A

1. •Abdominal Wall Defects: Birth defects in which the muscle and skin cover the wall of the abdomen are missing and the bowel is either contained within a clear walled sac (omphalocele) or sticks out through a hole in the abdominal wall (gastroschisis).
   

2. •Abruptio Placenta: A condition in which the placenta has begun to separate from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is born.
   

3. •Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP): A protein produced by a growing fetus; it is present in amniotic fluid and, in smaller amounts, in the mother's blood.
   

4. •Amniocentesis: A test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is taken from the sac around each fetus.
   

5. •Amniotic Fluid: Fluid in the sac surrounding the fetus in the woman's uterus.
   

6. •Amniotic Sac: A fluid-filled sac in the mother's uterus where the fetus develops.
   

7. •Analgesics: Drugs  that relieve pain without loss of muscle function.
   

8. •Anencephaly: A type of neural tube defect that occurs  when the fetus's head and brain do not develop normally.
   

9. •Anesthesia: Relief of pain by loss of sensation.
   

10. •Anesthesiologist: A doctor who is an expert in pain relief.
    

11. •Anesthetics: Drugs that relieve pain by loss of sensation.
    

12. •Antibodies: Proteins in the blood produced in reaction to foreign substances, an antigen.
    

 

C

1. •Canavan Disease: A rare inherited disorder that causes the brain to degenerate, with death usually occurring before age 4 years.  it is more frequent in people of eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazi Jews).
   

2. •Carrier: A person who shows no signs of a particular disorder but could pass the gene on to his or her children.
   

3. •Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus.
   

4. •Cesarean Delivery- Delivery of a baby through an incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus.
   

5. •Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): A procedure in which a small sample of cells is taken from the placenta and tested.
   

6. •Chromosomes: Structures that are located inside each cell in the body and contain the genes that determine a person's physical makeup.
   

7. •Cleft palate: A birth defect in which a gap or space occurs in the roof of the mouth.
   

8. •Clubfoot: A birth defect in which the foot is misshaped and twisted out of position.
   

9. •Corticosteroid: Hormones given to mature fetal lungs, for arthritis, or other medical problems. 
   

10. •Cystic Fibrosis: An inherited disorder that causes problems in digestion and breathing.
    

 

D

1. •Dilation and Curettage (D&C): A procedure in which the cervix is opened and tissue is gently scraped or suctioned from the inside of the uterus.
   

2. •Discordant: A large difference in the size of fetuses in a multiple pregnancy.
   

3. •Down Syndrome: A genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome and characterized by mental retardation, abnormal facial features, and medical problems such as heart defects.
   

4. •Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: An inherited, sex-linked disease most often affecting males.  Symptoms are weakness and muscle wasting, first of the limbs and trunk, but slowly affecting all voluntary muscles, with death usually occurring around age 30 years.
   

 

E

1. •Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg begins to grow in a place other than inside the the uterus (usually in the fallopian tubes).
   

2. •Electronic Fetal Monitoring: A method in which electronic instruments are used to record the heart beat of the fetus and contractions of the mother's uterus.
   

3. •Embryo: The developing fertilized egg of early pregnancy. 
   

4. •Epidural Block: A form of anesthesia where medication is administered through a catheter that lessens labor pain (analgesics) or provides pain relief for a cesarean delivery (anesthetic).
   

5. •Episiotomy: A surgical incision made into the perineum (the region between the vagina and the anus) to widen the vaginal opening for delivery.
   

6. •Estrogen: A female hormone produced in the ovaries that stimulates the growth of the lining of the uterus.
   

 

F

1. •Fetal Fibronectin: A protein produced during pregnancy. 
   

2. •Fetal Monitoring: A procedure in which instruments are used to record the heartbeat of the fetus and contractions of the mother's uterus during labor. 
   

3. •Fetus: A baby growing in the woman's uterus.
   

4. •Forceps: Special instruments placed around the baby's head to help guide it out of the birth canal during delivery.
   

5. •Fragile X Syndrome: A disorder of the X chromosome that is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation.
   

6. •Fraternal Twins: Twins that have developed from more than one fertilized egg; they are not genetically identical and each has its own placenta and amniotic sac.
   

