Glossary
Every term, defined plainly.
788 terms from the wiki. Each one has a short definition (the one you see when you hover or tap a term in an article), a plain explanation, and the deeper version. Every term page has its own threads.
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A
- Abuse Assessment Screenalso: AAS, abuse assessment screen questionsA short set of private questions clinicians use to ask about physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by a partner. Asked in private, at routine visits.
- abusive head traumaalso: shaken baby syndrome, shaken baby, abusive head injuryA serious brain injury in a baby caused by another person hurting the baby's head, often by violent shaking. Peaks at 2 to 4 months, when crying is hardest.
- active management of the third stagealso: active management, AMTSL, managed third stageA set of steps used after the baby is born to speed delivery of the placenta and lower the risk of heavy bleeding. Usually includes a medicine that tightens the uterus.
- active phasealso: active labor, established labor, active labourThe stage of labor when contractions are strong and regular and the cervix opens faster. It is often defined as beginning at about 6 centimeters dilated.
- active sleepalso: REM sleep in babies, light sleep in newborns, active sleep in infantsA lighter stage of newborn sleep, with fluttering eyelids, twitches, and uneven breathing. Newborns spend a large share of their sleep in it.
- active straight leg raise testalso: ASLR test, active SLR test, straight leg raise testA clinical check in which you lift one straight leg while lying down, to check for pelvic pain. It is one test clinicians use to help identify pelvic girdle pain.
- acute bilirubin encephalopathyalso: bilirubin encephalopathy, ABE, bilirubin brain injuryBrain injury from very high bilirubin levels in a newborn. Rare, and watched for during jaundice care. Its early signs are a medical emergency.
- acute fatty liver of pregnancyalso: AFLP, fatty liver of pregnancyA rare, serious liver condition, usually in the third trimester. Early signs can look like heartburn, so new symptoms need an urgent check.
- acute otitis mediaalso: ear infection, middle ear infection, AOMA sudden infection behind the eardrum, common in babies. Often brings fever, ear pain, pulling at the ear, and fussiness. Needs a clinician's check.
- acute stress reactionalso: acute stress response, ASRA short, intense reaction to a frightening event, such as a hard or emergency birth. Symptoms usually ease over weeks. Lasting past a month points toward a different diagnosis, PTSD.
- acute-phase reactantalso: acute phase reactant, acute phase protein, acute-phase proteinA protein the liver makes more of during inflammation or infection. It can make some blood tests, such as ferritin, look more normal than they are.
- Adequate Intakealso: AI, adequate intake levelA nutrient target set when there is not enough evidence for a precise requirement. It serves as a guide to how much of a nutrient most people need.
- adjunctive eligibilityalso: adjunctive enrollment, WIC adjunctive eligibilityA way to qualify for WIC by already being enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or CalWORKs, which have their own income checks.
- adjustment disorderalso: adjustment reaction, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed moodDistress that starts after a clear life change, such as a new baby or a move, and makes daily life harder. It often eases with support.
- Affordable Care Actalso: ACA, Obamacare, health reform lawThe 2010 US health law that expanded insurance and requires most plans to cover certain preventive services, including breastfeeding support and pumps.
- Ages and Stages Questionnairealso: ASQ, ASQ-3, Ages and Stages QuestionnairesA parent-completed checklist that screens a child's development at set ages, covering movement, language, and social skills. Used at well-baby visits.
- allomaternal carealso: alloparenting, cooperative care, other caregiversCare for a baby by people other than the mother, such as grandparents, partners, friends, or paid helpers. Common across cultures and through history.
- allopregnanolonealso: ALLO, neuroactive steroid, progesterone metaboliteA brain-active hormone made from progesterone. Its levels rise in pregnancy and drop sharply after birth, which may play a part in mood changes.
- amniocentesisalso: amnio, amniocentesis testA test that takes a small sample of the fluid around the baby with a thin needle. It checks chromosomes and some genetic conditions. It carries a small risk of miscarriage.
- amniotic fluid indexalso: AFI, amniotic fluid volume, fluid level in pregnancyA measure of how much fluid surrounds the baby, taken by ultrasound. A low reading can lead to closer monitoring in late pregnancy.
- amniotomyalso: artificial rupture of membranes, ARM, breaking the waterA provider's procedure to break the bag of waters during labor, using a thin hook. Used to speed labor or to check the fluid more closely.
- anal fissurealso: fissure, anal crackA small tear in the skin lining the anus. It causes sharp pain with bowel movements and sometimes bright red blood. Often follows hard stools or straining.
- anaphylaxisalso: anaphylactic reaction, severe allergic reactionA severe, fast allergic reaction that can affect breathing and blood pressure. It is a medical emergency, and 911 is the first call.
- anatomy scanalso: anatomy ultrasound, level II ultrasound, 20-week scan, mid-pregnancy ultrasoundA detailed ultrasound, usually at 18 to 22 weeks, that checks the baby's organs, limbs, and growth. It can find some conditions and misses others.
- aneuploidyalso: abnormal chromosome number, chromosome count errorA cell that has too many or too few chromosomes. It is a common cause of early pregnancy loss, and it becomes more common as eggs age.
- anhedoniaalso: loss of pleasure, not enjoying thingsA loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to feel good. A core symptom of depression, and it can show up during pregnancy or after birth.
- ankyloglossiaalso: tongue tie, tongue-tieA short or tight band under the tongue that limits how far the tongue can move. Common in newborns, and a feeding issue only sometimes.
- antenatal colostrum expressionalso: hand expression in pregnancy, prenatal colostrum, colostrum harvestingCollecting a small amount of colostrum by hand or pump in late pregnancy. Some mothers do it to prepare for feeding. Evidence on benefit is limited.
- antenatal corticosteroidsalso: lung maturity steroids, steroid shots before preterm birth, fetal lung steroidsSteroid medicine given to a pregnant person when preterm birth may be near, to help the baby's lungs mature. Used when early delivery is possible.
- anti-D immunoglobulinalso: anti-DA plasma-derived injection given to Rh-negative mothers in certain situations, such as bleeding or birth, to lower the chance of the mother making antibodies against an Rh-positive baby.
- antibiotic prophylaxisalso: preventive antibiotics, pre-incision antibiotics, surgical antibioticsAntibiotics given before a procedure, such as a cesarean, to lower the chance of infection afterward. They are not a treatment for an infection already present.
- anticipatory guidancealso: anticipatory guidance for parents, parent preparation, well-child adviceAdvice given ahead of a predictable change, such as a new sibling or a new stage of development. Helps families plan for what comes next.
- antiphospholipid syndromealso: APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Hughes syndromeAn autoimmune condition that raises the risk of clotting and pregnancy loss. Diagnosed with specific blood tests, often checked after repeated losses.
- antojosalso: antojo, food cravings in SpanishThe Spanish word for a food craving, especially in pregnancy. Many Latino families share traditions about what cravings may mean for the baby.
- aortocaval compressionalso: vena cava compression, lying-on-back pressurePressure from the growing uterus on the large veins and artery when lying flat on the back. Can lower blood pressure and make a person feel faint.
- Apgar scorealso: Apgar, Apgar test, Apgar scoringA quick score from 0 to 10 given at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. It checks heart rate, breathing, color, muscle tone, and reflexes.
- apneaalso: breathing pause, apnoea, pauses in breathingA pause in breathing of 20 seconds or more, or a shorter pause with a slow heart rate or color change. Common in preterm babies and worth a clinician check.
- area postremaalso: chemoreceptor trigger zone, brainstem emetic centerA small brain area that senses chemicals in the blood and can trigger nausea and food aversion. Pregnancy-related hormone signals act here.
- areolaalso: areolas, nipple areaThe darker ring of skin around the nipple. Its size and shape change in pregnancy, and it is the part the baby takes into the mouth in a deep latch.
- arousal thresholdalso: arousability, waking thresholdHow easily a sleeping baby wakes to a sound, touch, or change in breathing. Some researchers link low arousal to sleep safety risks.
- asymmetric latchalso: asymmetrical latch, deep asymmetric latchA deep latch in which the lower jaw takes in more of the areola than the upper. It is the pattern most lactation guidance describes.
- atopic dermatitisalso: eczema, atopic eczema, infant eczemaA common, itchy, long-lasting skin condition, often called eczema. Usually starts in the first year and often runs in families with allergies or asthma.
- attachmentalso: breastfeeding attachment, attachment at the breastHow a baby's mouth attaches to the breast during feeding. Good attachment moves milk well and protects the nipple. Often called a latch.
- attachment securityalso: secure attachment, sibling attachment securityHow safely a child feels connected to a parent. Studies of families with a new baby find it can dip for some firstborns, linked to parents' emotional involvement.
- AUDIT-Calso: AUDIT C, alcohol use screen, alcohol screening questionnaireA three-question screen for unhealthy alcohol use, asked at routine visits. It is a short, private check, not a diagnosis.
- autobiographical memoryalso: life story memory, personal memory, memory of your own lifeMemory of your own life, the story of what happened to you and when. Birth memories are a form of this, and they can change over time.
- autocrine controlalso: feedback inhibition of lactation, FIL, local milk controlThe breast's local system that slows milk making when milk sits in the breast, and speeds it up when milk is removed. Key to supply after the first days.
- AWHONN POST-BIRTH warning signsalso: POST-BIRTH, postpartum warning signs, warning signs after birthA checklist of danger signs in the weeks after birth, such as heavy bleeding, fever, or chest pain. Mothers are taught to watch for these at home.
B
- baby bluesalso: baby blues syndrome, the bluesA short stretch of mood swings, tears, and worry that many mothers have in the first two weeks after birth. It usually fades on its own.
- Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiativealso: Baby Friendly hospital, Baby-Friendly designation, BFHIA global program, run by WHO and UNICEF, that recognizes hospitals whose care supports breastfeeding. Many hospitals follow its Ten Steps.
- Back to Sleepalso: Back to Sleep campaign, back-sleeping, sleeping on the backA public health campaign, started in 1994, that asks parents to lay babies on their backs to sleep. It is linked to a large drop in sudden infant death.
- bacteremiaalso: bacteraemia, bacteria in the bloodBacteria in the bloodstream. In pregnancy, Listeria can cause bacteremia and can reach the baby through the placenta.
- bacterial mastitisalso: infectious mastitis, breast infection after birthA bacterial infection of breast tissue after birth, often with fever and a red, hot, tender area. It sits at one end of a spectrum of breast inflammation.
- Barlow maneuveralso: Barlow test, hip stability testA hands-on hip check a pediatrician does in the first months to see whether a baby's hip can slip out of its socket. Most hips are stable.
- base periodalso: benefit base period, base period for benefitsThe past months of work and pay that California checks to decide whether you qualify for disability or paid family leave.
- bed-sharingalso: co-sleeping, cosleeping, sleeping togetherSleeping in the same bed as a baby. Health groups advise against it for infants, and the risk is higher on soft surfaces, with alcohol, or after smoking.
- bedsharingalso: bed sharing, sharing a bed with babyAnother name for bed-sharing, a baby sleeping in the same bed as an adult. See bed-sharing.
- bengkungalso: bengkung binding, Malay belly wrapA traditional Malay postpartum binding cloth wrapped around the belly and hips in the weeks after birth. It is valued for support, and research has not confirmed its benefits.
- bereavement leavealso: bereavement time off, AB 1949 leaveTime off work after a close family member dies, including a child. California law requires most employers with five or more workers to allow up to five days.
- biliary atresiaalso: bile duct atresia, bile duct blockage in babiesA rare condition in which the bile ducts outside the liver are blocked or missing. It is the most urgent cause of jaundice that lasts past the first weeks.
- bilirubinalso: bili, serum bilirubinThe yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down. The liver clears it, and a newborn's liver takes time to catch up, which can cause jaundice.
- biofilmalso: bacterial biofilm, biofilmsA layer of bacteria stuck to a surface and wrapped in its own coating, which can make infections harder to clear. Researchers have proposed one may form in milk ducts.
- biological nurturingalso: biological nurturing model, Colson methodA breastfeeding approach, described by Colson, in which the mother reclines and the baby lies on her body and uses newborn reflexes to find the breast.
- bipolar disorderalso: bipolar, manic depressionA mood condition with alternating periods of mania or hypomania and depression. Sleep loss can trigger an episode of mania after birth.
- birth debriefalso: birth debriefing, birth reviewA conversation, usually with a provider, midwife, or doula, that walks through what happened during birth and why. Some mothers find it helps them make sense of the experience.
