Technical Terms – A Pregnancy Glossary A-C

Technical Terms – A Pregnancy Glossary will hopefully be the blog post you turn to if you’ve just found out you’re pregnant. Maybe you’re due any day now and want to familiarise yourself with some medical lingo. Are you planning to get pregnant in the future and just like to be prepared? Well we are going to help take away a little of the stress caused by medical terms you will hear. And by the way, no-one tells you what they mean, so this blog is a little saving grace. Let’s start with letters A-C. Here goes…

• Amniotic fluid – the fluid that surrounds baby in the uterus also called ‘waters’.

• Antenatal – a term used to refer to ‘before birth’

• Anterior placenta – The placenta is attached to the front wall of your uterus between baby and your tummy

• Abruptio placenta – a complication in pregnancy when the placenta unexpectedly separates from the uterus. usually after 20 weeks gestation ( another word we will get into later!)

• Anemia – Red blood cells in your body will be reduced causing fatigue (tiredness)

• Areola – the dark coloured skin around the nipple. This can get darker during pregnancy.

• Birth canal – the passageway made up of the cervix and the vagina where the baby travels through in birth

• Birth plan – a written document by the parents about how they would like to see their birth going. including any drugs they wish to use or not, any interventions, delayed cord clamping etc and any other preference they want honoured.

• Braxton Hicks – a tightening of the uterus that may feel like a labour contraction. They do not get stronger or closer together like real contractions. You can also call this “false labour”.

• Breech – this is when the baby has their feet or bottom down instead of their head down which is the preferred position for baby to be in. Breech babies are often born by caesarian section or with the use of medical aids like forceps.

• Caesarian section – A medical procedure where the baby is deliver through the abdomen. Usually referred to as a c-sction or baby coming out of the sunroof.

• Cervix – the narrow, lower end of the uterus that softens and opens during labour to allow baby to come out.

• Colostrum – thick yellowish fluid that comes from the breast during breastfeeding usually in the inital stages of baby latching on. It comes before the breast milk and contains vitamins and minerals which regulate the immune system of baby and also promotes growth.

• Contraction – during birth the uterus tightens and contracts.

Thank you for reading Technical Terms – A Pregnancy Glossary. We really hope it helps. Stay tuned for more technical terms D – G. Coming Soon…