Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Terms of Pregnancy and Delivery Epidural
Terms of Pregnancy and Delivery Epidural
Antepartum
The antepartum period (from Latin ante "before" and parere "to give birth") is literally the
same as the prenatal (from Latin pre "before" and nasci "birth"). Antepartum usually refers to
the gestation period between 24-26 weeks of gestation and delivery.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is defined as pregnancy which is also known as gravidity, is the time during which
one or more offspring develop in a woman. It usually lasts about 40 weeks (10 lunar months)
from the last menstrual period and ends at delivery.
Prenatal Antenatal
Antenatal prenatal period is the period of fetal development, the process by which a human
embryo or fetus occurs during pregnancy, from conception to birth.
Preterm
Preterm is a preterm birth, the birth of a baby less than 37 weeks of gestation.
Postterm
Postterm or postmaturity is the condition of the unborn baby after 42 weeks of gestation.
The baby is too large to pass safely through the mother's pelvis.
Caesar
One method of delivery in which the doctor will make an incision in the abdominal wall and
uterus to expel the baby. A caesarean is also often called an abdominal delivery or C-section.
Colostrum
It is a white, watery discharge that comes out of the breasts in the early stages of breast milk
production. Colostrum usually comes out during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Breech condition with the baby's buttocks and legs facing the birth canal and with bent knees.
This condition makes normal delivery more difficult or impossible at all.
Contractions
A condition in which the uterus regularly tightens or tightens which usually causes the cervix
to dilate and allows the baby to pass.
Amniotic Fluids
This protective fluid contains mostly fetal urine and water. This fluid fills the pouch that
surrounds the fetus.
APGAR
Crown (crowning)
The condition when the baby's head has passed through the birth canal and the top (crown) is
visible from the vaginal opening that continues to widen.
Dilation
The extent to which the cervix has opened in preparation for delivery. Dilation of the cervix
or cervix is measured in centimeters with the maximum size (full dilation) is 10 centimeters.
Effacement
It refers to thinning of the cervix in preparation for birth and is expressed in presentation. The
cervix must be 100 percent open or completely thin before a normal delivery.
Engaged
The condition when the baby's presenting part (usually the head) has entered the pelvic cavity
which usually occurs during the last month of pregnancy
Fontanelle
Also known as the crown, the fontanel is the unused soft spot between the top and back of a
baby's head. The fontanelle allows the baby's head to be slightly compressed during labor to
pass through the birth canal.
Forceps
An instrument shaped like a pair of large spoons that can be used to help remove the baby's
head from the birth canal during labor.
Induced Labor
Labor initiated or accelerated with interventions, such as applying prostaglandin gel to the
cervix, injecting IV infusion of the hormone oxytocin (Pitocin), or by tearing the membrane.