- birth traumaalso: traumatic birth, birth-related traumaLasting distress after a birth that felt frightening, painful, or out of control, even when the baby is healthy. It is not a formal diagnosis on its own.
- Bishop scorealso: Bishop scale, Bishop cervical scoreA five-part exam score that rates how ready the cervix is for labor. Clinicians use it to help decide how labor should be started.
- block feedingalso: block feed, single-side feedingA feeding pattern in which a baby nurses on one breast for a set period before switching. It is used with caution when milk supply is high.
- body mass indexalso: BMIA height-and-weight number, weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, used to group adults as underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese.
- bonding leavealso: bonding time off, CFRA bonding leaveUnpaid, job-protected time off, up to 12 weeks, that California parents can take to bond with a new child. It is separate from pregnancy disability leave.
- bradycardiaalso: slow heart rate, low heart rateA heart rate that is slower than expected for a person's age. In babies, a slow heartbeat can be a sign of breathing or oxygen problems.
- Braxton Hicksalso: Braxton-Hicks, BH contractionsAnother name for Braxton Hicks contractions, the irregular practice tightenings of the uterus that many pregnant people feel. See Braxton Hicks contractions.
- Braxton Hicks contractionsalso: Braxton Hicks contraction, practice contractions, false laborIrregular, usually painless tightenings of the uterus in later pregnancy that do not open the cervix. Many people feel them and wonder if labor has started.
- breast milk jaundicealso: breastmilk jaundice, jaundice from breast milkJaundice in a breastfed baby, linked to substances in breast milk that slow the baby's clearance of bilirubin. It often appears after the first few days.
- brexanolonealso: Zulresso, IV brexanoloneAn intravenous medicine approved in 2019 for postpartum depression in adults. It is given in a monitored clinical setting.
- brief resolved unexplained eventalso: BRUE, ALTE, apparent life-threatening eventA sudden, brief episode in a baby under one year, such as a pause in breathing, color change, or limpness, that resolves with no clear cause.
- Bright Futuresalso: Bright Futures schedule, Bright Futures guidelinesThe American Academy of Pediatrics' schedule of well-child visits and health checks from birth through adolescence. It sets the check-in points for babies.
- Bringing Baby Homealso: Bringing Baby Home program, BBHA couples program that teaches partners how to share the work and support each other after a baby arrives. Studies have tested it in new parents.
- bronchiolitisalso: infant bronchiolitis, chest infection in babiesA common viral infection of the smallest airways in babies, most often caused by RSV. It brings congestion, cough, and fast breathing, mostly in winter.
C
- CalFreshalso: food stamps in California, California food stampsAnother name for the federal food benefit program SNAP as it runs in California. See Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- California Family Rights ActCalifornia's job-protection law for family leave. It lets eligible workers take unpaid, job-protected leave to bond with a new child or care for a family member.
- caput succedaneumalso: caput, newborn scalp swellingSoft swelling of the baby's scalp from pressure in the birth canal. It can cross the skull seams and usually fades within a few days.
- car seat tolerance screenalso: car seat test, car seat challengeA test in which a baby, usually born early, sits in a car seat while staff watch breathing and heart rate. It is done before hospital discharge.
- cardinal movements of laboralso: cardinal movements, movements of laborThe seven sequential turns and shifts a baby's head makes as it moves through the pelvis during labor. Maternal position can change how they unfold.
- cardiotocographyalso: CTG, fetal heart rate monitoring, fetal monitoringA monitor that records a baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions at the same time. It shows how the baby responds to labor and contractions.
- carpal tunnel syndromealso: carpal tunnel, CTS, wrist numbnessNumbness and tingling in the hand from pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. Fluid buildup in pregnancy is a common trigger.
- Carpenter-Coustan criteriaalso: Carpenter-Coustan, Carpenter and Coustan thresholdsThe set of blood sugar cut-offs used to read the three-hour glucose test for gestational diabetes. Other labs and guidelines use different numbers.
- carrier screeningalso: genetic carrier screening, expanded carrier screening, carrier testingA blood or saliva test that checks whether a person carries a gene change linked to an inherited condition. It is often offered before pregnancy.
- catecholaminealso: adrenaline, epinephrine, noradrenaline, stress hormonesA family of stress hormones, including adrenaline, that the body releases in response to pain, fear, and effort. They can affect how labor progresses.
- cauda equina syndromealso: cauda equina, CESPressure on the bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spinal canal. It can cause leg weakness, numbness around the groin, and bladder or bowel changes. It is an emergency.
- cell-free DNA screeningalso: cfDNA, cfDNA screening, cell-free DNA testA blood test in pregnancy that reads fragments of placental DNA in the mother's blood to screen for some chromosome conditions. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
- central sensitizationalso: central sensitisation, sensitized nervous systemA state in which the spinal cord and brain amplify pain signals, so pain can persist or spread beyond the original injury. It is one reason some pain lasts.
- cephalohematomaalso: cephalhematoma, newborn head bumpA collection of blood under the skull bone from pressure during birth. It stays within the skull seams and usually shrinks over several weeks.
- cerebral venous sinus thrombosisalso: CVST, sinus vein clotAnother name for cerebral venous thrombosis, a clot in the veins that drain blood from the brain. See cerebral venous thrombosis.
- cerebral venous thrombosisalso: CVT, cerebral vein thrombosis, clot in the brain's veinsA clot in the veins that drain blood from the brain. It is rare, can occur in pregnancy and after birth, and can cause severe headache or seizures. It is an emergency.
- cerebrospinal fluidalso: CSF, spinal fluid, brain fluidThe clear fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord. A leak around the spinal cord can cause a headache that is worse when sitting or standing.
- cerradaalso: la cerrada, closing the bodyA Latin American postpartum practice of wrapping the belly and hips after birth, meant to close the body and settle the pelvis. Many families still do it, and mothers often describe it as comforting.
- certification periodalso: WIC certification, WIC eligibility periodThe stretch of time a WIC participant stays eligible before she must be re-screened. For pregnant participants it runs through pregnancy and six weeks after birth.
- certified nurse-midwifealso: CNM, nurse-midwife, nurse midwifeA registered nurse with advanced training in midwifery who cares for people through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Certified nurse-midwives work in hospitals, birth centers, and some homes.
- cervical insufficiencyalso: incompetent cervix, cervical incompetenceA condition in which the cervix softens and opens in the second trimester without contractions or pain. It is a related but separate diagnosis from a short cervix, and clinicians check for it when a pregnancy is at risk.
- cervical lengthalso: short cervix, cervical length measurementHow long the cervix is, measured by ultrasound during pregnancy. A short length can be a sign that the cervix may open early, so clinicians sometimes check it in the middle of pregnancy.
- cervical ripeningalso: cervix ripening, ripeningThe gradual softening, thinning, and opening of the cervix as the body gets ready for labor. It can start days or weeks before contractions, and it is a normal part of the process.
- cesareanalso: cesarean birth, C-section, cesarean section, caesareanBirth of the baby through a surgical cut in the mother's abdomen and uterus. It can be planned or unplanned, and it is a common and major surgery.
- CFRAAnother name for the California Family Rights Act, a state law that gives eligible workers unpaid, job-protected leave to bond with a new child or care for a family member.
- chest clipalso: sternum clip, chest buckle, car seat chest clipThe small plastic buckle that holds the two car seat shoulder straps together across the baby's chest. It sits at armpit level, and its position affects how the straps stay on the shoulders.
- Child Passenger Safety Technicianalso: car seat technician, car seat tech, child passenger safety techA trained professional who checks that a car seat is installed and used correctly. Many hospitals, fire stations, and health departments offer free car seat checks with a technician.
- child restraint systemalso: car seat, child safety seat, CRSThe formal name for a car seat, booster, or other device that holds a child safely in a vehicle. The term covers rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats.
- childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorderalso: CB-PTSD, childbirth PTSD, birth PTSD, postpartum PTSDA set of trauma symptoms that can follow a frightening or distressing birth, such as flashbacks, nightmares, or avoidance. It is treatable, and support is available.
- chlorhexidinealso: chlorhexidine gluconate, CHGAn antiseptic used on skin and on the umbilical cord in some settings. Guidelines differ on whether it is used, depending on where the baby is born and how common infection is there.
- cholinealso: dietary cholineAn essential nutrient found in eggs, meat, fish, and some vegetables, used in building cell membranes and brain development. Pregnancy raises the body's need for it.
- chorioamnionitisalso: intra-amniotic infection, amnionitis, IAIAn infection of the membranes around the baby and the fluid inside the uterus. It is usually seen in labor, and it can follow when the water has broken for a long time.
- chorionic villus samplingalso: CVS, chorionic villus testA prenatal test that takes a small sample of placental tissue, usually between 10 and 13 weeks, to look at the baby's chromosomes. It is diagnostic, so it can detect conditions that screening only estimates.
- chromosomal microarrayalso: CMA, microarray, chromosome microarray analysisA genetic test on prenatal or infant samples that looks for missing or extra pieces of chromosomes. It finds more small changes than a standard karyotype does.
- circadian rhythmalso: body clock, sleep-wake rhythm, circadianThe roughly 24-hour cycle in the body that governs sleep, hunger, and hormones. A newborn's rhythm is still forming, and daylight helps it set.
- Clostridium perfringensalso: C. perfringens, C perfringens, perfringens food poisoningA common bacterium whose spores survive cooking and can multiply in food that cools slowly. It is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, and it is tied to large batches of cooked food.
- cluster feedingalso: cluster nursing, bunch feeding, cluster feeds, second nightA pattern of frequent, close-together feeds in which a baby seems hungry and hard to settle for a few hours. It is common in the first days and in growth spurts, and it is not a diagnosis.
- cocooningalso: cocoon vaccination, cocoon strategy, household vaccinationVaccinating the people around a newborn, such as parents, grandparents, and caregivers, so that the baby is protected by those around her. It is an ACIP-recommended approach.
- coercive controlalso: controlling behavior, IPVA repeated pattern of control by a partner, such as isolation, monitoring, money control, or threats. It can happen with or without physical violence, and help is available.
- cognitive behavioral therapyalso: CBT, talk therapyA structured talk therapy that helps people notice and change thought and behavior patterns that feed anxiety or low mood. It is one of the first-line options for perinatal depression and anxiety.
- cognitive behavioral therapy for insomniaalso: CBT-I, CBT for insomnia, CBTiA structured program for long-term sleeplessness by changing sleep habits and the worry about sleep. It is a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, and it is different from sleep medication.
- colicalso: infant colic, colicky babyExcessive, hard-to-soothe crying in an otherwise healthy baby, usually starting in the first weeks and easing by about three to four months. It is defined by how much a baby cries, not by a known cause.
- collaborative carealso: collaborative care model, integrated careA way of delivering mental health care in which a primary care or obstetric team works with a behavioral health specialist and a care manager. It brings mental health support to where mothers already go.
- collagenalso: collagen fiber, connective tissue proteinThe most common protein in the body, the main structural material of skin, tendons, ligaments, and the uterus. It is rebuilt during wound healing and during the changes of pregnancy and birth.
- colostrumalso: first milk, beestings, liquid goldThe thick, yellow first milk made in the breasts during pregnancy and the first days after birth. It comes in small amounts and is rich in antibodies and protein for the newborn.
- combination feedingalso: combo feeding, mixed feeding, supplementingFeeding a baby with both breast milk and formula or pumped milk. Many families do this, and it can change over time as feeding goes on.
- combined hormonal contraceptionalso: combined birth control, combined hormonal birth control, estrogen-progestin contraception, CHCBirth control that contains both estrogen and progestin, such as the pill, the patch, or the ring. It is one of several options for preventing pregnancy after birth, and its use depends on breastfeeding and other health factors.
- community health workeralso: CHW, promotora, community health worker programA trained member of the community who helps families connect with health care, benefits, and support. In California they are now part of some maternity care through Medi-Cal.
- comparable positionalso: equivalent position, same or comparable jobThe job a worker must return to after protected leave: the same job, or one with the same pay, benefits, and working conditions.
- comprehensive postpartum visitalso: postpartum checkup, postpartum visit, six-week checkup, postpartum appointmentA postpartum appointment that covers far more than the physical check, including mood, feeding, sleep, healing, chronic conditions, and long-term health. ACOG recommends it, and it can happen over several visits.
- compression ultrasonographyalso: compression ultrasound, venous duplex ultrasound, leg ultrasound, DVT ultrasoundAn ultrasound of the leg veins in which pressure is applied with the probe to see whether a vein is blocked by a clot. It is the first test for a suspected deep vein clot in the leg.
