· EDC

·         Expected date of confinement

·         Estimated Due Date; Estimated Date of Delivery

·         A local or generalized condition in which the body tissues contain an excessive amount of tissue fluid. 

·         The shortening, or thinning, of the cervical canal from its usual length of 2 to 3 cm to the point where the cervical canal is obligerated, leaving only the external os as the circular orifice with thin edges.  This shortening results from the lengthening of the muscular fibers around the internal os as they are taken up into the lower uterine segment.

·         A massage technique used in the Lamaze and other psycho prophylactic methods of childbearing.  Effleurage means "feather touch," which describes the amount of pressure to be used in doing it.  It is usually done by the laboring woman, using both hands and following a definite pattern over primarily her lower abdomen.

·         Electronic Fetal Monitor

·         The presence of the endometrial tissue outside the uterus. The most common places for implantation are the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and intestines, uterine wall, lining of the pelvis and may be found in the cesarean section scar, and the vaginal wall.

·         The point at which the widest diameter of the infant's presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.

·         The two main components of the ordinary epidural are the drugs bupivacaine hydrochloride and fentanyl epinephrine.  These drugs are injected in the space around the bag of nerves at the base of the spine (the epidural space) to stop the messages of pain from being sent to the brain, thus eliminating partially or completely the sensation of pain in childbirth.

·         Incision of the perineum at the end of the second stage of labor to avoid spontaneous laceration of the perineum and to facilitate delivery. 

·         Evening Primrose Oil

·         Manual turning of the baby from any presentation other than vertex which utilizes the hands on the pregnant abdomen.

·         Fasting Blood Sugar

·         The position of the fetus in utero, AKA presentation.

·         Membrane-covered space where fetal or newborn skull sutures intersect.  The anterior fontanel is a diamond-shaped space bordered by the sagittal and coronal sutures.  The posterior fontanel is a triangular space bordered by the sagittal and lambdoidal sutures.

·         Family Practitioner

·         Failure to Progress

·         See Group B Strep

·         Gestational Diabetes

·         A blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher on at least two occasions, six hours apart.

·         See hypertension.

·         A test used for screening for diabetes in pregnancy which involves a random oral glucose tolerance test after a 50 g. glucose (sugar) load.  Giving a woman concentrated refined sugar load before testing is not recommended; she can have a physiological reaction to the glucose overload which can mimic diabetes.  A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth by Enkin et al and published in 1989 indicated the oral GTT should be abandoned.

·         General Practitioner

·         A woman who has given birth seven or more times. 

·         A pregnant woman. 

·         Group B Strep is a bacteria (beta-hemolytic streptococci) that is a leading cause of early-onset neonatal infections and late-onset post-partal infections.  In women, this is marked by urinary tract infection, chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, bacteremia, and wound infections complicating cesarean section.  It can lead to inflammation of the amniotic sac, the uterine lining, or urinary tract in the mother.  Occasionally a newborn will have a local infection.  About 15 to 30 percent of all women have asymptomatic strep B in their vaginas.  As many as 50 to 75 percent of their babies contract strep, but only 2 to 3 per 1000 get sick.  Of these, 7 percent are born under 2 pounds.  Late onset newborn infections occur in 0.5 to 1 case per 1000 births.  There is increased risk for the baby with premature rupture of membranes or cesarean delivery, although the strep bacteria can permeate the intact membranes.

·         See Glucose Tolerance Test

·         Home Birth After Cesarean

·         HELLP syndrome, a unique variant of preeclampsia (toxemia), an acronym meaning H (hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells), EL (elevated liver enzymes), and LP (low platelet count).

·         During pregnancy, nausea and vomiting severe enough to cause systemic effects such as acidosis, dehydration, and weight loss. 

·         Any adverse mental or physical condition induced in a patient through the effects of treatment by a physician or surgeon. 

·         International Cesarean Awareness Network

·         The process of causing or producing, as in induction of labor with oxytocic drugs in cases of uterine dysfunction.

·         Intrauterine Growth Retardation

·         Journal of the American Medical Association

·         An exercise for strengthening the pubococcygeal and levator ani muscles.  Basically, the patient tightens those muscles that could be used in attempting to prevent defecation or urination.  Increase in the strength of the muscles helps to control urinary and fecal incontinence, aids in the childbirth process, and may enhance the pleasure derived from sexual intercourse. 

·         Labor & Delivery

·         Downy hair covering the fetus from the 20th to 38th week of gestation.

·         Low birth weight

·         Maneuvers used to evaluate the unborn infant: palpations to determine fetal lie, attitude, presentation and position; estimation of fetal growth; assessment of amniotic fluid volume; evaluation of fetal responsiveness. 

