Glossary of Pregnancy-Related Terms
A - D E
- H I - O P
- R S - Z
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| sleep apnea | Often a complication
of prematurity, sleep apnea refers to periods in which a baby stops
breathing. Some full-term infants may also have periods of apnea,
a factor that has been associated with SIDS (adults can also have
sleep apnea). |
| stepping reflex | Also called
the walking reflex, this is one of the reflexes present at birth.
When held over a flat surface, a newborn will move her legs as if
she's taking steps. |
| stillbirth | The death of
a baby after 20 weeks' gestation but before birth. Stillbirths are
mainly caused by genetic or congenital defects, problems with the
umbilical cord or placenta, or a medical condition in the mother. |
| stretch marks | About half
of pregnant women will develop these pink or reddish streaks on their
breasts, hips, or abdomen sometime during pregnancy as elastic fibers
stretch and rupture in their skin. While stretch marks can't be prevented,
they will fade slowly after delivery. |
| sudden infant death syndrome |
(also SIDS) The death, with no clear cause, of an infant between
1 and 12 months old. Putting an infant to sleep on her back has been
shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. |
| toxoplasmosis | A parasitic
infection carried by cats' feces and uncooked meat. May cause stillbirth
or miscarriage in pregnant women so they should avoid touching a cat's
litter box and wash hands thoroughly when handling meat. |
| trimester | A period of 3
months. Pregnancy consists of 3 trimesters. |
| tubal ligation | A permanent
sterilization procedure whereby a surgeon ties off a woman's Fallopian
tubes to prevent conception. |
| ultrasound | A procedure that
uses sound waves to create a moving image of internal organs, used
to diagnosis infertility as well as other problems. During pregnancy,
ultrasound is routinely used to monitor the health and development
of the fetus. |
| umbilical cord | A cord of
tissue connecting the fetus to the placenta that carries oxygen and
nutrients to the fetus and transports waste products away. At birth,
an umbilical cord, which contains two arteries and one large vein,
can be as long as 4 feet. |
| uterus | The hollow, pear-shaped
organ in which a baby grows. During pregnancy, the fist-sized uterus
goes from weighing about 2 ounces to weighing about 2.5 pounds and
holding a baby. |
| vacuum extraction | Used instead
of forceps to help deliver a baby, vacuum extraction involves attaching
a suction cup to the baby's head and then gently pulling to help ease
the baby down the birth canal. |
| vaginal birth | The birth
of a baby through the vaginal canal, as opposed to cesarean birth
through a surgical incision in the abdomen. |
| vernix caseosa | This cheesy
or waxy substance that coats the fetus in the uterus is believed to
protect the skin from exposure to amniotic fluid. Premature babies
will be covered with a lot of vernix caseosa, while post-term babies
will have almost none. |
| viable | Capable of living
outside the womb. |
| zygote | The result of a union
between an egg and a sperm cell: a single, fertilized egg before it
begins to divide and grow. |