- concurrent leavealso: overlapping leave, concurrent leave rulesLeave that counts toward more than one leave program at the same time, such as federal FMLA and California CFRA. It lets a parent use both protections for the same weeks of leave.
- confinementalso: the confinement period, postpartum confinementA period of rest, protection, and home-based care after birth that many cultures practice. Its length and rules vary widely, from a few weeks to a month or more.
- conjugated hyperbilirubinemiaalso: direct hyperbilirubinemia, cholestatic jaundice, direct bilirubinA type of newborn jaundice in which the liver has not cleared bilirubin properly, shown by a raised direct bilirubin level. It is rare and needs prompt evaluation, unlike the common, harmless kind of jaundice.
- continuing bondsalso: continuing bond, ongoing bond with the deceased, bond after lossThe idea that staying connected to someone who has died, through memory, ritual, or meaning, is a normal part of grief. It is not a sign that grief has gone wrong.
- continuity of careralso: continuity of care, midwifery continuity, continuity of care model, one provider modelA model of care in which the same small group of providers sees a mother through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. It is linked to better outcomes in trials of midwife-led care.
- continuous electronic fetal monitoringalso: continuous EFM, continuous fetal monitoring, electronic fetal monitoring, EFM, fetal heart monitorA belt-based recording of the baby's heart rate and the uterine contractions during labor. It is used to watch the baby's wellbeing, and it can be continuous or intermittent.
- continuous labor supportalso: continuous support in labor, labor companion, continuous companion, doula supportA trained companion who stays with a laboring mother from start to finish, offering comfort, information, and encouragement. Trials link it to fewer interventions and higher satisfaction, and it is still underused.
- coparentingalso: co-parenting, coparenting relationship, parenting allianceHow two adults share the work of raising a child, including how they support each other, divide tasks, and handle disagreements. The quality of coparenting affects both parents and the child.
- copper IUDalso: copper intrauterine device, non-hormonal IUD, Paragard, copper coilA small T-shaped birth control device placed in the uterus. It contains no hormones, can stay in place for years, and can be placed soon after birth in some settings.
- cord prolapsealso: umbilical cord prolapse, prolapsed cord, cord compressionA rare emergency in labor in which the umbilical cord slips through the cervix ahead of the baby. Pressure on the cord can cut off the baby's oxygen, so it needs immediate care.
- corrected agealso: adjusted age, gestational age correction, corrected gestational ageA baby's age counted from the date she was due, not from her birth date. Doctors use it to judge growth and development in babies born early.
- corticosteroid injectionalso: steroid injection, cortisone shot, local steroid injection, steroid shotA shot of an anti-inflammatory steroid placed directly into a painful joint or tendon sheath. Some providers offer it for wrist and hand pain, and it is one of several options.
- counterpressurealso: sacral counterpressure, hip squeeze, back pressure in labor, hip pressureFirm pressure applied by hand to the lower back or hips during contractions, often used by a partner or doula. Many laboring mothers find it comforting.
- Covered Californiaalso: Covered CA, California health insurance marketplaceCalifornia's state health insurance marketplace, where people can buy plans. Its plans must cover maternity and newborn care.
- cow's milk protein allergyalso: cow's milk allergy, CMPA, milk protein allergy, dairy allergy in infantsAn immune reaction to proteins in cow's milk, which can cause rashes, vomiting, blood in stool, or poor growth in an infant. It is different from lactose intolerance and is diagnosed by a clinician.
- CPSTAnother name for a Child Passenger Safety Technician, a certified person who checks that a car seat is installed correctly and that the child is secured in it.
- Cronobacter sakazakiialso: Cronobacter, Enterobacter sakazakii, cronobacter infectionA rare germ sometimes found in powdered infant formula. It is the reason powdered formula is prepared with specific water and handling steps.
- crown-rump lengthalso: CRL, crown rump lengthThe length of an early embryo or fetus, measured from the top of the head to the bottom, on ultrasound. It is used to date early pregnancy.
- crowningalso: head crowning, crownedThe point in birth when the baby's head is visible at the vaginal opening and does not slip back between pushes. The birth is close.
- crying curvealso: normal crying pattern, peak crying, crying peakThe usual pattern in which infant crying rises over the first weeks, peaks around six weeks, and then falls. Most babies follow it.
- cuarentenaalso: period of confinement, confinement periodA period of rest and close family support after birth, lasting about 30 to 40 days in many Latin American and other traditions. Also called the period of confinement.
D
- D-dimeralso: D dimer, fibrin degradation productA blood test that measures a protein fragment made when a blood clot breaks down. In pregnancy it is often raised for reasons that are not clots.
- de Quervain tenosynovitisalso: de Quervain's tenosynovitis, de Quervain's disease, mother's thumb, new mom thumbPain and swelling on the thumb side of the wrist, from irritated tendons. It is common in new mothers who lift and hold babies a lot.
- deciduaalso: decidual tissue, decidual liningThe inner lining of the uterus that forms in pregnancy and is shed after birth. Its leftover tissue leaves the body in the lochia.
- decision-to-incision intervalalso: decision-to-delivery interval, decision to incision, decision to deliveryThe time from the decision to do an urgent cesarean to the first cut into the abdomen. Guidelines set targets for how fast this should happen.
- deep vein thrombosisalso: DVT, deep vein clot, leg clotA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg. Swelling in one leg, with pain or warmth, is the usual sign that needs a same-day call.
- dehiscencealso: wound dehiscence, wound opening, wound separating, incision openingWhen a surgical or repaired wound opens partly or fully along its edges. It can affect a cesarean incision or a perineal repair.
- delayed cord clampingalso: delayed umbilical cord clamping, delayed clamping, cord clampingWaiting a short time after birth before cutting the umbilical cord, so more of the baby's own blood moves to the baby. It is endorsed by major obstetric groups.
- delayed onset of lactationalso: delayed lactogenesis II, late milk coming in, late milk supply startWhen milk does not come in fully by about three days after birth. It has many possible causes, and a lactation consultant can assess it.
- deliriumalso: acute confusion, acute brain dysfunctionA sudden change in attention and awareness, with confusion that comes and goes. It is a medical emergency, usually caused by an illness or a medicine.
- dependent edemaalso: gravity swelling, dependent swelling, ankle swellingSwelling that collects in the lowest parts of the body, usually the feet and ankles, from standing or sitting for long periods. It is common in pregnancy.
- depot medroxyprogesterone acetatealso: DMPA, Depo-Provera, Depo shot, the Depo shotA long-acting hormone injection used for birth control, given every few months. It is common after birth and can delay the return of fertility.
- developmental dysplasia of the hipalso: DDH, hip dysplasia, hip dislocation in infantsA range of hip problems in babies, from a loose hip joint to a hip that is out of its socket. Most are found by a hip exam and sometimes an ultrasound.
- developmental surveillancealso: developmental monitoring, milestone checks, developmental checkOngoing checks at routine visits that track whether a child is reaching skills such as sitting, talking, and playing on the usual schedule.
- DHAalso: docosahexaenoic acid, omega-3 DHA, long-chain omega-3Docosahexaenoic acid, a long-chain omega-3 fat. It builds up in the baby's brain and eye tissue, mostly in the last months of pregnancy.
- diaphoresisalso: sweating, night sweats, postpartum sweatsHeavy sweating, often at night, that is common in the first weeks after birth. It is a normal shift after pregnancy hormones drop.
- diastasis rectialso: ab separation, abdominal muscle separationAnother name for diastasis recti abdominis, the widening of the gap between the two sides of the belly muscles. See diastasis recti abdominis.
- diastasis recti abdominisalso: DRA, rectus diastasisThe widening and thinning of the midline connective tissue between the belly muscles, common after pregnancy. A gap that does not close can cause a bulge and back or core strain.
- Dietary Reference Intakesalso: dietary reference intake, DRI, DRIsA set of nutrient reference values published by the US National Academies for healthy people, with separate values for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- dihydrofolate reductasealso: DHFR, dihydrofolate reductase enzymeAn enzyme in the liver and other tissues that converts folic acid into the active folate the body uses. Its activity varies between people.
- dilationalso: cervical dilation, dilating, dilated, cm dilatedThe opening of the cervix during labor, measured in centimeters from zero to ten. Full dilation is about ten centimeters, when the baby can be born.
- disability certificationalso: doctor's certification, physician certification, disability formThe statement a provider signs to confirm a medical condition that keeps a person from working. California programs require it before paying disability benefits.
- disenfranchised griefalso: hidden grief, unrecognized grief, grief not acknowledgedGrief that others do not see as valid or socially allowed, such as grief after an early pregnancy loss. It can feel lonely and hard to name.
- domingalso: coning, belly doming, abdominal domingA visible ridge or cone along the middle of the belly when the abdomen pushes out against a gap in the muscles. It can show up when rising or straining.
- donor milkalso: donated breast milk, donor human milk, pooled donor milkBreast milk given by another mother, usually screened and pasteurized by a milk bank. Clinicians place it after a baby's own milk when that is not enough.
- dopamine agonistalso: dopamine agonist medication, milk-stopping medication, lactation suppressantA class of medication that lowers prolactin, the hormone that makes milk. Some providers prescribe one to stop milk production, for example after a loss.
- dopamine antagonistalso: dopamine blocker, galactagogue medication, domperidoneA class of medication that blocks dopamine receptors. In some countries one is used off-label for milk supply, but it is not approved for that use in the United States.
- double electric pumpalso: double breast pump, electric breast pump, hospital-grade pumpA breast pump that expresses milk from both breasts at once, using an electric motor. It is often used to build or keep milk supply.
- double pumpingalso: simultaneous pumping, pumping both breasts, double expressingPumping both breasts at the same time instead of one after the other. It saves time and is widely taught in lactation care.
- doulaalso: birth doula, doulasA trained companion who gives emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth. A doula does not provide medical care.
- dream feedalso: dream feeding, late night feed, sleepy feedA feed given to a sleeping baby late in the evening, without waking the baby fully. Some families use it to lengthen the baby's first stretch of sleep.
- dual process modelalso: dual process model of coping, dual process model of griefA model of grief that describes moving back and forth between facing the loss and getting on with daily life. Used to understand grief that comes and goes.
- ductal narrowingalso: clogged duct, blocked ductA tender, hard area in the breast from a milk duct that is not draining well. It is the early end of the spectrum that can become mastitis.
- dysbiosisalso: gut dysbiosis, microbiome imbalance, gut imbalanceA change in the balance of bacteria in the gut or another body site. Pregnancy shifts the gut microbiome, and researchers study how such shifts relate to health.
- dyspareuniaalso: painful sex, painful intercourse, sex painPain during or after sexual intercourse. It is common after birth and often has a treatable cause, such as scarring, dryness, or pelvic floor tension.
- dysphoric milk ejection reflexalso: D-MERA sudden wave of unpleasant feelings, such as dread or sadness, right before milk lets down. It lasts seconds to minutes and is still being studied.
E
- early childhood cariesalso: baby bottle tooth decay, ECC, nursing cariesTooth decay in babies and toddlers, often starting with the upper front teeth. Bacteria from a caregiver's saliva can pass to the child and raise the risk.
- early pregnancy lossalso: miscarriage, early miscarriage, pregnancy loss in the first trimesterThe loss of a pregnancy before about 20 weeks, most often in the first trimester, and often called miscarriage. It is common, and many people do not tell others about it.
- eclampsiaalso: seizures in pregnancy, postpartum seizure, pregnancy seizureSeizures during pregnancy or after birth linked to high blood pressure. It is a medical emergency that needs immediate care.
- ectopic pregnancyalso: tubal pregnancy, ectopicA pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. It cannot continue and is a medical emergency when it ruptures.
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scalealso: EPDS, Edinburgh scale, postnatal depression questionnaireA ten-question screening questionnaire for low mood and anxiety in pregnancy and after birth. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
- effacementalso: cervical effacement, thinning of the cervix, effacedThe thinning and shortening of the cervix before and during labor, measured as a percentage. It works with dilation to open the birth canal.
- ego-dystonicalso: ego dystonic, ego-dystonic thoughtsDescribes an unwanted thought or urge that clashes with a person's values and is distressing to them. Clinicians use the term to tell such thoughts apart from intent.
- elective coveragealso: elective SDI and PFL coverage, self-employed opt-inA way for self-employed workers to opt in to State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave coverage, which they do not get by default. Benefits start after a waiting period.
- EMDRalso: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, EMDR therapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a trauma therapy that pairs recalling a painful memory with guided eye movements or taps. Used for birth-related trauma.
