Glossary of Pregnancy-Related Terms
A - D E - H I
- O P - R S
- Z |
In an exception to this site's policy of listing
only medical terms used in The X-Files television episodes, this page
lists pregnancy-related terms in a nod to Scully's end-of-Season-7
condition. Terms are listed alphabetically.
|
| apgar score | The first test
most babies are given (at one and five minutes after birth). Assesses
five basic indicators of health: respiration, pulse, activity level,
response to stimulation, and appearance. |
| afterbirth | A common term
for the placenta after it has been delivered. |
| alpha-fetoprotein | (AFP)
Protein produced by the fetus's liver that can be detected in the
mother's blood most accurately between the 16th and 18th weeks of
pregnancy. High levels may be associated with a neural tube birth
defect called spina bifida; low levels may be associated with Down
syndrome. |
| amniocentesis | A test to
determine possible obstetric complications or genetic defects usually
performed between the 15th and 18th weeks of pregnancy. Amniotic fluid
is drawn from a pregnant woman's uterus by inserting a hollow needle
through her abdominal wall. |
| anterior position | When the
baby faces the back of the mother's pelvis in utero and/or during
labor. |
| artificial insemination |
More recently known as intrauterine insemination, or IUI. Using a
catheter, doctors put sperm directly into a woman's uterus near a
Fallopian tube (also intrauterine insemination, or IUI) |
| assisted reproductive technology
| Any invasive procedure to help a woman become pregnant. Refers
not only to in vitro fertilization but also to several variations
tailored to individual patients' unique conditions. |
| Braxton Hicks Contractions |
Irregular or "practice" contractions starting around the eighth month
that prepare the uterus for labor. May be painless and intense. |
| baby blues | Mild depression
that may last a couple of weeks following childbirth, usually the
result of dramatic hormonal swings and the letdown after the excitement
of labor and birth. See postpartum depression. |
| bag of waters | (also membranes,
amniotic sac) Sac filled with amniotic fluid in which the fetus
grows, which may rupture naturally as labor begins or be punctured
to speed up labor. |
| bilirubin | a byproduct of
the normal breakdown of old red blood cells. It causes a harmless
type of jaundice in about 50 percent of newborns because their young
livers can't metabolize it quickly enough. |
| birth canal | The passageway
-- made up of the cervix, vagina, and vulva -- the baby travels through
during birth. |
| blastocyst | The rapidly dividing
fertilized egg when it enters the uterus. |
| bloody show | The discharge
-- often mucus tinged with blood -- that appears as labor approaches.
Sometimes refers to light bleeding, other times is used to mean the
mucus plug that dislodges when the cervix begins to efface and/or
dilate. |
| breech position | When the
baby's bottom or feet -- rather than the head -- face the mother's
cervix as labor nears. Three to four percent of full-term babies are
positioned this way ( also breech presentation) |
| cephalopelvic disproportion |
When a baby's head is too large to pass through the mother's pelvis.
This condition accounts for about 5 percent of cesarean deliveries. |
| cerclage | Stitching closed
a weak cervix (called an incompetent cervix) to support a pregnancy
to term. Most successful in preventing miscarriage andpreterm labor
when performed early in pregnancy -- at about 18 to 20 weeks. |
| cervical incompetence | A
condition in which the cervix, under pressure from the growing uterus,
opens before a pregnancy has reached term. Can cause miscarriage in
the second trimester or preterm labor in the third, but can be treated
by surgical reinforcement of the cervical muscle (called cerclage). |
| cesarean section | A surgical
procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision in the
abdomen and uterus. Used when a woman can't give birth vaginally or
if the baby is in distress (also c-section) |
| colostrum | A precursor to
breast milk that's rich in fats, protein, and antibodies,colostrum
is sometimes called "early milk." Most women produce it a fewdays
before and after childbirth; some women produce small amounts ofit
from the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. |
| conception | When a sperm
and egg join to form a single cell, usually in the Fallopiantubes.
After joining, the fertilized egg travels into the uterus, where itimplants
in the lining on its way to growing into an embryo and then a fetus. |
| congenital | Existing at or
from birth, or acquired during development in the uterus and not through
heredity. |
| contraction | During labor,
the strong, rhythmic tightening of the uterus. Pre-laborcontractions
are usually irregular and don't increase in intensity orduration. |
| crowning | The appearance
of a baby's head at the vaginal opening during labor. |
| doppler ultrasound | Doppler
ultrasound is used early in high-risk pregnancies to evaluate blood
flow through the fetus's umbilical artery. Its ultrasonic waves shift
in frequency, allowing it to measure velocity. |
| dilation | The opening of
the cervix during labor. |
| due date | The date, set by
a doctor or midwife and based on the first day of a woman's last menstruation,
when a baby's birth is expected. Because the date-setting is not an
exact science, the medical term for due date is EDD, or Expected Due
Date. |
| dystocia | When labor does
not progress. Uterine dystocia is when contractions donot intensify;
shoulder dystocia is when a baby's shoulders get stuck after the head
has already been delivered. |
