Pregnancy Terms

Alphafetoprotein (AFP) Testing

AFP is the major serum protein of the embryo and early fetus. Detection of AFP in maternal serum forms the basis of maternal serum AFP screening for both neural-tube defects (elevated levels) and Down syndrome (low levels).

Amniocentesis

Withdrawal of amniotic fluid, usually performed by inserting through the abdominal wall a needle used to determine foetus maturity, chromosome aberration, genetic abnormalities or the sex of the foetus. Amniocentesis is commonly performed after the 15th week.

Amniotic Fluid

The normally clear fluid surrounding the developing foetus, liquid that increases in quantity as pregnancy advances until near terms.

Anencephaly

The most common cranial defect, where the brain is replace by amorphous neural tissue and the skull does not form. Best detected in the second trimester of pregnancy, anencephaly is diagnosed with virtually 100 percent accuracy.

Anesthesia

Total or partial loss of sensation, with or without loss of consciousness, induced by the administration of a drug to manage the labor, delivery and the phenomena following childbirth to complete involution of the uterus.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Uterine contractions described as irregular and non-rhythmical, occurring during pregnancy.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (known as CVS)

A high-tech approach to prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, CVS is a technique in which a few placental cells are extracted via a fine hollow needle inserted into the womb. DNA extracted from these cells is subsequently examined for genetic defects. Because CVS can be performed as early as the eight week of pregnancy, it allows women more time to consider the option of terminating the pregnancy than does amniocentesis, which is commonly performed after the 15th week.

Cleft lips / palate

An cleft lip may be an upper split, fissured or breached lip, whereas a cleft palate may be perforated. A cleft lip can either be isolated or associated with a cleft palate. Cleft lips and cleft palates are among the most frequent congenital deformities.

Congenital cardiac abnormalities

Heart disease present at birth; the heart can be departing from the usual position, structure or condition.

Cord Prolapse

Same definition as Prolapsed Cord

Down's syndrome

Down's individuals have a third extra non-sex, or autosomal, number 21 chromosomes, whereas normal human chromosomes come in homologous pairs. As a result, Down's individuals are marked by various degree of mental retardation and have a short flattened skull, slanting eyes, unusual external ears, slow bone growth and other anomalies. Males with Down's syndrome are not fertile. Also called Mongolism; Trisomy 21.

Eclampsia (see also Hypertension, proteinuria, Preeclampsia)

Hypertension accompanied by generalized pitting edema or proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation.

Ectopic Pregnancy (+ see Tubal Pregnancy)

Pregnancy resulting from the implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the normal one in the uterine cavity. More than 95% of ectopic pregnancies involve the oviduct (fallopian tube), but tubal pregnancy is not synonymous with ectopic gestation.

Edema (also Oedema)

Swelling of any part of the body due to collection of fluid in the intercellular spaces of tissues. The accumulation of fluid may amount to a liter or so and is caused by an increase in venous pressure below the level of the extended uterus, resulting in partial occlusion of blood pressure. Clearly demonstrable pitting edema of the ankles and legs is seen in a substantial proportion of pregnant women, especially swollen at the end of the day. (See also pitting edema, preeclampsia and varicose veins.)

Edema of preeclampsia is pathological and not just dependent; it usually involves the face and hands and persists even after arising. A useful indicator of nondependent edema is a woman's complaint that her rings have become too tight.

Epidural

The epidural is situated upon or over the dura matter. Dura: A tough, fibrous, whitish membrane; the outermost of the 3 membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Extradural: located outside of the dura matter.

Epidural Anestesia

Anesthesia produced by the injection of an anesthetic agent into the extradural space.

Exomphalos

Congenital hernia at the umbilicus, either into the umbilical cord, or through a defect of the abdominal wall (omphalocele proper). Also called umbilical eventration; amniotic hernia).

Fetal Echocardiography

The use of an ultrasonic apparatus that sends sound impulses toward the walls of the heart, which in turn bounce or echo the sounds back; the patterns produced are graphically displayed for interpretation; used for determining the movement patterns of the heart and its valves, chamber size, wall thickness, and the presence of pericardial fluid of the foetus.

Folic Acid

Folic Acid is a B Vitamin which has been found to be very important in preventing neural tube defect like Spina Bifida. The Spina Bifida Association of Canada recommends that all women of childbearing age take a supplement of 0,4 mg at least one month prior to conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy-induced glucose intolerence limited to the pregnant condition.

Glucose Tolerance Test

Test for diabetes based on the response to a glucose load.