- emollientalso: emollients, moisturizer, baby moisturizerA thick, moisturizing product that softens and protects the skin. Used on baby skin for dryness, and sometimes as part of routine skin care in the first weeks.
- Employment Development Departmentalso: EDD, California EDDThe California state agency that runs State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave, the programs that pay part of your wages when you cannot work.
- endoanal ultrasoundalso: anal ultrasound, endoanal US, anal sphincter ultrasoundA short ultrasound probe placed inside the anus to look at the anal muscles. Used in specialist care when bowel or pelvic floor symptoms continue after birth.
- endometritisalso: uterine infection, postpartum uterine infection, infection of the uterine liningAn infection of the uterine lining. After birth it can cause fever, belly pain, or foul-smelling discharge, and it needs same-day care.
- endothelial dysfunctionalso: endothelial injury, vascular endothelial dysfunctionA problem with the thin lining of blood vessels that makes them tighten and leak more than they should. A core feature of preeclampsia.
- engorgementalso: breast engorgement, engorged breasts, full breastsSwollen, hard, painful breasts that can come with milk coming in. Usually eases within a day or two of regular milk removal, with warmth, feeding, or pumping.
- enhanced recovery after cesareanalso: ERAC, enhanced recovery after cesarean deliveryA set of care steps after a cesarean meant to get you up, eating, and moving sooner. Less bed rest, earlier feeding, and gentler pain control than in the past.
- enhanced recovery after surgeryalso: ERAS, enhanced recovery protocol, fast-track surgeryA care approach for surgery that gets people moving, eating, and home sooner. Used in cesarean care under the name ERAC.
- enterohepatic circulationalso: enterohepatic recirculation, enterohepatic cycleThe loop in which bile is released into the gut, partly reabsorbed, and sent back to the liver. In newborns it helps explain why early feeding lowers jaundice.
- EPDS item 10also: EPDS question 10, Edinburgh question 10, self-harm question on the EPDSThe tenth question on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which asks about thoughts of harming yourself. A yes answer needs a direct, same-day conversation.
- EPDS-3Aalso: EPDS-3A anxiety subscale, Edinburgh anxiety subscale, EPDS anxiety itemsA three-question anxiety check drawn from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It asks about self-blame, worry, and panic, and is used to screen for anxiety after birth.
- epiduralalso: epidural anesthesia, epidural block, epi, neuraxial labor analgesiaA type of labor pain relief given through a thin tube placed in the lower back. It numbs the body from the waist down while you stay awake and can feel the baby.
- epidural blood patchalso: blood patch, EBP, epidural patchA procedure that uses a small amount of your own blood to seal a leak from the spinal fluid space. Used when a spinal headache does not improve with simple measures.
- episiotomyalso: surgical cut to the perineum, perineal cut, episioA small surgical cut made in the perineum, the skin between the vagina and anus, to widen the birth opening. Less routine now than in the past.
- erythema toxicum neonatorumalso: newborn rash, baby rash, erythema toxicum, newborn blotchy rashA common, harmless rash of blotchy red spots on newborn skin that appears in the first days and fades within about two weeks.
- essential health benefitsalso: EHB, EHBsThe ten categories of care that every individual and small-group health plan sold under the Affordable Care Act must cover, including maternity and newborn care.
- etonogestrel implantalso: Nexplanon, birth control implant, arm implant, contraceptive implantA small, thin rod placed under the skin of the upper arm that releases a hormone and lowers the chance of pregnancy for about three years. Common after birth.
- Eustachian tubealso: auditory tube, ear tube connecting to the throatA narrow passage from the middle ear to the back of the throat that balances ear pressure. In babies, ear infections are linked to how it drains, including during feeding.
- expectation violationalso: violated expectations, expectation gap, unmet expectationsThe gap between what you expected from birth, parenthood, or a partner and what actually happened. A large gap is linked to distress and lower feelings of control.
- extensively hydrolyzed formulaalso: eHF, hypoallergenic formula, hydrolysate formula, partially broken-down formulaA formula where the milk protein is broken into very small pieces. Some providers use it when a baby has trouble with cow's milk protein, and the choice is made with a provider.
- external anal sphincteralso: external sphincter, anal sphincter, EASThe outer ring of muscle around the anus that helps control bowel movements. It can be stretched or torn during a vaginal birth.
F
- Fair Employment and Housing Actalso: FEHA, California FEHA, California Fair Employment and Housing ActCalifornia's main law against discrimination at work and in housing. It protects pregnant workers and covers pregnancy-related accommodations.
- Fair Labor Standards Actalso: FLSAThe 1938 federal law that sets minimum wage and overtime rules. A 2022 amendment gives most workers break time and space to pump milk.
- fajaalso: faja garment, postpartum faja, faja binderA compression garment worn around the belly and hips after birth, common in Latin American postpartum care. Some mothers use it for support and comfort.
- Family and Medical Leave Actalso: family leave act, federal family leave, unpaid family leave lawA federal law that gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for a new baby and certain health needs.
- family-centered cesareanalso: family-centred cesarean, gentle cesarean, gentle cesarean birth, family cesareanA cesarean set up so the parent can see and touch the baby right after birth. The drape may be lowered and skin-to-skin contact can begin in the operating room.
- fathers' quotaalso: daddy quota, daddy monthsA policy that reserves part of parental leave for fathers. If the father does not use it, the days are lost. Some countries use this to raise fathers' time at home.
- fear-tension-pain cyclealso: fear tension pain cycle, fear-tension-pain, Dick-Read cycleThe idea that fear tightens muscles, tight muscles make pain feel worse, and worse pain brings more fear. Childbirth education uses it to explain why calm helps.
- febrile infantalso: fever in a young infant, fever in a baby under three months, infant with feverA baby under about three months old with a fever. Fever this young is checked promptly by a medical team, even when the baby seems well.
- fecundabilityalso: fecundity, monthly chance of pregnancy, per-cycle chance of conceptionThe chance that a couple conceives in one menstrual cycle. For healthy young couples it is often described as roughly one in five to one in four.
- federal poverty levelalso: FPL, federal poverty guideline, poverty lineA yearly income measure set by the U.S. government. Pregnancy and infant programs such as Medi-Cal and WIC use a percentage of it to decide who qualifies.
- feedback inhibitor of lactationalso: feedback inhibitor, milk feedback proteinA substance in breast milk that signals the breast to slow milk making when milk sits in the breast. It explains why emptying the breast matters.
- Ferguson reflexalso: Ferguson's reflex, cervical stretch reflex, cervix stretch reflexA reflex in which stretching the cervix triggers a surge of oxytocin and stronger contractions. Proposed as one idea for how sex might start labor.
- ferritinalso: serum ferritin, ferritin level, iron stores testA blood protein that stores iron. A ferritin test shows how much iron your body has in reserve, and it often drops before anemia appears.
- ferroportinalso: iron exporter, ferroportin-1, SLC40A1A protein that moves iron out of cells and into the blood. Hepcidin controls it, and its activity rises in pregnancy so more iron can be absorbed.
- fetal fibronectinalso: fFN, fetal fibronectin test, fFN testA protein from the tissue around the baby, sometimes tested from vaginal fluid to help judge the risk of preterm birth. Used with other signs, not alone.
- fetal growth restrictionalso: FGR, IUGR, intrauterine growth restrictionWhen a baby grows more slowly than expected in the womb, found by ultrasound measurements over time. Providers monitor it closely.
- fetomaternal hemorrhagealso: fetomaternal transfusion, fetal blood in the mother, feto-maternal hemorrhageBaby's blood cells entering the mother's blood, usually in small amounts during late pregnancy or birth. It matters most for Rh-negative mothers.
- Finkelstein testalso: Finkelstein's test, thumb-tuck test, wrist and thumb stretch testA hand test in which the thumb is tucked into the fist and the wrist tilts toward the little finger. Pain on the thumb side is a common sign of a tendon problem.
- flangealso: breast shield, pump shield, pump flange, breast pump coneThe cone-shaped part of a breast pump that fits over the nipple and areola. The right fit affects comfort and how well milk is removed.
- flexible spending accountalso: FSA, flex spending, health FSA, dependent care FSAA tax-advantaged account, often offered through an employer, that pays for some medical and childcare costs. Its rules set when you must spend the money.
- flow preferencealso: bottle flow preference, preference for bottle flowA baby's preference for the faster, easier flow of a bottle over the breast. The older term nipple confusion is now used less, because the reasons are more varied.
- FMLAalso: federal FMLA, FMLA leaveAnother name for the Family and Medical Leave Act, the federal law for unpaid, job-protected leave. See Family and Medical Leave Act.
- folatealso: vitamin B9, natural folate, folatesThe natural form of vitamin B9, found in leafy greens, beans, and some fortified foods. It helps cells divide and build DNA, especially early in pregnancy.
- folic acidalso: synthetic folate, folic acid supplement, folic acid in fortified foodsThe synthetic form of vitamin B9, used in supplements and fortified foods. Starting it before conception is linked to a lower risk of neural tube defects.
- fontanellealso: soft spot, soft spots on baby's head, anterior fontanelle, posterior fontanelleThe soft spots on a baby's skull where the bones have not fully joined. Clinicians check them as part of normal growth and development.
- food insecurityalso: hunger, not enough food, food hardshipNot having steady access to enough affordable, nutritious food. It is common, it is not a personal failing, and screening can connect families to help.
- food packagealso: WIC food package, WIC food listThe set of WIC-approved foods and formula a participant receives, chosen to fill common nutrient gaps. Its contents depend on feeding method and age.
- food protein-induced allergic proctocolitisalso: FPIAP, allergic proctocolitis, milk protein proctocolitis, blood in baby's stool from milk proteinAn allergy-like reaction to milk or another food protein that causes blood-streaked mucus in the stool of a well-appearing baby, usually in the first weeks.
- food protein-induced enterocolitis syndromealso: FPIES, food protein enterocolitis, milk enterocolitis syndromeA reaction to a food protein, usually cow's milk, soy, or rice, that causes repeated vomiting one to four hours after a feed. Some babies also turn pale or very sleepy.
- fortificationalso: food fortification, fortified foods, milk fortifier, folic acid fortificationAdding vitamins or minerals to foods, such as folic acid in flour, or to breast milk for babies born early. It comes up in folate advice and in hospital feeds.
- fourth trimesteralso: the fourth trimester, 4th trimesterThe first three months after birth, when a baby and mother adjust together. The term also describes a model of care that continues past the six-week visit.
- frenotomyalso: tongue-tie release, tongue tie release, tongue-tie division, frenulotomyA small procedure that cuts a tight band of tissue under the tongue to free its movement. Done for some babies with feeding trouble, not all.
- Friedman curvealso: Friedman's curve, labor progress curveA graph of labor progress, drawn from 1950s hospital records, that shows how fast the cervix opens over time. Many labors today are slower than it shows.
- functional progesterone withdrawalalso: progesterone blockA change in how the uterus responds to progesterone near labor, even without a large drop in the hormone's level. It helps the uterus shift toward labor.
- fundal heightalso: fundus, uterine fundus, fundal measurementThe distance in centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, measured with a tape. It tracks growth in pregnancy; after birth, the fundus is felt to follow the uterus shrinking.
G
- G6PD deficiencyalso: G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiencyAn inherited shortage of an enzyme in red blood cells. It can raise the risk of severe newborn jaundice and can be checked with a blood test.
- GABA-A receptoralso: GABA-A, GABA(A) receptorA brain receptor that calms nerve activity when GABA binds to it. Its activity shifts in pregnancy and after birth, which may affect mood and sleep for some mothers.
- GAD-7also: GAD7, GAD 7A seven-question screening questionnaire for anxiety. Scores of 10 or more usually prompt a closer look. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
- galactagoguealso: galactagogues, lactogogue, lactation foodsA food, herb, or drug that is traditionally used to help make more breast milk. Evidence that most of them work is limited.
- galactocelealso: milk cyst, lactoceleA smooth, painless lump in the breast filled with milk. Unlike an infection, it is usually not hot or red.
- galactopoiesisalso: milk maintenance, sustained milk productionThe ongoing process that keeps milk production going once it has started, driven by how often milk is removed. It shapes long-term supply.
- gastric capacityalso: stomach size, newborn stomach sizeHow much milk a newborn's stomach holds at one time. Popular cherry and egg comparisons are rough guides, not measures of what a baby drinks.
- gastroesophageal refluxalso: GER, refluxStomach contents moving back up into the food pipe. In babies it is common, often shows as spit-up, and usually improves with time.
