Anemia: Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and your body uses that oxygen to function. Anemia happens when either there are not enough red blood cells or the red blood cells do not have enough protein to give the rest of your body the oxygen it needs. This can make you feel weak or tired, make it hard to breathe, make you feel dizzy or unsteady, cause you to have pale skin, and/or make your hands and feet cold. Anemia is usually treated with medication (iron supplements) but very serious cases may need blood transfusions.
Antenatal or prenatal: The word antenatal, also called prenatal, is used to define the time when a person is pregnant, before they give birth.
Apnea: Infant apnea happens when the baby stops breathing for at least 20 seconds. This is more common with premature babies and can look like the baby is gasping for air or snoring. Treatment depends on the seriousness of the apnea and can range from medication to breathing machines to surgery.
Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is when a parent feeds their baby milk from their breast. Breastfeeding is also called nursing, chest-feeding, and body-feeding. Learn more about breastfeeding in our blog, How to Prepare for Breastfeeding Before Your Baby Arrives.
Breast pump: A breast pump is a machine that attaches to the nipple and creates a suckling motion to make milk come out. At the same time, this machine attaches to bottles or bags where you can store breast milk to feed your baby later.
Birth defect or congenital anomaly: Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, happen when the baby’s organs and systems do not develop the way they should. Birth defects can be minor or major problems and they can affect how the body looks or works. One example of a minor birth defect is a birth mark, which is usually harmless. One example of a major birth defect is a heart condition that requires surgery to fix.
Cervix: The cervix is the part of the birth canal that connects the uterus (or womb) with the vagina. During pregnancy, the cervix closes to protect the baby and then opens, or dilates, during labor to allow the baby to pass through.
Cesarean section (C-section): A Cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgery that involves a doctor cutting into a pregnant person’s belly to deliver the baby. Read our blog, Are C-Sections Avoidable? What You Need to Know, to learn more.
Coma: A coma is a medical emergency that happens when a person loses consciousness and does not respond when someone tries to wake them.
Complementary breastfeeding: Complementary breastfeeding means continuing to breastfeed while also giving the baby other food. Experts recommend complementary breastfeeding for babies from six months to two years of age.
Diabetes, pre-existing and gestational: Diabetes is a health condition that occurs when your body does not process sugar the right way. When your body doesn’t process sugar correctly, the sugar can stay in your blood and make you sick. If you have diabetes before you get pregnant, it is called pre-existing diabetes. When this happens during pregnancy, it is called gestational diabetes. Read our blog, What You Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes, to learn more.
Endometritis: Endometritis is an infection of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. This infection commonly occurs after a Cesarean section or a long labor. Common signs include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, fevers or chills, pain in the belly or pelvic region, and pain during sexual intercourse. Endometritis can be treated with antibiotics but can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Exclusive breastfeeding: Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding the baby only breast milk. Experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby’s life.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): If you drink alcohol during your pregnancy, your body will pass the alcohol from you to your baby. This affects how your baby’s brain develops and can result in different health complications, including physical defects, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues.
Full-term pregnancy: A full-term pregnancy lasts about 39 to 40 weeks. Babies who are born full term have the best chances of being healthy.
Eclampsia: Eclampsia is a complication of preeclampsia that involves seizures and it can lead to a person losing consciousness (becoming comatose).
High blood pressure, hypertension: High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when your blood pushes too hard against the walls of your blood vessels. This can happen if the blood vessels get tighter or less flexible, and can lead to severe health issues, like a heart attack or a stroke.
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar: Hypoglycemia happens the amount of blood sugar you have is too low. Blood sugar, also called glucose, is your body’s main source of energy. So, when your blood sugar is too low, it can be hard for you to think clearly or you may feel tired or sluggish. In really bad cases, it can lead to serious and even fatal health complications, like seizures or coma.
In vitro fertilization (IVF): IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a procedure that involves a healthcare provider combining an egg and sperm in a lab to create an embryo, or fertilized egg, and then placing the embryo back in the womb to grow.
Jaundice: Jaundice is common condition in babies. Jaundice happens when the liver does not clean the blood well enough to remove a yellow-colored substance called bilirubin. The buildup of this yellow substance in the blood causes the eyes and skin to look yellow. Treatment depends on the seriousness of the jaundice. The most common treatment is light therapy (placing the baby under special blue lights) but for a serious case, a patient might need to have a procedure to either remove some of their blood and replace it with healthy blood or to have antibodies from healthy blood injected into their blood.
Lactation: Lactation is the process in which your body produces and releases milk from your breast to feed your baby. Remember, the more you breastfeed or pump, the more milk your body will produce.
Latch: The term latch, when used for breastfeeding, is about how your baby’s mouth attaches to your nipple so it can feed. A good latch is important for preventing nipple pain and ensuring your baby gets enough milk.
Low birth weight: Babies that are born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (or 2.5 kilograms) are called low birth weight. Compare this to the average weight of a newborn, which is about 7 or 8 pounds (or 3 to 3.5 kilograms).
Meningitis: Meningitis happens when the membranes around the brain and spinal cord swell because of an infection. Common symptoms are a high fever, a really bad headache, and a stiff neck. Meningitis is very serious, but can often be treated with medication.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): If you use drugs like opioids during your pregnancy, your body will pass the drugs from you to your baby. Your baby will get used to having drugs in their systems and then when they are born and no longer getting the drugs, they will go into withdrawal. This can make your baby very sick and unhappy.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs): NICUs, also known as intensive care nurseries, are special areas in a hospital or birthing center that provide extra care for newborns with serious health conditions. Read our blog, NICU 101: How Healthy Pregnancies Support Health Babies, to learn more.