·         Large for Gestational Age

·         La Leche League

·         Lay Midwife, also Licensed midwife

·         Last menstrual period

·         Left Occiput Anterior

·         Postpartum discharge lasting from approximately the tenth through the fourteenth postpartum days.  It is creamy white with leukocytes and cellular debris. 

·         Postpartum discharge lasting from approximately the first through the fourth postpartum days.  It is dark red containing blood and placental and decidual debris. 

·         Postpartum discharge lasting from approximately the fourth through the tenth postpartum days.  It is pinkish, thin, and serosanguineous containing serous exudate, shreds of degenerating decidua, erythrocytes, leukocytes, cervical mucus, and numerous microorganisms. 

·         Left Occiput Posterior

·         Birth without the cutting of the cord; the cord falls off while still attached to the placenta 4 to 10 days postpartum.

·         In a newborn, birth weight of 4000 grams (8 pounds 13 ounces) or more, or above the 90th percentile on the intrauterine growth curve.

·         Midwives Alliance of North America

·         The woman lies on her back and draws her knees up to her chest, thereby lifting her buttocks a little off the bed.  This is ordinarily used for shoulder dystocia but can also be used in a breech delivery where the fetal head is trapped behind an incomplete cervix. The exaggerated flexion of the patient's legs results in a straightening of the sacrum relative to the lumbar spine.  Although this maneuver does not change the dimensions of the true pelvis, rotation of the symphysis superiorly frees the impacted anterior shoulder.  AKA exaggerated lithotomy position.

·         The contents of the fetal and/or newborn colon.  Comprised of epithelial cells from the intestinal tract, mucus, skin cells, and hair (lanugo) that the fetus had swallowed with the amniotic fluid.  Passage of meconium in utero may indicate fetal distress.

·         Methylergonovine maleate; Drug used in the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony or subinvolution.  Contraindicated in pregnancy.  Should not be administered via I.V. because of the risk of severe hypertension and stroke.

·         Professional labor assistant, or doula, who also has medical knowledge and may perform some minor medical procedures 

·         The plug of mucus that fills the opening of the cervix on impregnation.  *SYN: bloody show

·         A woman who has borne more than one viable fetus, whether or not the offspring were alive at birth.  The number of deliveries may be recorded as para II, para III, and so on.  SYN: multigravida

·         Midwife

·         Natural Family Planning

·         Non-Stress Test

·         A woman who has never produced a viable offspring. 

·         Obstetrician

·         The back part of the skull.  On the fetal head, it is used to determine the position of cephalic presentations in relation to the maternal pelvis

·         Optimal Fetal Positioning

·         An abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid that may be symptomatic of a variety of problems, including fetal renal agenesis and intrauterine growth retardation.

·         A woman who has produced a viable infant (weighing at least 500g or of more than 20 weeks' gestation) regardless of whether the infant is alive at birth.  A multiple birth is considered to be a single parous experience. 

·         The Pelvic Rock is an exercise that will improve circulation, and help relieve low backaches by strengthening the muscles of your abdomen and lower back.  It also benefits the proper alignment of the fetal head in the pelvis.

·         To perform the Pelvic Rock, get on your hands and knees with your arms straight. Tighten your tummy muscles, tuck your hips and buttocks under so that the small of your back is pushed back as far as possible. Hold this position for 5 – 10 seconds. Relax your back flat again (not arched). Repeat 10 – 30 times per day; 5 days per week.

·         The structures occupying the pelvic outlet and constituting the pelvic floor. 

·         The external region between the vulva and anus in a female or between the scrotum and anus in a male.  It is made up of skin, muscle, and fasciae. 

·         The serous membrane reflected over the viscera and lining the abdominal cavity. 

·         Synthetic oxytocin used to induce or augment labor by causing potent and selective stimulation of uterine and mammary gland smooth muscles.  Risks include brain hemorrhage, seizures or coma, hypertension, arrhythmias, abruptio placenta, uterine rupture, infant brain damage, low Apgar scores at 5 minutes, neonatal jaunce.  Contraindicated when cephalopelvic disproportion is present, prematurity, placenta previa.  Extreme caution should be used in first or second stage because cervical laceration, uterine rupture, and maternal and fetal death have all been reported.

·         A temporary organ, the placenta anchors the developing embryo and fetus to the uterus and provides a bridge for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, protective antibodies, and waste products that pass from the baby to the maternal circulation.  The placenta produces protein and steroid hormones to sustain the pregnancy.

·         A placenta in which the cotyledons have invaded the uterine musculature, resulting in difficult or impossible separation of the placenta.

·         The location of the placenta over, or very near, the cervical os.  May result in hemorrhage and/or fetal death.