- gastroesophageal reflux diseasealso: GERD, chronic acid refluxReflux that causes ongoing symptoms, such as heartburn, or harm to the esophagus. It often worsens through pregnancy and usually eases after birth.
- gate-control theoryalso: gate control theory, pain gate theoryA model of pain saying that nerve signals can be eased or amplified before they reach the brain, shaped by touch, attention, and mood. Used in labor pain teaching.
- GDF15also: growth differentiation factor 15, MIC-1A hormone made by the placenta that acts on the brain and may drive nausea and food aversion in early pregnancy. Its role is still being studied.
- gelatinalso: gelatine, animal gelatinA protein made by cooking collagen from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue. It sets broths and gels firm when they cool.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7also: GAD-7 questionnaire, GAD scaleAnother name for the GAD-7, a seven-question anxiety screen. Scores of 10 or more usually prompt a closer look. See GAD-7.
- geophagyalso: earth eating, clay eatingThe practice of eating clay, soil, or chalk, found in some cultures during pregnancy. It is a form of pica, and its link to iron and zinc is debated.
- gestational diabetesalso: diabetes in pregnancyBlood sugar that rises for the first time in pregnancy, often found by a glucose screening test. It usually clears after birth but raises later risk.
- gestational diabetes mellitusalso: GDMAnother name for gestational diabetes, high blood sugar first found in pregnancy. See gestational diabetes.
- gestational transient thyrotoxicosisalso: transient thyrotoxicosis of pregnancy, hCG-mediated thyrotoxicosisA brief overactive thyroid pattern in early pregnancy, driven by the pregnancy hormone hCG. It usually settles by mid-pregnancy without treatment.
- gestational trophoblastic diseasealso: GTD, trophoblastic diseaseA group of rare conditions in which abnormal placental tissue grows after conception, detected by a pregnancy hormone level that stays high. Most are treatable.
- gestational weight gainalso: GWG, pregnancy weight gainThe weight a person gains during pregnancy, including the baby, placenta, fluid, breast and uterine tissue, blood, and fat. Targets depend on starting weight.
- GFRALalso: GDNF family receptor alpha-like, GFRAL receptorA brainstem receptor that GDF15 binds to. Activating it can produce nausea, aversion to food, and eating less.
- gingival crevicular fluidalso: GCF, gum fluidFluid that seeps from the gum tissue around each tooth. It rises in pregnancy, which can make gums more prone to swelling and bleeding.
- glucose tolerance testalso: OGTT, sugar testA timed blood sugar test after drinking a measured glucose drink, used to check how the body handles sugar. In pregnancy it looks for gestational diabetes.
- glycemic loadalso: GL, glycaemic loadA measure of how much a food's carbohydrate is likely to raise blood sugar, counting both how fast it acts and how much is eaten.
- glycinealso: aminoacetic acid, GlyThe smallest amino acid, found in collagen-rich foods and made by the body. It may be needed in larger amounts during pregnancy.
- graded exposurealso: gradual exposureFacing a feared situation in small, supported steps until it feels more manageable. Breastfeeding in public is one place it comes up.
- graduated compression stockingsalso: compression stockings, compression socksSnug stockings that squeeze the legs more at the ankle than at the top, to help blood move back up. Used for swelling, varicose veins, and travel.
- graduated extinctionalso: Ferber method, timed check-insA sleep training method where a parent waits longer before each check-in as a baby cries at bedtime. Pediatric guidance usually starts it around six months.
- gray matter volumealso: grey matter volume, gray matter reductionThe amount of brain tissue made of nerve cell bodies in the outer layer of the brain. It shifts in first-time mothers during pregnancy and early postpartum.
- Group B strepalso: strep B, GBS testAnother name for group B streptococcus, a common bacterium that can pass to a baby during birth. See group B streptococcus.
- group B streptococcusalso: GBS, Streptococcus agalactiaeA common bacterium that lives in many adults without symptoms, and can pass to a baby during birth. Testing in late pregnancy looks for it.
- growth spurtalso: growth spurtsA short stretch of faster growth in a baby, often marked by more feeding, more waking, and fussiness. Timing varies and is not fixed.
H
- hair tourniquetalso: hair tourniquet syndromeA strand of hair or thread wrapped tightly around a baby's finger, toe, or genitals, cutting off blood flow. It is rare but needs quick attention.
- half-lifealso: elimination half-life, t1/2The time it takes for the body to clear half of a substance, such as caffeine or a medicine. It shapes how long a substance stays in the body and in breast milk.
- hand expressionalso: manual expression, hand milkingSqueezing milk out of the breast by hand, using a rhythmic press and release. It can collect colostrum or relieve fullness, and needs no equipment.
- hands-on pumpingalso: hands-on pumping technique, breast compression pumpingMassaging and compressing the breast during a pumping session to move more milk. Studies in mothers of preterm babies found larger daily volumes.
- Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Functionalso: Hazelbaker tool, Hazelbaker assessmentA scoring tool that rates how a baby's tongue tie looks and how it works during feeding. Used in some clinics to judge whether a tie is limiting feeding.
- HbA1calso: A1c, hemoglobin A1c, glycated hemoglobinA blood test that shows average blood sugar over about three months. Clinicians use it to look for diabetes before or during pregnancy.
- head extensionalso: extended head position, head tilt backA slight tilt of the baby's head back so the chin drops and the mouth opens wide. It lets the baby take more of the breast into the mouth.
- Helicobacter pylorialso: H. pylori, H pyloriA bacterium that lives in the stomach lining in many people. It is linked to stomach ulcers and is one factor studied in severe morning sickness.
- HELLP syndromealso: HELLP, hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low plateletsA serious pregnancy complication linked to preeclampsia, with red cell breakdown, liver strain, and low platelets. It needs urgent hospital care.
- heme ironalso: animal iron, heme-bound ironThe form of iron found in meat, liver, and shellfish. The body absorbs it more readily than plant iron, and it is the form that sits inside blood.
- hemodilutionalso: dilutional anemia, physiologic anemia of pregnancyThe normal thinning of blood in pregnancy, as plasma volume rises faster than red cells. It lowers hemoglobin readings even when the body is healthy.
- hemoglobinalso: Hb, HgbThe protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Its level, measured in a blood test, is used to check for anemia in pregnancy and after birth.
- hepcidinalso: hepcidin hormone, iron-regulatory hormoneA liver hormone that controls how much iron the body absorbs and releases. It falls during pregnancy, which lets more iron into the blood.
- hippocampusalso: hippocampi, memory center of the brainA curved structure deep in the brain that helps form new memories and learning. In pregnancy, it comes up in research on how nutrients such as choline may shape a baby's developing brain.
- Hirschsprung diseasealso: Hirschsprung's disease, congenital megacolon, aganglionic megacolonA birth condition in which nerve cells are missing from part of the bowel, so stool cannot pass normally. It is one reason a newborn may not pass stool for a long time.
- home visitingalso: postpartum home visit, nurse home visit, home visits after birthA health worker, often a nurse, who comes to your home after birth to check on you and your baby. Programs differ in who visits, how often, and who pays.
- HPA axisalso: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress hormone axisThe hormone signaling chain between the brain and the adrenal glands that controls the body's stress response. Pregnancy and birth change how this system works, which matters for anxiety.
- human chorionic gonadotropinalso: hCG, beta hCGA hormone the placenta makes early in pregnancy. It is the one a pregnancy test detects. It rises fast in the first trimester, around when nausea and food aversions often start.
- human milk oligosaccharidealso: HMO, HMOs, human milk oligosaccharidesComplex sugars found in breast milk that the baby cannot digest. They feed helpful gut bacteria and may block some germs from sticking to the gut wall.
- human placental lactogenalso: hPL, placental lactogenA hormone made by the placenta that rises through pregnancy. It helps prepare the breasts and shifts how the body uses fuel, including making insulin work less well.
- humoral medicinealso: humoralism, humoral theory, four humorsAn old system of medicine that explains health through four body fluids, or humors, that must stay in balance. Many traditional postpartum practices come from it.
- hyperarousalalso: feeling on edge, heightened arousalA state where the nervous system stays on alert, with a racing heart, easy startling, poor sleep, and irritability. It is a symptom of trauma-related stress.
- hyperbilirubinemiaalso: high bilirubin, elevated bilirubinHigh levels of bilirubin, the yellow pigment from broken-down red blood cells, in the blood. Newborns often have some, which shows as jaundice, and levels are checked to watch for problems.
- hyperemesis gravidarumalso: HG, severe morning sickness, severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancyThe severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It can cause weight loss, dehydration, and trouble keeping fluids or food down, and it needs medical care.
- hyperlactationalso: oversupply, milk oversupplyMaking more milk than a baby needs, which can cause fullness, leaking, forceful letdown, or a baby who gulps and chokes. Many mothers call it oversupply.
- hypernatremic dehydrationalso: high sodium dehydrationDehydration in a newborn with high salt levels in the blood, most often from too little milk over several days. It is rare, but it is serious and needs prompt care.
- hypomaniaalso: hypomanic episodeA period of unusually high energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts, and irritability, lasting several days. It is milder than mania and can be part of bipolar disorder.
- hypothermiaalso: cold stress, low body temperatureA body temperature that drops too low. In a newborn, it can happen quickly after birth, especially if the baby is wet or in a cool room, and it needs attention.
- hypotoniaalso: low muscle tone, floppy babyLow muscle tone, so a baby feels floppy or limp when held or moved. Some babies are simply relaxed, but persistent low tone is checked at visits.
- hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathyalso: HIEBrain injury in a newborn caused by too little oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth. It is rare, and care teams work quickly to treat it.
- hysterotomyalso: uterine incisionThe surgical cut through the wall of the uterus that delivers the baby during a cesarean birth. Its location and scar affect future pregnancies and birth options.
I
- IBCLCalso: board-certified lactation consultant, LCA lactation consultant who has passed an international certification exam in breastfeeding care. Mothers often see one for latch, supply, or weight-gain questions.
- ilioinguinal nervealso: ilioinguinalA small sensory nerve in the lower belly and groin. It can be stretched or cut during a cesarean, which may leave numbness or tingling near the scar.
- in loco parentisalso: loco parentis, acting as a parentA Latin phrase meaning in the place of a parent. It describes an adult who treats a child as their own without being the legal or biological parent.
- in vitro fertilizationalso: IVF, test-tube babyA fertility treatment in which eggs are collected, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and the resulting embryo is placed in the uterus. It is a form of assisted reproduction.
- inclined sleeperalso: incline sleeper, inclined infant sleeperA sleep product with a sloped surface, sometimes with straps, that is not a safe place for infant sleep. Pediatric groups and federal rules advise against using it for sleep.
- inductionalso: induced labor, being inducedAnother name for induction of labor, starting labor with medicine or a mechanical method instead of waiting for it to begin. See induction of labor.
- induction of laboralso: labor induction, inducing laborStarting labor with medicine or a mechanical method, rather than waiting for labor to begin on its own. It is done for medical reasons or when pregnancy has run long.
- infant botulismalso: botulism in babiesA rare illness in babies under one year, caused by bacterial spores that grow in the gut and release toxin. Honey is the best-known source, so guidance advises waiting until age one.
- inferior vena cava compressionalso: lying-flat dizziness in pregnancyPressure from the growing uterus on the large vein that returns blood to the heart, which can cause dizziness or faintness when lying flat on the back.
- infertilityalso: trouble getting pregnant, infertileThe inability to get pregnant after a set period of trying, usually a year, or sooner for those 35 and older. Many people seek care when it happens.
- inflammatory mastitisalso: breast inflammationPainful inflammation of breast tissue, with redness, warmth, and sometimes fever. It can follow a blocked milk duct and ranges from mild to serious.
- insufficient glandular tissuealso: IGT, breast hypoplasiaBreasts with less milk-producing tissue than usual, which can limit how much milk they make. It is a physical trait, not a failing of the mother.
- insulin resistancealso: reduced insulin sensitivityA state where the body's cells respond less than usual to insulin, so blood sugar stays higher. It is normal in later pregnancy and is a factor in diabetes.
- insulin resistance of pregnancyalso: pregnancy insulin resistance, physiologic insulin resistanceAnother name for insulin resistance, as it occurs in pregnancy. It is normal and rises in later pregnancy. See insulin resistance.
- intensive motheringalso: intensive motherhood, good mother idealA cultural ideal that says good mothers should devote child-centered, expert, and emotionally absorbing care to their children. Many mothers feel its pressure.
- inter-recti distancealso: IRDThe gap between the two sides of the abdominal muscles, measured across the midline. It widens in pregnancy, and it is the measure behind diastasis recti.
