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Medical Terminology

Amniotic fluid: Amniotic fluid cushions the fetus from injury, allows movement and helps to stabilize temperature.

Amniotomy ("artificial rupture of membranes" or "breaking the waters"): Surgical rupture of the fetal membranes to induce or expedite labour.

Breech: Delivery of a fetus whose feet or buttocks appear first.

Caesarean: Julius Caesar (or one of his predecessors) is rumoured to have been born by this procedure. Hence, the name "Caesarian." The term "section" in surgery refers to the division of tissue. What is being divided here is the abdominal wall of the pregnant person as well as the wall of the uterus in order to extract the fetus.

Cervix: The lower, narrow part of the uterus. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body.

Amniotic Sac or fetal membranes: Any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus.

Doppler: Hand-held ultrasound device that transmits the sounds of the fetal heart rate. This can generally pick up heart tones after 12 weeks gestation.

Doula: A person who provides non-medical support to a birthing person and their family during labour, childbirth and the postpartum period. The term can also be used to describe other supportive roles for other life events such as abortion, death and more.

Electronic Fetal Monitoring: This is an ultrasound device used during labour and birth to record the fetus' heart rate and the birthing person's contractions. It can be used intermittently or continuously.

Epidural: An anaesthetic injected into the epidural space surrounding the fluid-filled sac (the dura) around the spine which partially numbs the abdomen and legs.

Episiotomy: An incision made between the vagina and the rectum.

Fetus: The unborn offspring from the end of the 8th week after conception (when the major structures have formed) until birth. Up until the eighth week, the developing offspring is called an embryo.

Forceps: An instrument resembling a pair of pincers or tongs that are inserted through the vagina used to grasp the head of the fetus and pull it through the birth canal.

Induction of labour: An intervention designed to artificially initiate uterine contractions resulting in progressive effacement and dilatation of the cervix and birth of the baby.

Meconium: Dark sticky material normally present in the intestine at birth and passed in the feces after birth. The passage of meconium before birth may be a sign of fetal distress.

Midwife: A person, usually a womyn, who is trained to assist those in childbirth.

Nuchal cord: A condition in which the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck of the fetus in utero or as it is being born.

Obstetrics: The branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy, childbirth and the recuperative period following delivery.

"Oxygen": Actually, Nitrous oxide, which added to oxygen, and when inhaled, causes a relaxation and calming. In some areas it is used as a pain management technique for childbirth. Once the inhalation has stopped the effects quickly disappear.

Pitocin or syntocinon: Synthetic form of the naturally occurring hormone, oxytocin, used to induce or maintain labour. When you have Pitocin you will also normally have a continuous IV drip and continuous electronic fetal monitoring. There are increased risks with using Pitocin including fetal distress, a higher likelihood of requesting pain medication like an epidural, caesarean section, uterine rupture.

Perineum: The region between the vulva and the anus in females.

Placenta: A temporary organ joining the pregnant person and fetus, the placenta transfers oxygen and nutrients from the pregnant person to the fetus, and permits the release of carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus. The placenta is rich in blood vessels. The placenta is expelled during the birth process with the fetal membranes; together, these structures form the afterbirth. Most mammals eat the afterbirth.

VBAC: Vaginal birth after Caesarean Section (VBA2C = vaginal birth after 2 caesareans)