Group A and Group B Strep (See Streptococci)

• Hepatic pregnancy / Hepatitis A (HAV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) Hepatitis is the most common serious liver disease encountered in pregnant women. 5 distinct types exist; symptoms may precede jaundice by 1 to 2 weeks. These include nausea and vomiting, headache and malaise. Hepatitis E has a high mortality rate in pregnant women.
• HAV: Low-grade fever is more common with hepatitis A, which is transmitted by intestinal and oral routes; may occur sporadically or in epidemics. Also called infectious hepatitis. 
• HBV: spread by transfusion of infected blood, use of contaminated needles, the sexual route, or during childbirth. Also called serum hepatitis.

Herpes Gestationis

A rare skin disease of pregnancy. Despite its name, this disease has no relationship to the herpes virus infection, but rather was named based on the clinical feature of herpetiform blisters.

Herpes simplex

An acute localized eruption of painful blisters, caused by herpes-virus 1 and 2; once established, the infection remains in the body and recurs at intervals with complete healing of the eruption between episodes; reappearance may be precipitated by emotional stress, febrile disease, local truma or menstruation.

High Risk Pregnancy

In a risk-scoring system, scores of 1 to 10 are given to a variety of pregnancy factors, including preexisting medical illness, previous poor pregnancy performance, evidence of maternal undernutrition, socioeconomic status, reproductive history, daily habits, and current pregnancy complications. Women with scores of 10 or more are considered at high risk for preterm delivery.

Hydatidiform mole (or Molar Pregnancy)

Characterized by abnormalities of the chorionic villi, consisting of varying degrees of trophoblastic proliferation and edema of villous stroma. Moles usually occupy the uterine cavity; however, they rarely may be located in the oviduct and even the ovary. The presence or absence of a fetus or embryo has been used to classify them into complete and partial moles. The foetus of a partial mole will typically have multiple congenital malformations and growth retardation, and it is nonviable.

Hydrocephalus

Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain (internal h.) or in the subarachnoid spaces (external h.), causing enlargement of the head and compression of the brain.

Hypertension in Pregnancy

(see also Eclampsia, Preeclampsia, and proteinuria)
High blood pressure during gestation.

Intrauterine growth retardation

(Ref.: Severe intrauterine growth retardation)
Categorize an infant whose birthweight is clearly below average and usually below the 10th percentile for its gestational age. Also referred to as «fetal growth retardation».

Leukorrhea

An abnormal, white or yellowish discharge from the vagina, containig mucus and pus cells.

Lochia

The bloody discharge from the uterus following childbirth.

Molar Pregnancy (see Hydatidiform mole)

 

MSAFP/AFP Test (see Alphafetoprotein)

 

Multiple Gestation or Multiple Pregnancy

The simultaneous presence of two or more developing fetuses.

Neural-tube Defects

Neural-tube defects result from failure of tubal closure by day 26 to 28 of embryonic life. This produces a spectrum of cranial and spinal canal defects that range from anencephaly to very slight vertebral defects. Also see Folic Acid.

Obstetrical Anesthesia (see Anesthesia, Epidural and Epidural anesthesia)

 

Oedema (see Edema)

 

Perineum

The area bounded by the pubis, the coccyx, and the thighs.

Pitting edema (see Edema)

Condition in which pressure causes indentations in the skin; those remain for a time after pressure is released.

Placenta

The organ within the pregnant uterus through which the fetus derives its nourishment; at term it averages 1/6 the weight of the foetus; it is disk-shaped, about 2.5 cm thick, and 17.5 cm in diameter.

Placenta Previa

Condition in which the placenta is implanted in the lower segment of the uterus and covers the cervical opening, partly or completely.

Post-Term Pregnancy

Pregnancy usually last 280 days or 9 calendar months. When gestation is prolonged beyond term, some fetuses, perhaps the majority, continue to grow and some may achieve a remarkably large size. Those infants who do so have been referred to by some as «postmature» as well as «postterm».

Preeclampsia/Toxemia

Preeclampsia is diagnosed by development of hypertension plus proteinuria, or edema that is generalized and overt, or both. Only rarely are does preeclampsia develop earlier than 20 weeks' gestation, and then usually in cases of hydatidiform mole or appreciable molar degenaration.

Although it more commonly affects teenagers or those older than 35, preeclampsia in the older woman is more likely pregnancy aggravated hypertension.

Preterm Birth

When the act of being born occurs before the 38th week of pregnancy.

Preterm Labor

Labor (parturition) occurring before the 38th week of pregnancy.

Prolapsed Cord

Describes the slipping down of the umbilical cord from its normal position.

Prolapsed Uterus

Falling of the uterus into the vagina due to stretching and laxity of its supporting structures.