- intermittent auscultationalso: intermittent fetal heart monitoring, listening to the baby's heartbeatChecking the baby's heartbeat at set intervals during labor, with a handheld Doppler or fetoscope, rather than watching it continuously on a monitor.
- intermittent leavealso: leave in blocks, piecemeal leaveLeave taken in separate pieces, such as a few days here and there, instead of one continuous stretch. Some programs allow it, others limit it.
- internal anal sphincteralso: IAS, internal sphincterThe involuntary ring of smooth muscle around the anal canal, which controls resting tone and can be injured in a severe perineal tear during birth.
- International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutesalso: WHO Code, International CodeA 1981 World Health Organization code that limits how formula and other breast-milk substitutes can be advertised and promoted. It governs marketing, not feeding choices.
- interpersonal psychotherapyalso: IPTA short, structured talk therapy for depression that focuses on relationships, role changes, grief, and conflict. It is one of the treatments studied for perinatal depression.
- interpersonal therapyalso: short-term interpersonal therapyAnother name for interpersonal psychotherapy, a short talk therapy for depression. It focuses on close relationships. See interpersonal psychotherapy.
- interpregnancy intervalalso: birth spacing, spacing between pregnanciesThe time from one birth to the next conception. Short gaps are linked to higher risks in some studies, including uterine rupture after a cesarean.
- intimate partner violencealso: domestic violencePhysical, sexual, emotional, or controlling harm by a current or former partner. It can begin or grow during pregnancy. Help is available at 1-800-799-7233.
- intra-abdominal pressurealso: abdominal pressure, belly pressureThe pressure inside the belly cavity, which rises with coughing, lifting, straining, and bearing down. After birth, it can push on a loose abdominal wall.
- intracytoplasmic sperm injectionalso: ICSIA lab method used with IVF in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. It is used mainly when sperm quality is a problem.
- intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancyalso: obstetric cholestasis, cholestasis of pregnancy, ICPA liver condition of late pregnancy that causes intense itching and raises bile acids in the blood. It is linked to risks for the baby, so it is monitored closely.
- intraoral vacuumalso: negative pressure in the mouthThe suction a baby creates inside the mouth as the tongue drops, which draws milk out of the breast. It does most of the work of milk removal.
- intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxisalso: IAP, antibiotics during laborAntibiotics given through an IV during labor to a mother who carries group B strep, to lower the chance the baby gets a serious early infection.
- intrauterine inseminationalso: IUI, artificial inseminationA fertility procedure in which washed sperm are placed into the uterus around the time of ovulation. It is often tried before IVF.
- intravenous ironalso: IV iron, iron infusionIron given directly into a vein in a clinic or hospital, used when iron deficiency anemia is severe or oral iron does not work well. It is given by a clinician.
- intrusive re-experiencingalso: flashbacks after birth, reliving the birth, birth flashbacksUnwanted memories of a frightening birth that break back into the mind as flashbacks, nightmares, or a racing body. One of the core signs of trauma after birth.
- intrusive thoughtsalso: intrusive thought, unwanted thoughts, scary thoughts about the babyUnwanted, upsetting thoughts that pop into the mind, such as images of harm coming to the baby. Most new mothers have them, and they do not reflect a wish to act.
- intussusceptionalso: telescoping bowel, intestinal intussusceptionA rare emergency in which one part of the intestine slides into the next, like a telescope. Babies with it have bouts of severe crying, vomiting, and unusual sleepiness.
- involutionalso: uterus shrinking, postpartum shrinkingThe process by which the uterus shrinks back to its pre-pregnancy size and the placental site heals after birth. It usually takes about six weeks.
- iodinealso: dietary iodine, iodized salt mineralA mineral the thyroid gland needs to make its hormones. Pregnancy raises the amount needed, and it is found in iodized salt, dairy, seafood, and eggs.
- iron deficiencyalso: low iron, low iron storesA shortage of stored iron in the body. It can happen with or without anemia, and it is one of the most common nutrient shortages in pregnancy.
- iron deficiency anemiaalso: iron deficiency anaemia, IDA, anemia from low ironAnemia caused by too little iron, so the body makes fewer or smaller red blood cells. It can cause tiredness and is common in pregnancy and after birth.
- isthmocelealso: cesarean scar niche, niche in the uterine scar, uterine scar nicheA small pocket or thin spot in the scar on the uterus from a cesarean. Many women have one and never notice, while some have spotting or pain.
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K
- kangaroo mother carealso: kangaroo care, KMCHolding a baby skin to skin against the parent's chest for long stretches. It is standard care for preterm and low-birth-weight babies in many hospitals.
- karyotypealso: karyogram, chromosome testA picture of a person's chromosomes, arranged in pairs and counted, to look for large chromosome differences. Used on samples from a prenatal test or blood.
- kernicterusA rare brain injury caused by very high bilirubin levels in a newborn. It is largely avoidable, which is why jaundice is checked and monitored closely.
- ketonuriaalso: ketones in urine, urine ketonesKetones found in the urine, a sign the body is burning fat for energy, often from not eating enough or from vomiting. Its presence alone does not show how severe illness is.
- kick countsalso: kick count, fetal movement counting, counting kicksA way to track a baby's movements in late pregnancy by counting kicks, flutters, or rolls over a set time. A clear change in movement can prompt a call to the provider.
- Kleihauer-Betke testalso: KB test, Kleihauer test, fetal cell testA blood test that measures how much of the baby's blood has entered the mother's bloodstream. It helps decide whether Rh medicine is needed.
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- la cuarentenaalso: the cuarentena, postpartum quarantineA Latin American tradition of resting at home for about 40 days after birth, kept warm and shielded from cold, wind, and visitors.
- Labor Commissioneralso: Labor Commissioner's Office, DLSEThe head of California's state agency that enforces wage, break, and workplace laws. Workers file complaints with its office for unpaid wages and lactation breaks.
- lactation accommodationalso: pumping at work, lactation room at work, pumping breakThe break time and private space an employer must give a worker to pump breast milk. California and federal law both require it.
- lactation consultantalso: lactation specialist, breastfeeding specialistA health professional trained to help with breastfeeding and pumping. An IBCLC is one who has passed an international board exam in lactation care.
- lactation suppressionalso: drying up milk, milk suppression, stopping milk supplySlowing or stopping milk production on purpose, or after a loss, or when breastfeeding ends. Engorgement and discomfort are common during it.
- lactational amenorrheaalso: LAM, lactational amenorrhea method, breastfeeding and no periodNot having periods while breastfeeding, because the hormones that lead to ovulation stay low. It can work as birth control only under strict conditions.
- LactMedalso: LactMed database, Drugs and Lactation Database, NLM LactMedA free online database from the U.S. National Library of Medicine that summarizes what medicines pass into breast milk and what is known about them.
- lactocytealso: milk-making cell, mammary secretory cell, alveolar epithelial cellThe milk-making cell in the breast. Lactocytes line the tiny milk sacs and turn nutrients from the blood into milk.
- lactoferrinalso: milk lactoferrin, lactoferrin proteinA protein in breast milk that binds iron and fights some germs in lab studies. Scientists are still learning what it does in babies.
- lactogenesis Ialso: lactogenesis 1, secretory differentiation, early milk developmentThe first stage of breast milk production, which happens during pregnancy. The breast cells mature and begin making colostrum in small amounts, held back by hormones until birth.
- lactogenesis IIalso: lactogenesis 2, milk coming inThe switch to full milk production, which usually starts about one to three days after birth. Many mothers feel their breasts become full and heavy.
- LATCH scorealso: LATCH, LATCH assessment, breastfeeding latch scoreA five-part checklist for scoring how well a baby latches and feeds at the breast, from 0 to 10. Used mostly by staff to record a feed.
- late preterm infantalso: late preterm baby, 34 to 36 week baby, near-term babyA baby born between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Close to term, but more likely than full-term babies to need help feeding and staying warm.
- late-term pregnancyalso: late term, 41 weeks pregnant, 41 weeksPregnancy at 41 weeks, between full term and post-term. Care teams often watch the baby more closely at this stage.
- latent phasealso: early labor, latent labor, early first stageThe first, longer part of labor, when the cervix opens from about 0 to 6 centimeters and contractions are often mild and spaced out.
- lecithinalso: soy lecithin, sunflower lecithinA fatty substance from egg, soy, or sunflower that some mothers and clinicians try for blocked milk ducts. The evidence for it is limited.
- Leopold's maneuversalso: Leopold maneuvers, Leopold's exam, belly exam for baby positionFour hands-on belly exams that feel where the baby's head, back, and bottom are. Used in late pregnancy to estimate the baby's position.
- let-downalso: letdown, milk ejectionThe reflex that pushes milk from the storage areas of the breast toward the nipple. Often felt as tingling, warmth, or a rush, and sometimes not felt at all.
- levator anialso: pelvic floor muscles, levator muscleThe main group of muscles in the pelvic floor, a hammock-like sling that supports the bladder, uterus, and bowel and helps control them.
- levator ani avulsionalso: puborectalis avulsion, puborectalis detachment, pelvic floor muscle detachmentA pelvic floor muscle that pulls away from the pelvic bone during birth. It is seen on ultrasound and happens more often after forceps or vacuum births.
- levator avulsionalso: pelvic floor muscle tear, pelvic floor avulsionAnother name for levator ani avulsion. See levator ani avulsion.
- licensed midwifealso: LM, state-licensed midwifeA midwife licensed by the state to attend planned out-of-hospital births, usually at home. In California this is separate from a nurse-midwife.
- linea albaalso: midline of the belly, abdominal midline, belly midlineThe thin band of connective tissue down the middle of the belly, where the two sides of the stomach muscle meet. It widens during pregnancy.
- linea nigraalso: dark line on the belly, pregnancy belly lineA dark vertical line down the middle of the belly that often appears in pregnancy, caused by pigment changes from hormones. It usually fades after birth.
- Listeria monocytogenesalso: Listeria, listeria bacteriaA bacterium found in some ready-to-eat foods and in soil and water. It can cross the placenta, so it is a serious risk in pregnancy.
- listeriosisalso: listeria infection, listeria illness, listeria diseaseThe illness caused by Listeria bacteria, usually from contaminated food. In pregnancy it can harm the baby even when the mother feels only mildly unwell.
- live attenuated vaccinealso: live vaccine, weakened live vaccine, live virus vaccineA vaccine made with a weakened form of a live germ, such as MMR or chickenpox vaccine. These are generally not given during pregnancy.
- lochiaalso: postpartum bleeding, afterbirth bleeding, postpartum dischargeThe vaginal bleeding and discharge after birth, made of blood and tissue from the uterus lining. It often lasts about a month.
- lochia albaalso: white lochia, white discharge after birthThe last stage of postpartum discharge, usually white or cream-colored, often seen in the later weeks after birth.
- lochia rubraalso: red lochia, red discharge after birth, bright red bleeding after birthThe first and heaviest stage of lochia, bright or dark red bleeding in the first few days after birth. Mostly blood and tissue from the placental site.
- lochia serosaalso: pink lochia, brownish discharge after birth, pinkish dischargeThe middle stage of lochia, pink to brown and thinner than the red stage, usually from about the fourth day into the second week.
- low-dose aspirin prophylaxisalso: baby aspirin in pregnancy, daily aspirin in pregnancy, aspirin for preeclampsia riskPreventive low-dose aspirin in pregnancy, offered to people at higher risk of preeclampsia. Guidelines set the risk factors and the timing.
- low-molecular-weight heparinalso: LMWH, enoxaparin, heparin injectionsA blood-thinning medicine, usually given by injection, used in pregnancy and after birth for clot risk or confirmed clots. Enoxaparin is one common example.
- lying-inalso: lying in period, the lying-in periodThe traditional period of rest and confinement after birth, when the mother stayed indoors, warm, and cared for. Practiced in many cultures for centuries.
- lymphatic drainagealso: manual lymphatic drainage, MLD, lymph massageA gentle, light-touch massage technique that moves fluid through the lymph vessels. Some breastfeeding guidance mentions it for engorgement and swelling.
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- macrosomiaalso: large baby, big baby, birth weight over 4,000 gramsA baby who weighs 4,000 grams or more, about 8 pounds 13 ounces, at birth, regardless of how far along the pregnancy is.
- magnesium sulfatealso: magnesium, Mg sulfateA medicine given through a vein to lower the risk of seizures when preeclampsia is severe, and to treat seizures if they happen. Mothers may hear it called mag.
