TERMS USED IN MIDWIFERY

• Midwifery: The profession of providing assistance and medical care to women undergoing labor and childbirth during the antenatal, prenatal, and postnatal periods.

• Obstetrics: A branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.

• Caesarian Section: An incision made on the uterus through the anterior abdominal wall to remove products of gestation after 28 weeks of gestation.

• Cephalic: Refers to the head.

• Cervix: The neck of the uterus.

• Colostrum: A fluid found in the breasts from the 16th week of pregnancy up to the 2nd and 3rd day after delivery.

• Crowning: When the largest transverse diameter of the fetal skull emerges under the subpubic arch and does not recede back between contractions.

• Gestation: Pregnancy or the maternal condition of having a developing fetus in the body.

• Fetus: The human conceptus from the 9th week to delivery.

• Viability: The capability of the fetus to live outside the womb, usually accepted between 24 and 28 weeks, although survival is rare.

• Gravida: A woman who is or has been pregnant, regardless of pregnancy outcome.

• Primigravida: A woman pregnant for the first time.

• Multigravida: A woman who has been pregnant more than once.

• Nullipara: A woman who is not currently pregnant and has never been pregnant.

• Parity: The number of children born alive or dead after 28 weeks of gestation.

• Vernix Caseosa: A greasy substance that covers the baby’s skin at birth.

• Meconium: The stool of the neonate that is present in the lower bowel at 16 weeks of gestation and is passed within 3 days following birth. It is greenish-black in color.

• Lightening: The descent of the baby into the pelvis, resulting in a drop in fundal height.

• Show: The bloody stained mucoid discharge seen at the onset of labor.

Additional Midwifery Terms

1. Lochia: The vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth, consisting of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue.

2. Antenatal Care: Medical care and monitoring provided to pregnant women before childbirth.

3. Postpartum: The period following childbirth, typically lasting six weeks, during which the mother’s body undergoes physical and hormonal changes.

4. Perineum: The area between the vagina and anus in females, which may stretch or tear during childbirth.

5. Amniotic Fluid: The fluid surrounding the fetus within the amniotic sac, providing protection and cushioning.

6. Placenta: A temporary organ that develops during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removing waste products.

7. Episiotomy: A surgical incision made in the perineum during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening and facilitate delivery.

8. Postpartum Depression: A mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion experienced by some women after giving birth.

9. Lactation: The production and secretion of breast milk.

10. Umbilical Cord: The flexible cord connecting the fetus to the placenta, through which nutrients and oxygen are transferred.

11. Neonate: A newborn baby, typically in the first 28 days after birth.

12. Preterm Birth: Delivery of a baby before completing 37 weeks of gestation.

13. Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.

14. Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A condition in which the fetus fails to grow at the expected rate inside the uterus.

15. Preeclampsia: A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs, usually occurring after 20 weeks of gestation.

16. Fetal Distress: A condition in which the fetus is not receiving adequate oxygen, typically detected through abnormal heart rate patterns.

17. Postpartum Hemorrhage: Excessive bleeding after childbirth, often caused by the uterus not contracting properly.

18. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A specialized medical unit providing care for newborns with serious health conditions or premature babies.

19. Midwifery-Led Care: A model of care in which midwives are the primary providers for pregnant women, providing continuity of care throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

20. Birth Plan: A written document created by the pregnant woman outlining her preferences and expectations for labor, delivery, and postpartum care.

21. PARA: The number of pregnancies resulting in a viable birth (≥28 weeks gestation), regardless of whether the baby was born alive or stillborn.

22. Primipara: A woman who has given birth to one child.

23. Multipara: A woman who has given birth to two or more children.

24. Grand Multipara: A woman who has given birth to five or more children.

25. Pregnancy: The period from conception to the delivery of the baby.

26. Antepartum: Before birth.

27. Parturition: The process of giving birth.

28. Postpartum: After birth.

29. Intrapartum Haemorrhage: Bleeding occurring during labor and delivery (e.g., after delivery of the first twin).

30. Antepartum Haemorrhage: Bleeding from the genital tract between 28 weeks of gestation and the end of the second stage of labor.

31. Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH): Significant blood loss from the genital tract after delivery of the baby and placenta (generally defined as ≥500mL blood loss, or any amount leading to maternal hemodynamic instability). This can occur up to 8 weeks postpartum.

32. Labour: The physiological process of expelling the products of conception from the uterus after 28 weeks of gestation.

33. Puerperium: The period after childbirth or abortion, lasting approximately 6-8 weeks.

34. Lying-In Period: The period immediately following delivery, typically 14 days, during which the mother receives close postpartum care from a midwife or other healthcare professional.

35. Perinatal: Relating to the period around birth (typically from 28 weeks gestation to 7 days postpartum).

36. Lochia: Vaginal discharge following childbirth or abortion.

37. Involution: The natural process by which the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size and state.

38. Perinatal Mortality Rate: The number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (within the first week of life) per 1000 total births.

39. Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1000 individuals in a specified population.

40. Neonate: A newborn infant up to 28 days old.

41. Neonatal Mortality Rate: The number of deaths of neonates within the first 28 days of life per 1000 live births.

42. Infant: A child from birth to one year of age.

43. Infant Mortality Rate: The number of infant deaths within the first year of life per 1000 live births.

44. Toddler: A child between one and two years of age.

45. Abortion: Termination of pregnancy before 28 weeks of gestation.

46. Maternal Mortality Rate: The number of maternal deaths attributed to pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium per 1000 women of childbearing age.

47. Lie: The relationship between the long axis of the fetus and the long axis of the uterus. This can be longitudinal (cephalic or breech), transverse, or oblique.

48. Attitude: The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to its trunk. This can be complete flexion, flexion, partial extension, or extension.

49. Presentation: The fetal part that enters the maternal pelvis first. Common presentations include cephalic (head), breech (buttocks), face, brow, and shoulder.

50. Denominator: The specific part of the fetal presenting part used to describe fetal position (e.g., occiput in cephalic presentation, sacrum in breech).

51. Position: The relationship of the denominator to the maternal pelvis (e.g., ROA – right occiput anterior).

52. Presenting Part: The portion of the fetal presentation that lies over the internal os of the cervix (e.g., anterior or posterior parietal bone in cephalic presentation).