Proteinuria

Excretion of protein in the urine in excess of the normal daily amount; an average-size healthy individual normally excretes up to 100 mg of protein per day.

Proteinuria is an important sign of preeclampsia, to the point that the diagnosis is questionable in its absence. Proteinuria is defined as 300 mg or more of urinary protein per 24 hours or more in at least two random urine specimens collected 6 or more hours apart. (See also preeclampsia)

Puerperal

Relating to the first few weeks following childbirth.

RH isoimmunization

The development of a significant concentration of specific antibody stimulated by the presence of antigens from another individual of the same species, as when fetal cells or other proteins gain access to the maternal circulation, with resulting maternal immunization to the paternal antigens present in the fetal material.

Sciatic

Relating to the hip or ischium, or to any structure in its vicinity (like the sciatic nerve).

Sciatica

Any condition characterized by pain along the course of the sciatic nerve; usually a neuritis and generally caused by mechanical compression or irritation of the 5th lumbar spinal root.

Severe intrauterine growth retardation

Severe case of intrauterine growth retardation (see this definition).

Spina bifida

Congenital defect in which part of the vertebral column is absent; it allows the spinal membranes and sometimes the spinal cord to protrude. (See also Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defect)

Streptococci - Group A and Group B (referred to as Strep)

Rarely encountered today, the infections caused by «Streptococcus pyogenes» are particularly virulent. A streptococci is a common and ubiquitous group of bacteria, are among the many microbes that normally inhabit the human body; they are also capable of causing serious, even life-threatening infections.

• In Group A: the organism produces a toxic shock-like syndrome in expectant mothers that is highly fatal; prompt penicillin treatment may be lifesaving.
• In Group B: asymptomatic carriage is common in women, especially in the vagina and rectum. The organism has been implicated in several adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm labor, prematurely ruptured membranes, fetal and noenatal infections.

 

Toxoplasmosis

Disease caused by infection with toxoplasma gondii; it may resemble a mild cold or infectious mononucleosis in adults; a disseminated form may lead to hepatitis, pneumonitis (...); an infected pregnant women can spread the disease to her unborn child, causing eye or brain damage or even death. Eating raw meat from infected animals is the most common way in which the disease is acquired.

Tubal Pregnancy (Ref.: Ectopic Pregnancy)

Implantation and development of the fertilized ovum in a uterine (fallopian) tube.

Ultrasound (also known as Echography, Sonographic technique, Ultrasonography)

Biophysical technique measuring the intermittent high-frequency sound waves not perceptible to the human ear. They can supply, by measuring the reflection of ultrasonic waves directed into the tissue, vital information about the status of the fetus, with no known risks from ultrasound.

Umbilical Cord

The structure connecting the placenta with the umbilicus (navel) of the foetus; it contains two arteries and one vein coiled around each other; in the newborn, it measures about 61.4 cm in length and 12.7 mm in diameter.

Umbilical cord abnormalities

Marginal insertion of the cord and especially velamentous insertions are susceptible to be accompanied by a growth-retarded fetus.

Uterus

The hollow, muscular organ of the female mammal situated in the pelvis between the bladder and the rectum; its function is the nourishment of the developing foetus prior to birth. Syn.: womb.

Varicose veins

The posture of the pregnant woman affects arterial blood pressure. From a clinical viewpoint, the retarded blood flow and increased lower extremity venous pressure are of great importance. These alterations contribute to the dependent edema frequently experienced by women as they approach term, and to the development of varicose veins in the legs and vulva, as well as hemorrhoids.

Vernix caseosa

A fatty or cheesy substance on the skin of a newborn.

Villus, villi

Microscopic hairs found on some mucous inside the uterine wall.

Vitamins

• Vitamine A (Retinol) ~ A fat-soluble vitamin, participating in a variety of biologic functions, including vision, reproduction, immune function and cellular growth.
• Vitamine B12 (Cobalamin) ~ Vitamin B12 is supplied by animal protein food, including meat, fish, eggs and milk.
• Vitamine B6 (pyridoxine) ~ Vitamin B6 is required for protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as well as for erythrocyte, immune and hormonal functions. 
• Vitamine C (Ascorbic Acid) ~ The transport of vitamin C across the placenta from mother to fetus is accomplished by an energy-dependent carrier-mediated process.
• Vitamine D (Chlolecalciferol) ~ The levels of the principal vitamin D metabolites are greater in maternal plasma than are those in fetal plasma. Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin or ingested and is converted by the liver, kidneys and placenta; one of its active compound stimulates resorption of calcium from bone and absorption in the intestines. 
• Note about vitamins: Nutrients that can potentially exert toxic effects include iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, B6, C and D. (for more details consult your physician)