- mammary dysbiosisalso: breast microbial imbalance, ductal bacterial shiftA shift in the bacteria living in the milk ducts that some researchers think can lead to infection. Studied when mastitis keeps coming back.
- managed care planalso: Medi-Cal managed care, managed careA health plan that contracts with Medi-Cal to organize and cover a member's care. It lists the doctors, clinics, and doulas in its network.
- mastitisalso: breast infection, inflamed breastInflammation of breast tissue, often after a plugged duct, that can involve infection. Common in breastfeeding mothers and usually managed with effective milk removal.
- mastitis spectrumalso: breast inflammation spectrum, lactation breast problemsThe range of breast problems, from engorgement and plugged ducts to infection and abscess. The milder end is common and usually clears with milk removal.
- maternal-fetal medicinealso: MFM, perinatologist, high-risk obstetricsA subspecialty of obstetrics for higher-risk pregnancies. Your provider may bring in one of these specialists for complex health needs.
- matrescencealso: becoming a mother, maternal identity changeThe developmental change of becoming a mother, a major shift in identity, body, and relationships. Dana Raphael coined the word in 1973.
- matrix metalloproteinasealso: MMP, MMPs, matrix metalloproteinasesA family of enzymes that break down the structural proteins in tissue. They take part in softening the cervix and weakening the membranes before labor.
- maximum comfortable vacuumalso: max comfortable suction, comfortable suction levelThe strongest pump suction a mother can use without pain. Research links this level, not the highest setting, with milk output and flow.
- meal trainalso: meal calendar, food train, meal scheduleA shared schedule where friends and neighbors sign up to bring meals to a family. Often run through an online sign-up page.
- mean corpuscular volumealso: MCV, red blood cell sizeA blood test value that measures the average size of red blood cells. Small cells can point to iron deficiency or a thalassemia trait.
- meconiumalso: first stool, newborn first poop, black tar stoolThe dark, sticky first stool a baby passes, made of what they swallowed in the womb. It usually comes within the first day or two.
- Medi-Calalso: Medi-Cal program, Medicaid in CaliforniaCalifornia's Medicaid program. It covers pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care for eligible residents, and includes a doula benefit.
- Medi-Cal Access Programalso: MCAP, Medi-Cal AccessA California program that gives pregnancy-related coverage to people whose income is above Medi-Cal's limit but below a higher state limit.
- Medicaidalso: Medicaid coverageThe federal and state health coverage program for people with low incomes, including many pregnant people. In California it is called Medi-Cal.
- medical homealso: patient-centered medical home, pediatric medical homeA model of primary care in which one team coordinates a child's health care, including after-hours access and records. It is a way of organizing care, not a place.
- medical nutrition therapyalso: MNT, dietitian nutrition therapy, nutrition counselingIndividual nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian or diabetes educator. It is a core first step in managing gestational diabetes, per ACOG.
- mediolateral episiotomyalso: mediolateral cut, side cutA surgical cut made at an angle from the vaginal opening toward the side, to make room during birth. Used less often than in the past.
- melasmaalso: chloasma, pregnancy mask, mask of pregnancyBrown patches of darker skin, often on the face, that can appear in pregnancy. Sun exposure and genetics both play a role.
- melatoninalso: sleep hormone, pineal hormoneA hormone that signals night to the body and helps set the sleep-wake rhythm. It is also found in human milk, and levels there change across the day.
- melenaalso: black stool, tarry stool, black tarry stoolBlack, tarry, sticky stool that can mean bleeding higher in the digestive tract. It is a reason for a same-day call to a provider.
- membrane sweepalso: stripping the membranes, membrane strippingAnother name for membrane sweeping, a gentle exam to start labor. See membrane sweeping.
- membrane sweepingalso: sweeping the membranes, stretch and sweepA gentle exam-based step that separates the membranes from the cervix to try to start labor. Sometimes done near the due date.
- meralgia parestheticaalso: meralgia, burning thigh, Bernhardt-Roth syndromeNumbness, tingling, or burning on the outer thigh, from pressure on a nerve at the hip or groin. It can be confused with back or hip problems.
- methylmercuryalso: mercury in fish, MeHgA form of mercury that builds up in some large fish. High levels can affect a developing baby's nervous system, so fish guidance limits some species.
- midwifealso: direct-entry midwifeA trained birth professional who cares for people in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Midwives in the US include certified nurse-midwives and licensed midwives.
- migrainealso: migraine headache, sick headacheA recurring type of headache with throbbing pain, nausea, or light sensitivity. Migraine can change in pregnancy, and some headaches need urgent checking.
- miliariaalso: heat rash, prickly heat, sweat rashA rash of tiny bumps from blocked sweat ducts, usually in overheated or over-wrapped babies. It often clears when the baby cools down.
- milk ejection reflexalso: let-down reflexThe reflex that pushes milk from storage areas toward the nipple when the baby suckles or a pump starts. Often felt as tingling or a let-down.
- milk storage capacityalso: how much milk a breast holdsAnother name for storage capacity: how much milk a breast can hold before it needs emptying. It varies widely between mothers.
- milk transferalso: milk intake, how much milk baby gets, milk transfer at the breastHow much milk a baby actually takes in at the breast. It is judged by weight changes and feeding behavior, not by how the breast feels.
- milk-to-plasma ratioalso: M:P ratio, milk plasma ratio, M/P ratioA measure of how much of a drug or substance passes from a mother's blood into her milk. Clinicians use it to judge how much a baby might receive.
- mixed statealso: mixed episode, mixed featuresA mood episode with high-energy and low-mood symptoms at the same time, such as agitation with hopelessness. It can happen in bipolar disorder.
- Modified Oxford Scalealso: Oxford scale, Oxford grading, pelvic floor muscle gradingA 0 to 5 scale a pelvic floor therapist or specialist uses to grade how well the pelvic floor muscles squeeze and lift. Used at the postpartum exam.
- Montevideo unitalso: Montevideo units, contraction unitsA unit that measures contraction strength by adding up uterine pressure across contractions in 10 minutes. Used to define slow progress in labor.
- Mood Disorder Questionnairealso: MDQ, bipolar screening questionnaireA short screening questionnaire for bipolar spectrum symptoms. Some clinicians use it before starting antidepressants, to check for signs of bipolar disorder.
- Moro reflexalso: startle reflex, newborn startleA newborn reflex in which the baby's arms fling out and then pull in after a sudden movement or sound. It fades over the first few months.
- mother-baby unitalso: psychiatric mother-baby unit, mother and baby unitA hospital unit where a mother and baby stay together during psychiatric care. Common in the UK and Australia, and uncommon in the US.
- MTHFRalso: methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR geneA gene that makes an enzyme for processing folate. Common versions can change how well it works, and routine testing is not recommended.
- multimodal analgesiaalso: multimodal pain relief, combined pain relief, multimodal pain controlUsing several pain-relief approaches together, such as medicines that work in different ways, to manage pain after surgery like a cesarean. It aims to rely less on any one medicine.
- multiple-user pumpalso: shared pump, multi-user pumpA hospital-grade pump designed to be used by more than one person, with a separate personal kit for each user. Often rented from a hospital or lactation service.
- myometriumalso: uterine muscle, uterine wall muscleThe thick middle layer of the uterus wall, made of smooth muscle. It contracts during labor and in the afterpains that follow birth.
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- National Maternal Mental Health Hotlinealso: 1-833-TLC-MAMA, maternal mental health hotlineA free U.S. phone line, 1-833-852-6262, for counseling and referrals about mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth.
- nausea and vomiting of pregnancyalso: morning sickness, NVPNausea, often with vomiting, that is common in early pregnancy. It usually eases by the second trimester, and severe cases need medical care.
- necrotizing enterocolitisalso: NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis of the newbornA serious inflammation and injury of the bowel that mostly affects premature babies. Human milk is linked with lower risk.
- necrotizing fasciitisalso: flesh-eating infection, necrotizing soft tissue infectionA rare, fast-moving infection of the deep layers of skin and tissue. It needs emergency care, and early signs are pain out of proportion, fever, and spreading redness.
- neonatal hypoglycemiaalso: low blood sugar in newborns, newborn low blood sugarLow blood sugar in a newborn, more common in babies whose mothers had diabetes in pregnancy. Checked after birth and sometimes treated in the hospital.
- neural tube defectalso: NTD, NTDs, neural tube defectsA birth defect of the brain or spinal cord, such as spina bifida, that forms in the first weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid before pregnancy is linked with lower risk.
- neuraxial anesthesiaalso: spinal blockNumbing medicine placed near the spinal cord, through an epidural or spinal, to block pain in the lower body for birth or cesarean.
- newborn weight nomogramalso: weight nomogram, newborn weight percentile chart, early weight loss nomogramA chart showing expected newborn weight loss and regain by hour or day of life. Clinicians use it to tell whether a baby is on track.
- Newborn Weight Toolalso: NWT, NEWT, newborn weight calculatorAnother name for the newborn weight nomogram as built into an online tool that places a baby's weight on expected curves for each hour of life. See newborn weight nomogram.
- Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Actalso: NMHPA, 48-hour law, Newborns and Mothers Health Protection ActA 1996 federal law that requires insurers that cover childbirth to also cover a minimum hospital stay after birth. It does not require the stay itself.
- nipple confusionalso: nipple preference, bottle preferenceA term for a breastfed baby who seems to prefer a bottle or pacifier and then struggles at the breast. Researchers still debate whether it is a real effect.
- nipple shieldalso: nipple shields, silicone nipple shieldA thin, soft cover worn over the nipple during a feed. It is used for a short time when latching hurts or the baby struggles to latch.
- nipple traumaalso: sore nipples, cracked nipples, damaged nipplesInjury to the nipple from feeding, pumping, or other causes, such as cracks, blisters, or bleeding. It is one of the most common reasons mothers seek help with breastfeeding.
- nipple vasospasmalso: nipple spasm, nipple blanchingA narrowing of the blood vessels in the nipple that turns it white and then blue or red after a feed, often with burning or throbbing pain. Cold can make it worse.
- NIPTalso: noninvasive prenatal testingA blood test in pregnancy that looks for small pieces of DNA, mostly from the placenta, in the mother's blood to screen for some chromosome conditions. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
- nirsevimabalso: Beyfortus, RSV antibody shot, RSV monoclonal antibodyA long-acting antibody given by injection to babies in their first RSV season to lower the chance of severe RSV lower respiratory illness.
- non-heme ironalso: nonheme iron, plant-based ironThe form of iron found in plants and in iron supplements. The body absorbs less of it than heme iron, and vitamin C eaten with it can help it absorb more.
- non-nutritive suckingalso: nonnutritive sucking, comfort suckingSucking that is for comfort rather than milk, such as sucking on a pacifier, a finger, or the breast with little milk flowing. It can calm a baby.
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugalso: NSAID, NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory painkillerA class of common pain and fever medicines that reduce inflammation. The FDA has advised avoiding them from 20 weeks of pregnancy because of effects on the baby's kidneys.
- NTSV cesarean ratealso: NTSV, nulliparous term singleton vertex, low-risk cesarean rateThe share of first-time mothers with one baby, head down, at term who have a cesarean. It is a common measure for comparing birth outcomes between hospitals and countries.
- nuchal translucencyalso: NT, NT scan, neck fold scanA thin pocket of fluid at the back of the baby's neck, measured on an ultrasound between 11 and 14 weeks. A larger measurement can prompt more testing.
- nulliparousalso: nullipara, first-time mother, first birthA word for a woman who has not given birth to a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later. Clinicians use it because first births often follow a different course.
- Nurse-Family Partnershipalso: Nurse Family Partnership, NFP home visiting, nurse home visitingA home visiting program in which a nurse visits first-time mothers with low incomes regularly from pregnancy until the child is about two. It is one of several public health visiting programs.
- nursing aversion and agitationalso: breastfeeding aversion, nursing agitationA strong urge to pull away or unlatch during a feed, sometimes with anger or dread. It is different from the let-down feeling and can have several causes.
- nursing strikealso: breastfeeding strike, sudden breast refusal, baby refusing the breastA sudden refusal of the breast by a baby who had been feeding well. It often has a cause, such as pain, a stuffy nose, or a change in routine.
- nutritional riskalso: WIC nutrition risk, nutrition riskA health finding, such as anemia or poor growth, that a WIC staff member must record before a person can qualify for WIC food benefits.
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- OB-GYNalso: OBGYN, obstetrician-gynecologistA doctor trained in pregnancy, birth, and women's reproductive health. Many mothers see one for prenatal care, birth, and the postpartum checkup.
