| Afterbirth | Placenta |
| Amniotic fluid | The “waters” around the baby in the womb (uterus) |
| Anterior | A position of the foetus where the baby’s back is towards the mothers front |
| Apgar score | A score out of 10 which babies are given at 1 minute and 5 minutes of age. It reflects their breathing effort, their colour, their tone, their reflex irritability and their heart rate |
| APH (Antepartum haemorrhage) | Bleeding from the vagina during pregnancy |
| Areolar | The darker skin around the nipple |
| ARM (artificial rupture of membranes) | Where the membranes around the baby are purposefully pierced during a vaginal examination by the midwife or doctor in order to release the amniotic fluid |
| Augmentation | Augmentation of labour involves the speeding up of the process by artificial means |
| Bilirubin | A by-product of red-blood cell breakdown. A pigment which causes jaundice when it reaches high levels in the blood |
| BP (blood pressure) | Pressure exerted on blood vessels during heart contraction and relaxation |
| Braxton Hicks | Practice contractions, felt pre-labour and usually painless |
| Breech | Where the unborn baby is bottom, knee, or feet down |
| Caesarean section | A procedure by which the baby is surgically delivered via a incision in the mother’s abdomen |
| Cephalic | Where the unborn baby is head down |
| Cervix | The “neck” of the uterus (womb), through which the baby must pass to be born |
| Circumcision | Surgical removal of the outer skin covering of the penis |
| Colostrum | The milk produced in the mother’s breasts during pregnancy, first fed to the baby after birth and for about three days |
| Contractions | The rhythmic contraction of the uterine muscle |
| Crowning | During birth, where the baby’s head “sits” at the vaginal outlet |
| CTG | Cardiotocograph, where uterine muscle tension and the unborn baby’s heart are measured and a graph of both is printed |
| Descent | How far the baby’s head has descended into the pelvis |
| Dilation/Dilatation | The opening of the cervix during labour |
| Doppler | A handheld ultrasound device for listening to the baby’s heartbeat |
| Effacement | The thinning of the cervix prior to and during labour |
| Engagement | When the baby’s head has descended into the pelvis |
| Engorged | Over-full, swollen |
| Epidural | Anaesthesia applied to the epidural space around the spine |
| Episiotomy | A cut made in the perineum, between the vagina and anus |
| First stage of labour | From 4cm dilated to 10cm dilated |
| Foetus | The baby before birth |
| Fontanelle | Soft patches in the baby’s head where the skull bones meet |
| Forceps | Metal instruments which can be applied to the baby’s head to speed birth once the mother is fully dilated |
| Fundus | The top portion of the uterus |
| GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus) | Diabetes which begins in pregnancy |
| Gestation | Number of weeks of pregnancy (a total of 40 on average) |
| Haemorrhoids | Varicose veins which form around the anus |
| Induction of labour | Where labour is artificially started (by medical or surgical means) |
| Jaundice | The yellow discolouration of the skin, caused by increased bilirubin levels in the blood |
| Lanugo | The soft downy hair which covers baby’s bodies while they are in the uterus |
| Let-down | The reflex in which milk is released from the milk-ducts |
| Lithotomy | “Stirrups”, where a woman’s legs are placed on poles whilst she is lying flat on a delivery bed, to keep them raised and apart, to facilitate birth of the baby or suturing of any tears following birth |
| LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) | The person nominated by a woman to co-ordinate her care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period |
| LSCS (Lower segment caesarean section) | See caesarean |
| Meconium | The first bowel motion passed by babies after (hopefully) birth |
| Membranes | The bag which contains the fluid (“waters”) around the baby |
| Moulding | The movement of the baby’s skull bones to allow passage through the birth canal |
| NAD (no abnormality detected) | Nothing unusual or abnormal noted in a physical examination |
| Neonatal | Relating to the newborn |
| Oedema | Swelling |
| Overdue | See postmature |
| Oxytocin | A hormone which plays a vital role in the initiation and continuation of labour, amongst other important functions (including breastfeeding) |
| Palpation | To feel in order assess by touch |
| Pelvic Floor | A hammock of muscles forming the bottom of the pelvic outlet |
| Perinatal | The period of time around the time of birth |
| Perineum | The area of skin and muscle between the vagina and the anus |
| Pethidine | A morphine-like opiate sometimes used as pain relief in labour |
| Placenta praevia | Where the placenta is close to, or covering the cervix and the baby cannot safely pass through without the mother haemorrhaging |
| Posterior | A position in which the baby sits with his or her back towards the mothers spine |
| Postmature | Overdue, past 40 weeks gestation |
| Postpartum | The period following birth for 6 weeks |
| PPH (Postpartum haemorrhage) | The loss of more than 500mls of blood following the birth of a baby |
| Pre-eclampsia | A disease of pregnancy in which the mother’s blood pressure becomes elevated in combination with other symptoms |
| Premature | Born prior to 37 weeks gestation |
| Presentation | The part of the baby that is closest to the cervix |
| Preterm | See premature |
| Prostaglandin | A chemical mediator which acts on the cervix to soften and “ripen” it |
| Reflexes | Automatic physical reactions to certain stimuli |
| Second stage of labour | From 10cm dilated until the birth of the baby |
| Show | The mucous plug from the cervix, once it has been released. Often slightly bloodstained |
| SRM (spontaneous rupture of membranes) | Where the “waters” break by themselves |
| Sutures | Stitches |
| Syntocinon | Artificial oxytocin, used during labour to augment progress or following labour to facilitate the birth of the placenta and control bleeding |
| TENS | Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation |
| Term | 37 to 42 weeks gestation, the baby is fully grown and due to be born |
| Third stage of labour | The period of time from the birth of the baby to birth of the placenta |
| Toxaemia | See pre-eclampsia |
| Transition | Part of the first stage of labour, from 7-8cm to 10cm |
| Umbilical Cord | The cord which extends from the baby’s umbilicus to the smooth surface of the placenta. Provides passage for nutrients and waste products to and from the baby’s body |
| Umbilicus | Tummy button |
| Uterus | Womb |
| VBAC | Vaginal birth after caesarean section |
| VE | Internal examination which assesses the dilation of the cervix and position of the baby’s head |
| Ventouse | Vacuum-extractor used to pull the baby from the birth canal |
| Vernix | The cream cheese-like substance which coats the baby’s skin in the uterus, as a protectant |