·         See abruptio placenta

·         To convert a malpresentation, a hand is inserted into the vagina and uterus and, by manipulation on the abdomen with one hand and by internal manipulation with the other, a foot is grasped and drawn down, so that the presentation is converted to a breech.  A bipolar podalic version is performed similarly with only two fingers in the uterus and the other hand on the abdomen.

·         An excess of amniotic fluid in the bag of waters in pregnancy.  (Taber, 1519)

·         Pregnancy that goes beyond 42 weeks, or 294 days.

·         Toward the rear end; opposite of anterior.  In fetal positioning, means the back of the babies head is facing the back of the mother.

·         Preterm-Premature Rupture of Membranes

·         See Toxemia

·         A woman during her first pregnancy. 

·         The initial stage of labor; the interval between the earliest signs of labor and active labor.

·         Premature Rupture of Membranes

·         A polypeptide hormone secreted in the corpus luteum during pregnancy.  It is obtained commercially from the ovaries of pregnant sows.  In certain rodents, it relaxes the symphysis, inhibits uterine contractions, and softens the cervix. 

·         Right Occiput Anterior

·         Right Occiput Posterior

·         The uterus is suspended in the abdomen by the utero-sacral ligaments and the round ligaments.  Round ligaments are attached to the pelvic bones from the front-middle area of the uterus.  Normal pain from stretching the round ligaments as the uterus grows can be felt as an ache, bruise-type pain, or a sharp spasm.

·         Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

·         Small for Gestational Age

·         Named after James Marion Sims; a semi-prone position with the patient on the left side, right knee and thigh drawn well up, left arm along the patient's back, and chest inclined forward so patient rests upon it. 

·         The fore and upper part of the cranium; the upper half of the skull.

·         See ultrasound

·         Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes

·         Term applied loosely to any pathogenic bacteria. 

·         The relationship between the leading edge of the presenting part of the baby and an imaginary line drawn between the ischial spines.

·         Synthetic pitocin.  See also Pitocin.

·         Trial of Labor

·         Trial of Labor After Cesarean

·         Coma and convulsive seizures between the 20th week of pregnancy and the end of the first week postpartum.  It develops in 1 out of 200 patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.  Controversy exists over whether this is caused by a lack of adequate nutrition which compromised liver function.

·         SYN: Metabolic Toxemia of Late Pregnancy (MTLP) or Eclampsia.

·         Fetal lie that is at right angles to the long axis of the body; crosswise.

·         A condition of occipitoposterior position, the fetal head may attempt a long rotation, but become caught in the transverse diameter of the outlet, between the ischial spines, should they be unduly prominent. This is suspected if there is delay in the second stage of labor and on examination per vaginam the sagittal suture is found in the transverse diameter of the pelvis with a fontanelle at each end, close to the ischial spines.  Rotation of the fetal head to an anterior position and delivery by vacuum extraction or forceps is required.

·         Trying to conceive

·         Unassisted Childbirth

·         Transmission of inaudible sound in the frequency range of approximately 20,000 to 10 billion cycles per second.  Ultrasound has different velocities in tissues that differ in density and elasticity from others.  This property permits the use of ultrasound in outlining the shape of various tissues and organs in the body.  Heating effects are produced by beams of low intensity, paralytic effects by those of moderate intensity, and lethal effects by those of high intensity.  When doppler ultrasonography is used, the shift in frequency produced when an ultrasound wave is echoed from something in motion.  The use of the doppler effect permits measuring the velocity of the blood flow in a vessel (such as the heartbeat of a baby).

·         See Uterine Rupture

·         See Ultrasound

·         A complete uterine rupture is a tear through the thickness of the uterine wall at the site of a prior cesarean incision. It is a potentially life threatening condition for both the mother and/or the baby and requires immediate surgical intervention. However, uterine ruptures have also been known to occur in some women who have never had a cesarean. This type of rupture can be caused by weak uterine muscles after several pregnancies, excessive use of labor inducing agents, prior surgical procedure on the uterus, or mid-pelvic use of forceps.

·         Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

·         Vaginal Birth After Classical Cesarean

·         The top of the head.  In fetal lie, presenting head down.

·         Water Birth After Cesarean

Sources:
Epregnancy.com
Handbook of Maternal Newborn Nursing, by Buckley & Kulb
Heart & Hands by Elizabeth Davis
Mayes Midwifery,  12th edition by Betty Sweet
Mayes Midwifery, 12th Edition
Ministry of Midwifery by Patti Barnes
Mosby Medical Encyclopedia
Mothering the Mother by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis Klaus
Nursing Drug Handbook, by Springhouse Publishers
Obstetric Myths vs. Research Realities by Henci Goer
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 18th Edition
Understanding Lab Work in the Childbearing Year by Anne Frye
Varney's Midwifery, 3rd edition
VBAC.com
Women's Surgery Group.com