Pregnancy Glossary of Terms

1. Stages of Pregnancy Slideshow Pictures
2. Slideshow of Early Pregnancy Symptoms
3. Early Pregnancy Symptoms Quiz

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Abstinence: The voluntary self-denial of food, drink, or sex. Today, abstinence most commo...

Adverse effect: A harmful or abnormal result. An adverse effect may be caused by administr...

Amniocentesis: A before-birth diagnostic procedure during which a long needle is used to o...

Amniotic fluid: The fluid bathing a fetus within the uterus, which serves as a shock absor...

Amniotic sac: The amniotic sac and amniotic fluid.

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

Antibody: An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introdu...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bacterial vaginosis: A vaginal condition characterized by an abnormal vaginal discharge du...

Birth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent p...

Birth defect: Any defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is...

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Blood clot: A mass of coagulated blood. A blood clot can block a major blood vessel, causi...

Blood count: The calculated number of white or red blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic m...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

BMI: Body mass index.

Body mass index: A key index for relating weight to height. Abbreviated BMI. BMI is a pers...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Breast discharge: The spontaneous flow of fluid from the nipple at any time other than dur...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

Cervix: The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The uterus, a hollow, ...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chlamydia: The agent of a sexually transmitted disease, a type of bacteria found in the ce...

Coitus: Sexual intercourse.

Coitus interruptus: A method of contraception, also called withdrawal, in which the man wi...

Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t...

Complete blood count: A set values of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These meas...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Conception: 1. The union of the sperm and the ovum. Synonymous with fertilization.
...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Dilate: To stretch or enlarge. Also known as dilatate.

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Docosahexaenoic acid: DHA. An essential fatty acid, thought to be important to the develop...

Doula: 1. A non-medical assistant in childbirth. A doula is not the father but is u...

Due date: The estimated calendar date when a baby is due to be born. Also called the estim...

Eclampsia: Convulsions (seizures) occurring with pregnancy-associated high blood pressure ...

Ectopic: In the wrong place, out of place. For example, an ectopic kidney is a kidney that...

Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that is not in the uterus. The fertilized egg settles and g...

EDC: Estimated date of confinement, the estimated calendar date when the baby will be born...

Embryo: An organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation, from fertilization ...

Emergency contraception: The prevention of pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Epilepsy (seizure disorder): When nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses...

Essential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressur...

Estrogen: A female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts,...

Fats: Plural of the word "fat". See the definition of fat.

Fatty acid: One of many molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in f...

Fertile: Able to conceive and bear offspring. Also known as fecund.

Fertility: The ability to conceive and bear children, the ability to become pregnant throu...

Fertilization: The process of combining the male gamete, or sperm, with the female gamete,...

Fetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep...

Flu: Short for influenza. The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract w...

Folate: Folic acid, one of the B vitamins that is a key factor in the synthesis (the makin...

Folic acid: One of the B vitamins that is a key factor in the synthesis (the making) of nu...

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Genetic screening: Testing of a population to identify individuals who are at risk for a g...

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

Gestation: The period of time from conception to birth.

Ginger: Ginger, the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, has been used as medicine in...

Gonadotropin: Hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland, and that affect the func...

Gonorrhea: A bacterial infection that is transmitted by sexual contact. Gonorrhea is one o...

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

HCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin.

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, irrespective of the cause. Hepatitis is caused by a ...

Hepatitis B: Inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus (HBV), once thought t...

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

HIV test: A test for the human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS. HIV tests are de...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Human chorionic gonadotropin: (hCG) A human hormone made by chorionic cells in the fetal ...

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Implant: 1. To embed; to set in firmly. In embryology, the fertilized egg implants ...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Infant: A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age.

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Infertility: Diminished or absent ability to conceive and bear offspring. A couple is cons...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Labor: Childbirth, the process of delivering a baby and the placenta, membranes, and umbil...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Maternal: 1. Pertaining to the mother as, for example, the maternal mortality rate....

Maternal age: The age of the mother at the time of delivery. Advanced maternal age is usua...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Midwife: A trained person who assists women during childbirth. Many midwives also provide ...

Miscarriage: Inadvertent loss of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. A considerable pr...

Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Neural: Having to do with nerve cells (neurons).

Nuchal: Referring to the back of the neck (nape). For example, nuchal rigidity is a stiff ...

Nurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ...

Nurse practitioner: A registered nurse (RN) who has completed an advanced training program...

Obese: Well above ones normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obe...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstetrician: A physician who specializes in obstetrics.

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. Structures in the fe...

Pharmacist: A professional who fills prescriptions and, in the case of a compounding pharm...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Placenta: A temporary organ that joins the mother and fetus, transferring oxygen and nutri...

Polycythemia: Too many red blood cells. The opposite of anemia. polycythemia formally exis...

Preeclampsia: A condition in pregnancy characterized by abrupt hypertension (a sharp rise...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Pregnancy symptoms: A symptom or sign of pregnancy. These symptoms and signs depend upon t...

Pregnancy ultrasound: Creating an image of the developing fetus within the uterus by means...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prenatal: Occurring or existing before birth.

Prenatal care: Health care that a pregnant woman receives from an obstetrician or a midwif...

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

Qualitative: Having to do with quality. In contrast to quantitative (which pertains to qua...

Quantitative: Having to do with quantity or with the amount.

Red blood cell: The blood cell that carries oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Red cells: Short for red blood cells, the oxygen/carbon dioxide carrying cells in blood. A...

Rhythm method: Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and periodic ab...

Risk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam...

Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the spleen) or soft tissue (such as the ach...

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Seizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Shoulder: A structure made up of two main bones: the scapula (shoulder blade) and the hume...

Sperm: A sperm is the male "gamete" or sex cell. It combines with the female &qu...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Syphilis: A sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, a microscopic orga...

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood products from one person (the donor) into the ...

Transvaginal ultrasound: The creation of a picture called a sonogram by sending sound wave...

Trimester: In obstetrics, one of the three divisions of three months each during pregnancy...

Triplet: One of three, as: 1. One of three babies in a multiple birth. Or three an...

Tubal pregnancy: A pregnancy that is not in the usual place within the uterus but is locat...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Uterus: A hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen, between th...

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Vaginal discharge: Vaginal discharge is a fluid produced by glands in the vaginal wall and...

Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

Vasectomy: A surgical procedure designed to make a man sterile by cutting or blocking both...

Womb: The womb (uterus) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen ...