Pregnancy Terms Glossary

You may encounter the following terms during pregnancy and delivery. For more information, please see also "Healthy Pregnancy" "Pregnancy and Nutrition" "Pregnancy Testing" and "Stages of Pregnancy"

Alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP) - This blood test measures the levels of a substance called alpha-fetoprotein in the mother's blood. Abnormal levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect, the presence of twins, a miscalculated due date, or an increased risk of Down syndrome. (Read about "Laboratory Testing" "Neural Tube Defects" "Multiple Birth Pregnancies" "Due Date" "Down Syndrome")

Amniocentesis - If necessary, this test is performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and can indicate chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, or genetic disorders such as Tay Sachs disease, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and others. It also can detect the baby's sex and risk of spina bifida. (Read about "Genetics" "Neural Tube Defects" "Pregnancy Testing") It can also be performed later in pregnancy to check for fetal lung maturity.

Amniotic fluid - A sterile solution that surrounds and protects the fetus throughout development. (Read about "Polyhydramnios / Hydramnios")

Birthing Center - A special place for women to give birth. They have all the required equipment for birthing, but are specially designed for a woman, her partner, and family. Birthing centers may be free standing (separate from a hospital) or located within a hospital. (Read about "Prenatal Care")

Certified nurse midwife (CNM) - A registered nurse who has undergone special education and training and has received certification. CNM's can perform many of the same tasks as physicians and have emergency physician backup when they deliver a baby. This is different from a lay midwife, who may not be certified and may not be a nurse. (Read about "Prenatal Care")

Cervix - The neck or opening of the uterus, which dilates or opens up during the first stage of labor to let the baby through. (Read about "Cervical Insufficiency / Incompetent Cervix")

Cesarean section (c-section) - When a woman cannot deliver a baby vaginally, or if a baby is in distress during labor, a cesarean section is performed. An incision is made in a woman's abdomen and her uterus to deliver the baby. (Read about "Childbirth")

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) - If necessary this test is performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy and can indicate the same chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders as amniocentesis can. (Read about "Genetics" "Pregnancy Testing")

Epidural - During labor a woman may be offered an epidural, where a needle is inserted into the epidural space, which is outside the spinal cord at the end of the spine, to numb the lower body and reduce pain. This allows a woman to have more energy and strength for the end stage of labor, when it is time to push the baby out of the birth canal. (Read about "Anesthesia")

Episiotomy - This is a procedure where an incision is made in the perineum (area between the vagina and the anus) to make the vaginal opening larger in order to prevent the area from tearing during delivery.

Intravenous analgesic - An analgesic is a drug that relieves pain. During labor, a woman can be given pain-relieving drugs intravenously (through a tube inserted into her vein).

Lamaze - There are different techniques for preparing for childbirth and Lamaze is one of them. It was developed by Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze and is based on the idea that being relaxed and knowing what is going to happen are the best ways to control pain during labor and delivery. Lamaze teaches women different breathing techniques to use during different stages of labor to stay relaxed and focused.

Local analgesic - An analgesic is a drug that relieves pain. Pain-relieving drugs can be given to a woman during labor and delivery locally through a needle inserted into a muscle (intra-muscular) or under the skin (subcutaneous).

Ovulation method - This is a natural planning method women can use to become pregnant. With this method, a woman has sexual intercourse just before or after ovulation (when eggs are released from the ovary) in order to become pregnant. Ovulation is determined by examining how much mucus is being produced by the cervix (or opening of the uterus) and how it feels. A woman looks at her cervical mucus (at the opening of her vagina) on a regular basis and learns to identify the changes in her mucus at the time around ovulation.

Placenta - Tissue that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to transfer nourishment and oxygen to the baby from the mother, and to take away the baby's waste matter. (Read about "Placental Complications")

Preeclampsia - A condition that can develop during pregnancy in which there is high blood pressure, fluid retention and abnormal kidney function. (Read about "Preeclampsia")

Preterm labor - Labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy. Preterm delivery affects one in ten births in America and can lead to serious complications. (Read about "Preterm Labor")

Pudendal block - This procedure anesthetizes, or numbs, the area around the vulva to reduce pain during labor and delivery.

Symptothermal method - This method combines two methods of natural family planning, the basal body temperature method and the ovulation method (see ovulation method defined above). With the basal body temperature method, a woman takes her temperature every morning before getting out of bed and records it on a chart. She plots her temperature over time, noting any rises in temperature. A rise in body temperature means that ovulation has occurred and she can have sexual intercourse to become pregnant. With the symptothermal method, both changes in cervical mucus and body temperature are monitored, along with looking for other signs of ovulation such as breast tenderness, vaginal spotting, and abdominal cramps.

Trimester - A typical pregnancy is 9 months long. Pregnancy is divided into three time periods, or trimesters, that are each about three months in duration - the first, second, and third trimesters. (Read about "Stages of Pregnancy")

Ultrasound - This screening is done with equipment that uses high-frequency sound waves to form pictures of the fetus on a computer screen. The test can verify due date; determine causes of bleeding; check the overall health, development, sex, and position of the baby; measure the amniotic fluid; and check the condition of the placenta. (Read about "Pregnancy Testing" "Ultrasound Imaging" "Polyhydramnios / Hydramnios" "Placental Complications")

Umbilical cord - A thick cord of blood vessels that goes from the placenta to the baby, bringing oxygen and nourishment to the baby.

Uterine contractions - During the birthing process, a woman's uterus tightens, or contracts. Contractions can be strong and regular (meaning that they can happen every 5 minutes, every 3 minutes, and so on) during labor until the baby is delivered. Women can have contractions before labor starts; these are not regular and do not progress, or increase in intensity or duration.

Vulva - This term refers to the external genital organs on a woman.

This glossary is adapted from the National Women's Health Information Center, a service of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.