Terminologies

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

Obstetrics : This is a branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.

Caesarian section : It is 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 : It is the neck of the uterus.

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

Crowning : This is 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 : Refers to 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 : This is 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 : This refers to 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.

• Lochia : The vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth, consisting of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue.
• Antenatal care : Medical care and monitoring provided to pregnant women before childbirth.
• Postpartum : The period following childbirth, typically lasting six weeks, during which the mother’s body undergoes physical and hormonal changes.
• Perineum : The area between the vagina and anus in females, which may stretch or tear during childbirth.
• Amniotic fluid : The fluid surrounding the fetus within the amniotic sac, providing protection and cushioning.
• Placenta : A temporary organ that develops during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removing waste products.
• Episiotomy : A surgical incision made in the perineum during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening and facilitate delivery.
• Postpartum depression : A mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion experienced by some women after giving birth.
• Lactation : The production and secretion of breast milk.
• Umbilical cord : The flexible cord connecting the fetus to the placenta, through which nutrients and oxygen are transferred.
• Neonate : A newborn baby, typically in the first 28 days after birth.
• Preterm birth : Delivery of a baby before completing 37 weeks of gestation.
• Ectopic pregnancy : A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
• Intrauterine growth restriction : A condition in which the fetus fails to grow at the expected rate inside the uterus.
• Preeclampsia : A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs, usually occurring after 20 weeks of gestation.
• Fetal distress : A condition in which the fetus is not receiving adequate oxygen, typically detected through abnormal heart rate patterns.
• Postpartum hemorrhage : Excessive bleeding after childbirth, often caused by the uterus not contracting properly.
• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): A specialized medical unit providing care for newborns with serious health conditions or premature babies.
• 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.
• Birth plan : A written document created by the pregnant woman outlining her preferences and expectations for labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
• PARA : The number of pregnancies resulting in a viable birth (≥28 weeks gestation), regardless of whether the baby was born alive or stillborn.
• Primipara : A woman who has given birth to one child.
• Multipara: A woman who has given birth to two or more children.
• Grand Multipara : A woman who has given birth to five or more children.
• Pregnancy: The period from conception to the delivery of the baby.
• Antepartum : Before birth.
• Parturition : The process of giving birth.
• Postpartum : After birth.
• Intrapartum Haemorrhage : Bleeding occurring during labor and delivery (e.g., after delivery of the first twin).
• Antepartum Haemorrhage : Bleeding from the genital tract between 28 weeks of gestation and the end of the second stage of labor.
• 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.
• Labour : The physiological process of expelling the products of conception from the uterus after 28 weeks of gestation.
• Puerperium : The period after childbirth or abortion, lasting approximately 6-8 weeks.
• 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.
• Perinatal : Relating to the period around birth (typically from 28 weeks gestation to 7 days postpartum).
• Lochia : Vaginal discharge following childbirth or abortion.
• Involution : The natural process by which the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size and state.
• Perinatal Mortality Rate: The number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (within the first week of life) per 1000 total births.
• Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1000 individuals in a specified population.
• Neonate : A newborn infant up to 28 days old.
• Neonatal Mortality Rate : The number of deaths of neonates within the first 28 days of life per 1000 live births.
• Infant : A child from birth to one year of age.
• Infant Mortality Rate : The number of infant deaths within the first year of life per 1000 live births.
• Toddler : A child between one and two years of age.
• Abortion : Termination of pregnancy before 28 weeks of gestation.
• Maternal Mortality Rate : The number of maternal deaths attributed to pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium per 1000 women of childbearing age.
• 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.
• Attitude : The relationship of the fetal head and limbs to its trunk. This can be complete flexion, flexion, partial extension, or extension.
• Presentation : The fetal part that enters the maternal pelvis first. Common presentations include cephalic (head), breech (buttocks), face, brow, and shoulder.
• Denominator : The specific part of the fetal presenting part used to describe fetal position (e.g., occiput in cephalic presentation, sacrum in breech).
• Position : The relationship of the denominator to the maternal pelvis (e.g., ROA – right occiput anterior).
• 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).

3 more diagrams available — open the lesson for full illustrations.