Afterbirth The placenta and other fetal membranes that come out after the baby is born. Albuminuria A condition where the presence of easily detectable amounts of serum protein, serum globulin and others. It can be one of the symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Its presence is not always a sign of a problem since it can be found in normal people after vigorous exercise. Amnion Amniotic sac. Bag of waters. The inner membrane of the uterus that holds the baby suspended in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid The fluid inside the amnion (amniotic sac) which surrounds the baby. It helps to protect the baby from injury, maintains an even temperature, and keeps the amniotic sac from sticking to the baby. About one third of the fluid is replaced each hour which is why it is important for the mother to drink enough water and eat enough salt. Amniotic sac see Amnion Amniotomy The act of breaking the amniotic sac artificially to help induce labor. This is often an unnecessary obstetrical intervention. Analgesia Absence of normal sense of pain. Analgesic A drug that relieves pain. Anemia A condition where the number of red blood cells in the blood fluid is less than it should be. It exists when the red blood cell content is not high enough to provide the body with enough oxygen. Anesthesia Partial or complete loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness as a result of disease, injury, or administration of an anesthetic agent. Anesthetic An agent or drug that produces anesthesia. Divided into local or general according to its action. Anterior presentation Presenting part of the baby is turned so that the back of the baby's head is toward the front of the mother. This is the most common presentation. Apgar rating System of scoring the infant's appearance one minute after it is born. It may be repeated at five or more minutes in order to judge any improvement. The heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, response to stimuli, and color are each rated 0, 1, or 2. The maximum total score is 10. A low score indicates a baby that needs immediate medical attention. Back labor Labor when most of the pain is in the mother's back. Often caused by a posterior presentation baby rubbing on the mother's spine during labor. Bag of waters see Amnion Balanced diet Eating enough of the proper nutrients in the correct proportions to help the body remain healthy and to help the mother properly nourish a new baby. Birth canal The canal through which the baby passes before being born. It consists of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. Birth plan A written document which outlines the requests and desires which the mother and father wish to have during a normal birth or during possible complications. It is strongly recommended to have this prepared well in advance of the birth and to discuss this with your birth team to enable communication and to help prevent unwanted outcomes. Birth team People who are present at the birth of a baby who provide support. Bloody show Passing blood tinged mucous or mucous plug before labor starts, or during labor. Braxton-Hicks A mostly painless contraction that can occur as often as every 10 minutes. They usually occur anytime after the third month of pregnancy and occur to help prepare the uterus for labor. Breech presentation When the baby's buttocks come out first instead of the head. Ceasarean section Surgical removal of the baby by making an incision into the uterus usually through the abdominal wall. It is not necessarily true that once a mother has had a cesarean section that she must have all subsequent babies by a cesarean section. Cervix The neck of the uterus. It is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and has the cervical canal which passes through it between the uterus and the vagina. The baby will pass through the cervical canal to be born. Consumerism An careful approach to the act of childbirth ahead of time where the parents take responsibility for making well informed decisions with the support of carefully selected birth professionals. Contraction A tightening of the uterus wall which helps to expel the baby from the uterus. Core temperature The body's temperature deep inside the body as opposed to near the outside areas. The normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). Dehydration Condition that results when the body loses more water than it is taking in. In Florida it is recommended that a person working outside during the summer drink at least one quart of water every fifteen minutes to prevent dehydration. Dilation The expansion of the opening of the cervix and cervical canal to allow the baby to pass through from the uterus to be born. The average largest size the cervix dilates is ten centimeters. Doula A trained birth professional who cares for and supports the mother in a non-medical capacity during labor and birth. Due date An educated guess as to the date the baby will be born. It is calculated as 40 weeks from the first day after the last normal menstrual period. Eclampsia Coma and convulsive seizures between the 20th week of pregnancy and the end of the first week postpartum. It is usually fatal if not treated. Eclampsia is the next step that happens after pre-eclampsia and usually happens to 1 out of 200 patients that have pre-eclampsia. Episiotomy Incision of the perineum between the vagina and the rectum during birth. Intended to help make the opening larger to get the baby out faster. Often