Pregnancy Dictionary

placenta: The tissue that connects a mother to her unborn child. The placenta transports nourishment to the fetus and removes waste.

polyhydramnios: An excess of amniotic fluid.

postpartum: The time period after birth.

prenatal: Before birth. Also, the providing of medical care during pregnancy.

procreation: The act of reproduction.

progesterone: A female sex hormone that prepares the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) for implantation of a fertilized egg. Required to prevent rejection of the embryo.

prolactin: A protein required to initiate and maintain milk production.

Rh: The Rh factor is an inherited blood group on red blood cells. Rh disease occurs when the fetus is Rh positive and the mother is Rh negative. The mother's body may perceive the fetus' red blood cells as invaders and produce antibodies to kill them.