| Pregnancy Glossary of Terms |
| | | The placenta and fetal membranes that are released from the uterus after birth. | |
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| | Amniotic fluid definition | |
| | | The fluid bathing the fetus and serving as a shock absorber - "before a woman gives birth her waters break" | |
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| | | A generally temporary and tearful sadness that a new mother may feel soon after her baby is born | |
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| | Blood pressure definition | |
| | | The elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension". | |
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| | Braxton-Hicks Contractions - definition | |
| | | Also known as false labor. Short, painful, infrequent contractions that sometimes occur from 28 weeks onwards, and may strike several times a day. | |
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| | | The baby is bottom down or feet first rather than head down in the uterus | |
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| | | Short for Caesarean section in which a baby is surgically removed from the uterus. | |
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| | Dilating pregnancy definition | |
| | | The widening and opening of the cervix caused by contractions. | |
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| | Pregnancy Due date definition | |
| | | The estimated calendar date when a baby will be born, the date the baby is due to be born. It is also called the estimated date of confinement (EDC). | |
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| | | Up until the 8th week of pregnancy, the developing baby is called an embryo. | |
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| | | A pair of tubes attached on each side of the uterus where sperm and egg meet in normal conception | |
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| | | The name given to the baby in the womb from eight weeks into pregnancy until birth | |
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| | | Assisted childbirth by means of an instrument designed to grasp the baby's head. | |
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| | | The procedure of starting labor off, usually by inserting prostaglandin into your vagina or by breaking your waters | |
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| | | The process of delivery of the baby through the cervix dilating (opening up) and contractions of the uterus | |
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| | Morning sickness definition | |
| | | Early morning nausea and vomiting - a common symptom experienced during pregnancy | |
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| | | Swelling of classically the fingers, legs, toes and face | |
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| | | A temporary organ joining the mother and fetus during pregnancy. The placenta transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus, and permits the release of carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus. | |
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| | Premature birth definition | |
| | | A birth that takes place before 37 weeks of gestation have passed. | |
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| | Prolonged labor definition | |
| | | A drawn out labor lasting more than eighteen to twenty-four hours. | |
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| | | Signs of life and movement felt by the mother as a result of movements by the baby, usually appearing 16–20 weeks of pregnancy | |
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| | | A condition in the last third trimester of a pregnancy, also known as pre-eclampsia characterized by a sharp rise in blood pressure), albuminuria (leakage of large amounts of the protein albumin into the urine) and oedema (swelling) of the hands, feet, and face. | |
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| | | Each pregnancy term of a pregnant woman is divided into three time periods, or trimesters, that are each about three months in duration - the first, second, and third trimesters | |
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| | | High-frequency sound waves often used to examine a fetus during pregnancy | |
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| | | After a female egg is fertilized, the bundle of fertilized cells that make up the embryo before it attaches to the wall of the womb is known as a zygote | |
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| Pregnancy Glossary of Terms |