 

G

1. •Genes: DNA "blueprints" that code for specific traits, such as hair and eye color.
   

2. •Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that arises during pregnancy; it results from the effects of hormones and usually subsides after delivery.
   

3. •Glucose: A sugar that is present in the blood and is the body's main source of fuel.
   

 

H

1. •Hemophilia: An inherited sex-linked disorder in which the blood lacks a substance that helps it clot.
   

2. •Hormones: Substances produced by the body to control the functions of various organs.
   

3. •Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): A hormone produced during pregnancy.  Its detection is the basis for most pregnancy tests.
   

4. •Huntington's Disease: An inherited nerve disorder that causes loss of control of movements and mental function, usually starting between  35-50 years of age.
   

5. •Hyperglycemia: A condition that results when levels of glucose are too high.
   

6. •Hypoglycemia: A condition that results when levels of glucose are too low.
   

 

I

1. •Identical Twins: Twins that have developed from a single fertilized egg; they are usually genetically identical and may or may not share the same placenta and amniotic sac.
   

2. •Insulin: A hormone that controls the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
   

3. •Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR): Slow or limited growth of a fetus during pregnancy,
   

  

M

1. •Miscarriage: The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus.
   

2. •Molar Pregnancy: Growth of abnormal placental tissue in the uterus.
   

3. •Multiple Pregnancy: Pregnancy in which there are more than one fetus.
   

 

N

1. •Neural Tube Defect (NTD): A birth defect that results from improper development of the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings.
   

2. •Nuchal Translucency Screening: A special ultrasound test of the fetus to screen for the risk of Down syndrome and other birth defects.
   

 

O

1. •Ovulate: To release an egg from one of the ovaries.
   

 

P

1. •Pelvic Exam: A manual examination of a woman's reproductive organs.
   

2. •Placenta: Tissue that connects mother and fetus and provides nourishment to and takes waste away from the fetus.
   

3. •Placenta Previa: A condition in which the placenta is low in the uterus, so that the opening of the uterus is partially or completely covered.
   

4. •Prenatal Care: A program of care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby.
   

5. •Premature Rupture of Membranes: When the membranes of the amniotic sac rupture before labor.
   

6. •Preterm: Born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
   

7. •Preterm Labor: Labor that starts before the end of 37 weeks.
   

8. •Progesterone: A female hormone that is produced in the ovaries and makes the lining of the uterus grow.  When the level of progesterone decreases, menstruation occurs.
   

 

R

1. •Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A condition of some babies in which the lungs are not completely mature.
   

 

S

1. •Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): A disease that is spread by sexual contact, including Chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, genital warts, herpes, syphilis, and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).
   

2. •Sickle Cell Disease: An inherited disorder in which red blood cells have a crescent shape, causing chronic anemia and episodes of pain.  It occurs most often in African Americans.
   

3. •Spina Bifida: A neural tube defect that results from incomplete closure of the fetal spine.
   

4. •Spinal Block: A form of anesthesia where medication is administered into the spinal fluid to lessen labor pain or provide anesthesia for a cesarean delivery.
   

 

T

1. •Tay-Sachs Disease: An inherited birth defect that causes mental retardation, blindness, seizures, and death, usually by age 5 years.  it occurs mostly in people of eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazi Jews) and among French Canadians.
   

2. •Tocolytics: Medication used to stop or slow preterm labor.
   

3. •Trisomy 18: A genetic disorder that causes serious problems with development.  Most infants with trisomy 18 die within the first year of life.
   

4. •Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTS): A condition of identical twin fetuses when the blood passes from one twin to the other through a shared placenta.
   

 

U

1. •Ultrasound: A test in which sound waves are used to examine internal structures.  During pregnancy, it can be used to examine the fetus.
   

2. •Urinary Tract Infections: Infections of the bladder and urethra.
   

3. •Uterus: A muscular organ located in the female pelvis that contains and nourishes the developing fetus during pregnancy.
   

 

V

1. •Vacuum Extraction: The use of a special instrument applied to the baby's head to help guide it out of the birth canal during delivery.
   

2. •Vanishing Twin: Death of a twin in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
   

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