an unnecessary obstetrical intervention. Embryo Stage of development of a human baby starting at the beginning of the 2nd week until the end of the 8th week. Effacement The dilation and thinning of the cervix to allow the baby to pass through. Often expressed as a percentage. External version The process of turning the baby inside the uterus by exerting pressure on the mother's abdomen. It is typically done to try to turn a breech or transverse presented baby around to a head first position. Fetal Heimlich maneuver A natural act that as the baby is born, the mother's intact perineum presses inward below the baby's ribcage causing mucous to be forced out of the baby's mouth and nose. Fetus The stage of development of a human baby in the uterus from the third month until it is born. Gestation The length of time between conception and birth. For human babies, it averages from 37 to 41 weeks calculated from the first day after the last normal menstrual period. Hyperventilation A condition caused by over-breathing which causes a depletion of the proper amount of carbon dioxide. Symptoms are lower blood pressure, constriction of the blood vessels. It can also cause the baby as it is being born to not have enough carbon dioxide in its system which will not cause the immediate stimulation to take its first breaths. Hypovolemia Lower than normal blood volume Informed consent Agreeing to a medical procedure after careful evaluation of the potential risks and benefits and making an informed decision. Ischial spines The protruding bony spots at the base of the pelvis. It is the narrowest point of the pelvis and is commonly used to measure the point of the baby's descent. This point is known as zero station. Kegel exercises Named after Dr. Arnold Kegel. The Kegel exercise is a way of helping to strengthen the muscles in the bottom of the pelvis which control urination or defecation. The exercise is done by repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscle used to control urination. A strong Kegel muscle aids in controlling incontinence, helps the childbirth process, and enhances pleasure in sexual intercourse. Meconium staining First feces of an infant. Appearance of feces in the amniotic fluid before the birth of the baby. It is many times a normal occurence but can often indicate fetal distress. Natural alignment plateau A period of time during labor when the cervix stops dilating although contractions continue. It often ends with a quick dilation of the cervix. Natural childbirth Birth without the use of analgesics, sedatives, or anesthesia. It has also come to mean an approach that has less dependance on technology and obstetrical interventions and more dependance on encouragement and support during labor and birth. Pelvis The basin shaped bone at the base of the spinal column. It's purpose is to support the spinal column and to help contact the legs to the upper body. The unborn baby must travel through the pelvis when leaving the uterus to be born. Perineum The skin and muscles between the vagina and the anus. The structures around the pelvic outlet and constituting the pelvic floor. One of the inner muscles of the perineum is the kegel (pubococcygeus) muscle. Pica Desire to eat non-food materials such as starch, clay, ashes, plaster, dirt, or other similar items. Posterior presentation Presenting part of the baby is turned so that the front of the baby's head is toward the front of the mother. This can cause a symptom also known as back labor. Pre-eclampsia A precursor to eclampsia. Also known as toxemia or pregnancy. Characterized by the onset of symptoms such as hypertension, excessive headaches, swelling of the lower body, and albuminuria. It can be normally prevented by proper nutrition throughout pregnancy. Protein Proteins provide the amino acids that are needed for the repair and building of body tissue. Especially necessary for the proper growth of a new baby. Sources of protein are commonly found in milk, eggs, cheese, fish, meat, beans, and some vegetables. Pubococcygeus muscle Another name for the Kegel muscle. See Kegel exercises. Rectum Lower part of the large intestine about 5 inches (12.7 cm) in length. It connects to the anus. Respiratory depression Lower than normal frequency or depth of breathing. Caused in the baby by hyperventilation of the mother. Station The location of the baby in relation to the ischial spines measured in centimeters. If the baby is above the ischial spines, it is measured with negative numbers (-3, -2, -1) and with positive numbers (+1, +2, +3) if the baby is below the ischial spines. Dehydration Condition that results when the body loses more water than it is taking in. In Florida it is recommended that a person working outside during the summer drink at least one quart of water every fifteen minutes to prevent dehydration. Transition The period of time between the first stage and second stage of labor. It is often a short but stressful time and is marked by confusion for the mother. Urge to push A sensation caused by the mother or baby to push and expend more energy to help get the baby out or to prepare for birth. Uterus The female reproductive organ which holds and nourishes the embryo and unborn baby from the time the egg is implanted until the baby is born. VBAC Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. Having a baby born normally through the vagina after having had a previous baby through a Cesarean section.

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