Obstetric fistula: An obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between the reproductive tract and urinary tract or rectum. This opening can happen if you have a difficult and long labor and it can cause you to leak either urine or feces.
Perineal area: The perineal area is the area between your vagina and your anus. The skin and tissue beneath in this area are important parts of your pelvic system supporting urination and bowel movements, sexual activity, and childbirth. During childbirth, this area stretches and can tear or may be cut to allow for delivery, which makes it vulnerable to infection.
Placenta: The placenta is an organ that forms in the womb during pregnancy. The placenta provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients to help it grow.
Placenta abruption: Placenta abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the wall of the womb. This can cause heavy bleeding that can be dangerous for you and your baby.
Placenta previa: Placenta previa occurs when the placenta moves to the bottom of the womb and covers the entry to the birth canal. During labor and delivery, this can cause heavy bleeding that can be dangerous for you and your baby.
Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can make breathing hard. Common symptoms include a cough and fever, wheezing, or sluggish feeling. Pneumonia can become very serious if it is not treated, but it can be treated with medication.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Is a common health condition that can affect anyone with ovaries. It is caused by a hormonal imbalance and makes you have irregular and heavy periods and it can make you stop having periods.
Postnatal or postpartum care. Postnatal care, which is sometimes called postpartum care, is healthcare for you and your baby in the weeks and months after childbirth. You may have heard this called well-mama and well-baby visits, because these visits take place not because you or your baby feel sick, but so your healthcare provider can make sure you and your baby do not have any health issues that you might not notice.
Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression is a common health problem. A person with postpartum depression may feel sad, worried, or numb after having a baby and they may struggle to care for their baby or for themselves. In some cases, people with postpartum depression have thoughts of harming themselves or their babies. This can be very scary, and it is important to talk to a mental health professional who can provide medication and/or therapy to help.
Postpartum hemorrhage: Postpartum hemorrhage is when a person bleeds extremely heavily after giving birth. While some bleeding is normal, if this bleeding becomes so heavy that you are soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or if it continues for more than 6 weeks, this is a sign something may be seriously wrong. The rapid loss of a large amount of blood can cause your blood pressure can drop, which can then lead to more health issues and even cause death, if untreated. It usually happens immediately after delivery, but I can also happen anytime in the postpartum period.
Postpartum period or the fourth trimester: The 12 weeks after you give birth is called the postpartum period or the fourth trimester. During this time, your body is recovering from being pregnant and from childbirth. While in this recovery period, you remain at risk of a variety of physical and mental health complications, so continuing to take care of your body and your mind is crucial. To learn about the postpartum period, read our blog, After Childbirth: Continuing to Care for Yourself in the Postpartum Period.
Prediabetes: If you have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, but the levels are not high enough for your healthcare provider to diagnose you with diabetes, you have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk of developing diabetes.
Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a health condition that can happen during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum. Preeclampsia happens when your blood pressure is too high and can lead to dangerous complications. Read our blog, What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia, to learn more.
Premature, prematurely, preterm: Babies that are born before the 37th week of pregnancy are born prematurely and are called premature or preterm babies. You may have also heard the word “preemie” used, which is short for premature.
Preterm birth: A preterm birth is a birth that takes place earlier than it should, usually before the 37th week of pregnancy. Read our blog, Avoid Having Your Baby Too Early: Your Guide to Preterm Labor and Birth, to learn more.
Preterm labor: Preterm labor is labor that takes place earlier than it should, usually before the 37th week of pregnancy. Read our blog, Avoid Having Your Baby Too Early: Your Guide to Preterm Labor and Birth, to learn more.
Reproductive tract infection (RTI): A reproductive tract infection, or RTI, is an infection of any of the organs involved in reproduction, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina. These infections do not always have noticeable signs, but they can affect a pregnancy, so testing during pregnancy is important.
Sexually transmitted infection (STI): A sexually transmitted infection, or STI, is an infection that is typically passed through sexual contact. There are many different kinds of STIs, and many do not have noticeable signs, which is why testing is important. STIs can lead to complications for a pregnant person, and they can be passed to a baby during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Sepsis: Sepsis happens when the body overreacts to an infection. Instead of only attacking infection, the immune system (which prevents and fights infection) attacks healthy organs. Sepsis can become life-threatening if it is not treated. Treatment usually involves medication and fluids, but in severe cases may require surgery.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby, typically during sleep, and it is the leading cause of death for babies ages one month to one year.
Stroke: A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked or bursts, damaging the brain tissue.
Trimester: The word trimester, which means three months, is used to divide a pregnancy into three parts: first trimester, second trimester, third trimester.
Umbilical cord: The umbilical cord is a tube-like organ the organ that forms in the womb. It connects the placenta to the baby and carries oxygen and nutrients to your baby and removes waste from your baby.
Urinary tract infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of any of part of the urinary system, such as the bladder, kidney, and urethra. Common signs of a UTI include pain or a burning feeling when peeing and feeling a need to pee all the time. UTIs can be treated with medication, and they can become serious and affect a pregnancy if they are not treated.
Uterus: The uterus, also known as the womb, is the organ in your belly where your baby grows during pregnancy.
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): The term vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC, is used when a patient has had a C-section in the past but delivers vaginally in the next pregnancy.
