are a list of a-z of some pregnancy terms you may hear
while you are pregnant and some you will never hear of.
N
- Neural-tube defects: Abnormalities in the development of the spinal cord
and brain in a fetus. See Anencephaly; Hydrocephalus; Spina bifida.
O
- Oligohydramnios: Lack or deficiency of amniotic fluid.
- Omphalocele: Presence of congenital outpouching of the umbilicus containing
internal organs in the fetus or newborn infant.
- Organogenesis: Development of the organ systems in the embryo.
- Ossification: Bone formation.
- Ovarian cycle: Regular production of hormones from the ovary in response
to hormonal messages from the brain. The ovarian cycle governs the
endometrial cycle.
- Ovulation: Cyclic production of an egg from the ovary.
- Oxytocin: Medication that causes uterine contractions.
P
- Pap smear: A Routine screening test that evaluates presence of premalignant
or cancerous conditions of the cervix.
- Paracenrical block: local anesthetic for cervical dilatation.
- Pelvimetry: Evaluation of the size of the birth canal or pelvis. Performed by
X-ray.
- Petit mal seizure: Attack of a brief nature with possible short impairment
of consciousness. Often associated with blinking or flickering of the eyelids
and a mild twitching of the mouth.
- Phosphatidyl glycerol: lipoprotein present when fetal lungs are mature.
- Phospholipids: Fat-containing phosphorous. The most important are lecithins
and sphingomyelin, which are important in the maturation of fetal lungs
before birth.
- Physiologic anemia of pregnancy: Anemia during pregnancy caused by an
increase in the amount of plasma (fluid) in the blood compared to the number
of cells in the blood.
- Placenta: Organ inside the uterus that is attached to the baby by the
umbilical cord. Essential during pregnancy for growth and development of
the embryo and fetus. Also called afterbirth.
- Placenta accreta: Placenta that attaches to muscle of uterus.
- Placenta increta: Placenta that grows into muscle of uterus.
- Placenta percreta: Placenta that penetrates muscle of uterus.
- Placenta previa: low attachment of the placenta, covering or very close to
the cervix.
- Placental abruption: Premature separation of the placenta from the uterus.
- Placentamegaly: Abnormally large growth of the placenta during pregnancy.
- Pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lungs.
- Premature baby: Baby born before 38 weeks.
- Postnatal blues: Mild depression after delivery. Postpartum
depression-Depression after delivery.
- Postpartum hemorrhage: Bleeding greater than 15 ounces (450ml) at time of
delivery. Pre-eclampsia-Combination of symptoms significant to pregnancy,
including high blood pressure, edema, swelling and changes in reflexes.
- Premature delivery: Delivery before 38 weeks gestation.
Presentation-Describes which part of the baby comes into the birth canal
first.
- Proteinuria: Protein in urine.
- Pruritis gravidarum: Itching during pregnancy.
- Pubic symphysis: Bony prominence in the pelvic bone found in the midline.
Landmark from which the doctor often measures during pregnancy to follow
growth of the uterus.
- Pulmonary embolism: Blood clot from another part of the body that travels
to the lungs. Can cause closed passages in the lungs and decrease oxygen
exchange.
- Pyelonephritis: Serious kidney infection.
Q
- Quickening: Feeling the baby move inside the uterus.
R
- Rh-negative: Absence of rhesus antibody in the blood.
- RhoGAm: Medication given during pregnancy and following delivery to pre-
vent isoimmunization. See Isoimmunization.
- Round-ligament pain: Pain caused by stretching ligament on the sides of the
uterus during pregnancy.
- Rupture of membranes: loss of fluid from the amniotic sac. Also called
breaking of waters.
S
- Seizure: Sudden onset of a convulsion.
- Sickle-cell anemia: Anemia caused by abnormal red blood cells shaped like a
sickle or a cylinder.
- Sickle crisis: Painful episode caused by sickle-cell disease.
- Sodium: Element found in many foods, particularly salt. Ingestion of too
much sodium may cause fluid retention.
- Spina bifida: Congenital abnormality characterized by a defect in the
vertebral column. Membranes of the spinal cord and the spinal cord
protrude outside the protective bony canal of the spine.
- Spinal anesthesia: Anesthesia given in the spinal canal.
- Spontaneous abortion: loss of pregnancy during the first 20 weeks of
gestation.
- Stasis: Decreased flow.
- Station: Estimation of the descent of the baby. Ranges from -4 to +4.
0 = directly at pelvis.
- Stigma: Area on the ovary where the egg has been released at the time
of ovulation.
- Stretch marks: Areas of the skin that are tom or stretched. Often
found on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and legs.
- Sulci: Groove or furrow on the surface of the brain.
- Surfactant: Phospholipid present in the lungs. Controls surface tension
of lungs. Premature babies often lack sufficient amounts of surfactant
to breathe without assistance.
- Syphilis: Sexually transmitted venereal infection caused by treponema
pallidum.
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Article written By Michlle Graham
http://www.brahoo.co.uk
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