Pregnancy Dictionary

amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation.

amino acid: An organic compound that is a basic structural unit of peptides and proteins.

amniotic fluid: The thin liquid that surrounds the fetus in the womb.

anemia: A condition characterized by too few red blood cells.

antibodies: Proteins produced by the immune system to destroy disease or invasive substances.

anticardiolipin: An antibody that targets phospholipids.

antiphospholipid syndrome: An immune disorder that can cause blood clots. Pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome may have miscarriages or stillbirths.

Braxton Hicks contraction: Early contractions that occur throughout pregnancy, increasing in the period just before labor. Braxton Hicks contractions do not dilate the uterus.

breast pump: A device that expresses mothers' milk for bottle feeding. Also used to relieve the discomfort of overly full breasts.

breech birth: A birth in which the baby is born feet or buttocks first. Breech births account for five percent of all births.

cervix: The opening to the uterus through which the baby passes during labor.

Cesarean section: The surgical delivery of a baby through an abdominal incision.

colostrum: A thin white liquid expressed from the breasts before milk production starts. Colostrum production usually begins toward the end of a pregnancy. Rich in antibodies, colostrum is a baby's food until the breasts produce milk.

conception: The moment when a sperm and egg fuse.

contraception: Any method that prevents conception, including birth control pills and condoms.

contraction: During labor, a contraction of the uterus. Contractions dilate the cervix and move the baby through the birth canal.

craving: A compulsion to eat certain foods during pregnancy. Cravings may be for unusual foods or unusual food combinations.

C-Section: A popular term for a cesarean delivery.

cytomegalovirus: A member of the herpes viral family and a common congenital disease. Capable of causing health problems in babies.

dehydration: The depletion of bodily fluids.

dilation: The measurement of how open the cervix is during labor.

dystocia: A slow, difficult labor.

ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes or in the abdominal cavity. Ectopic pregnancies cannot be carried to term and endanger the mother's health.

effacement: Refers to the thinning of the cervix leading up to birth.

embolism: The obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot. A lung embolism can be life-threatening.

embryo: Describes an unborn child between conception and the eighth week of pregnancy.

emissary veins: Veins in the scalp that drain blood to veins outside of the skull.

epidural: A narrow catheter that delivers anesthesia during pregnancy. Administered through a needle inserted close to the spinal cord.

episiotomy: A surgical incision to the perineum, the muscle between the rectum and the vagina. An episiotomy widens the vaginal opening.