- obstetric anal sphincter injuryalso: OASIS, third-degree tear, fourth-degree tearA tear during vaginal birth that reaches the muscle around the anus. Some mothers call these third- or fourth-degree tears. Many heal well with time and pelvic floor care.
- obstructive sleep apneaalso: OSA, sleep apneaA condition in which the airway narrows or closes during sleep, causing pauses in breathing, loud snoring, and daytime sleepiness. It becomes more common in pregnancy.
- occiput posterioralso: OP position, sunny side up, back-to-back babyA baby position in labor where the back of the baby's head faces the mother's back, not her front. It can make labor feel longer and more painful in the back.
- odontogenic infectionalso: tooth infection, dental abscessAn infection that starts in a tooth or the gum around it. Fever, facial swelling, or a loose tooth can signal one, and it needs prompt care.
- oligohydramniosalso: low amniotic fluid, low fluid around the babyA lower than usual amount of amniotic fluid around the baby. It is found on ultrasound and can matter for the baby's growth and kidneys.
- oligosaccharideA complex sugar found in human milk that the baby cannot digest. Researchers study how these sugars shape the baby's gut bacteria and immune system.
- omphalitisalso: cord infection, belly button infection, umbilical cord infectionAn infection of the umbilical cord stump or the skin around it. Redness, swelling, bad smell, or pus around the cord needs prompt medical review.
- omugwoalso: ọmụgwọ, omugwo traditionAn Igbo tradition of a mother's own mother, or another trusted female relative, living with the new mother to help with the baby and the household in the early weeks.
- ondansetronalso: Zofran, anti-nausea medicineAn anti-nausea medicine that some providers use for severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy when other options have not helped. Researchers have studied a small possible risk to the baby.
- one-carbon metabolismalso: folate metabolism, one carbon cycleA set of body chemical pathways that move small units of carbon between molecules. Folate depends on it, and it is busy during early fetal development.
- oocystalso: oocysts, Toxoplasma oocystThe shed egg-like stage of the Toxoplasma parasite, passed in cat feces. It can contaminate soil, litter, and unwashed produce, which is why hygiene matters in pregnancy.
- operative vaginal birthalso: instrumental delivery, vacuum delivery, forceps delivery, assisted vaginal birthA vaginal birth finished with a vacuum cup or forceps to help the baby out. It is used for a small share of births and is planned or done when labor needs help.
- oral glucose tolerance testalso: three-hour glucose testA blood test in pregnancy that measures how the body handles a sugar drink over time. It is used to diagnose gestational diabetes, either after a positive first screen or as a one-step test.
- oral rehydration solutionalso: ORS, electrolyte solution, rehydration drinkA drink of water, salts, and sugar in measured amounts, used to replace fluid and salts lost to vomiting or diarrhea. It is a standard approach to dehydration.
- organogenesisalso: organ formation, embryonic organ developmentThe stage of early development when the baby's main organs take shape, roughly weeks three to eight after conception. It starts before most people know they are pregnant.
- orthostatic hypotensionalso: postural hypotension, standing dizziness, lightheaded when you standA drop in blood pressure when a person stands up, which can cause dizziness or faintness. It is common in pregnancy because of changes in blood flow.
- Ortolani maneuveralso: Ortolani test, hip click testA hands-on test of a newborn's hips, done by a clinician to check for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The clinician gently moves each hip to feel for a click or slip.
- osmotic laxativealso: osmotic laxatives, laxativeA type of laxative that draws water into the bowel to soften stool. It is one of several options providers discuss for constipation after birth or in pregnancy.
- ovarian reservealso: egg reserve, egg count, AMHA measure of how many eggs remain in the ovaries. It is estimated with a blood test and an ultrasound count, and it predicts response to fertility treatment more than natural conception.
- oxytocinalso: love hormone, let-down hormoneA hormone the body releases during birth, breastfeeding, and close contact. It causes uterine contractions and the milk let-down reflex.
- oxytocin augmentationalso: labor augmentation, augmentation of labor, Pitocin dripGiving synthetic oxytocin through an IV to make contractions stronger or closer together once labor has started. It is a common hospital practice in labor.
P
- paced bottle feedingalso: paced feeding, responsive bottle feedingA way of giving a bottle that lets the baby control the pace, with pauses and a slower flow. It is taught to bring bottle feeds closer to breastfeeding.
- Paget disease of the nipplealso: Paget's disease of the nipple, mammary Paget diseaseA rare skin change of the nipple and areola that looks like stubborn eczema and does not heal. It needs a biopsy and is not the same as a common nipple irritation.
- pagophagiaalso: ice craving, craving iceA strong urge to chew ice. In pregnancy it is often linked to low iron, and some mothers report it eases once iron levels improve.
- Paid Family Leavealso: PFL, CA Paid Family LeaveA California state program that pays partial wages for weeks away from work to bond with a new baby or care for a family member. It is run by the Employment Development Department.
- pantangalso: pantang larang, pantanganA Malay and Indonesian word for restrictions families keep after birth, on food, activity, and exposure. The restrictions rest on beliefs about recovery.
- pasteurizationalso: pasteurized, pasteurisedA heat treatment that kills most harmful germs in milk and juice. Pasteurized foods can still carry some bacteria after processing, such as Listeria in soft cheese.
- paternal perinatal depressionalso: partner perinatal depression, non-birthing parent depression, paternal postpartum depressionDepression or anxiety in a father or non-birthing partner during pregnancy or the first year after birth. It is common, often missed, and affects the whole family.
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9also: PHQ9, depression screening questionnaireA nine-question screening form for depression that is often used in pregnancy and after birth. A higher total score means a closer look is needed.
- PCL-5also: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PTSD checklist, PCL5A 20-question checklist for symptoms of post-traumatic stress, used in mental health care and sometimes after a difficult birth or loss. A higher score prompts a closer assessment.
- peanut ballalso: peanut-shaped ball, labor peanut ballA peanut-shaped inflatable ball used in labor to support positions that may help the baby move lower. The evidence for its effect is limited.
- peer counseloralso: breastfeeding peer counselor, WIC peer counselorA trained mother who has breastfed and offers feeding help, usually through WIC. Peer counselors share experience. They are not nurses or lactation consultants.
- peer supportalso: peer-to-peer support, mom-to-mom supportSupport from someone who has lived through a similar experience, such as birth, loss, or postpartum depression. It can be one-on-one or in a group.
- pelvic floor muscle trainingalso: Kegels, Kegel exercises, PFMT, pelvic floor exercisesRepeated squeezing and lifting of the muscles that hold up the bladder, bowel, and uterus. Often called Kegels. Used for leaking, prolapse, and pain.
- pelvic floor physical therapistalso: pelvic floor PT, pelvic PTA physical therapist with extra training in the pelvic floor muscles. They help with leaking, pain, prolapse, and recovery after birth.
- pelvic floor physical therapyalso: pelvic floor rehab, pelvic floor therapy, pelvic physioHands-on and exercise-based care for the pelvic floor, given by a physical therapist. It is used for leaking, pain, and recovery after pregnancy or birth.
- pelvic girdle painalso: PGP, pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, symphysis painPain at the back of the pelvis or over the front pubic joint, common in pregnancy and after birth. It often gets worse with walking, turning, or standing on one leg.
- pelvic organ prolapsealso: prolapse, fallen bladder, dropped uterus, cystoceleA pelvic organ, such as the bladder, bowel, or uterus, sinks lower than normal. It can cause heaviness or a bulge in the vagina. Common after birth.
- pemphigoid gestationisalso: herpes gestationis, gestational pemphigoidA rare, itchy blistering skin condition that starts in pregnancy, often in the second or third trimester. It is treatable and usually fades after birth.
- perceived insufficient milkalso: low milk supply feeling, thinking I don't have enough milk, perceived low supplyThe worry that the baby is not getting enough milk, even when the baby is growing well. It is one of the most common reasons mothers give for stopping breastfeeding early.
- peri bottlealso: peri-bottle, perineal rinse bottle, squeeze bottleA squeezable plastic bottle with an angled nozzle, used to rinse the perineum with warm water after using the toilet in the early weeks after birth.
- perinatal anxietyalso: prenatal anxiety, antenatal anxiety, anxiety in pregnancy and after birthAnxiety that starts in pregnancy or in the first year after birth. It can include constant worry, panic, or fear for the baby. It is common and treatable.
- Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scalealso: PASS, PASS questionnaireA 31-question self-report form that screens for anxiety in pregnancy and after birth. It is a screen, not a diagnosis, and a provider reviews the result.
- perinatal depressionalso: prenatal depression, antenatal depression, peripartum depressionDepression that starts in pregnancy or in the first year after birth. It is more than the baby blues, lasts longer, and is common and treatable.
- perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorderalso: perinatal OCD, prenatal OCD, postpartum OCDObsessive-compulsive disorder that starts in pregnancy or after birth. Unwanted, scary thoughts come back again and again, and rituals follow. Treatable.
- perinatal psychiatry access programalso: perinatal psychiatry consultation line, PPAP, psychiatry access line for momsA phone line where a provider can get advice from a psychiatrist about a pregnant or postpartum patient. Mothers usually reach it through their own provider.
- perinatal therapistalso: perinatal counselor, maternal mental health therapistA therapist with training in mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth. Many also work with partners and families.
- perineal bodyalso: perineal center, central tendon of the perineumA dense knot of muscle and tissue between the vagina and anus. Birth stretches it, and tears here often involve it.
- perineal lacerationalso: perineal tear, tear down there, perineal tearingA tear in the skin and tissue between the vagina and anus that happens during a vaginal birth. Most are small, and they are graded by how deep they go.
- perineumalso: perineal area, area between vagina and anusThe area of skin and tissue between the vagina and the anus. It stretches during birth and heals over the weeks after a vaginal birth.
- Period of PURPLE Cryingalso: PURPLE crying, PURPLE programA teaching program that explains normal newborn crying. PURPLE stands for peak of crying, unexpected, resists soothing, pain-like face, long lasting, and evening.
- periodic breathingalso: newborn breathing pauses, pauses in newborn breathingA normal newborn pattern of breathing in bursts with short pauses of up to about 10 seconds. The baby stays pink and the heart rate stays steady.
- periodontitisalso: gum disease, pregnancy gum disease, periodontal diseaseAdvanced gum disease where the gums pull away from the teeth and bone is lost. It is more common in pregnancy and can be treated by a dentist.
- peripartum cardiomyopathyalso: PPCM, pregnancy heart failure, postpartum heart failureA rare weakening of the heart muscle that starts late in pregnancy or in the months after birth. Shortness of breath, swelling, and fast heartbeat are signs to report.
- peripartum onsetalso: with peripartum onset, peripartum specifierA label in the DSM-5 for a depression or other mood episode that begins during pregnancy or in the weeks after birth. It is a diagnostic label, not a separate illness.
- peritraumatic dissociationalso: dissociation during birth, dissociation during traumaFeeling detached, unreal, or numb during a frightening event such as a difficult birth. It is linked to a higher risk of birth trauma symptoms later.
- pertussisalso: whooping cough, whooping-coughA contagious bacterial infection of the airways, also called whooping cough. It can be serious for young babies, and vaccination in pregnancy helps protect them.
- pessaryalso: vaginal pessary, prolapse support deviceA soft device placed in the vagina to hold up the bladder, bowel, or uterus. It is a non-surgical option for pelvic organ prolapse and is fitted by a clinician.
- Pfannenstiel incisionalso: bikini line incision, low transverse cesarean incision, Pfannenstiel cutThe low, side-to-side cut across the lower belly used for most planned and many unplanned cesareans. It sits just above the pubic bone and is often hidden under underwear.
- phlegmonalso: spreading breast infection, breast phlegmonA spreading, poorly defined infection of soft tissue that has not formed a walled-off pocket of pus. In the breast it is a severe form of mastitis.
- phototherapyalso: bili lights, bili blanket, light therapy for jaundiceTreatment for newborn jaundice that uses special blue light to break down extra bilirubin in the baby's skin. It is given in hospital or at home with equipment.
- phototherapy thresholdalso: bilirubin treatment level, treatment thresholdThe bilirubin level, set by hour of life and other factors, at which a baby is offered phototherapy. It is a guideline number, read on a chart by a clinician.
- PHQ-9also: nine-question depression screenAnother name for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a nine-question depression screen. See Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
- picaalso: dirt eating, eating clay, eating non-food itemsA craving to eat things that are not food, such as ice, clay, starch, or dirt. It is common in pregnancy and can point to low iron.
- Pitocinalso: pit, synthetic oxytocinThe brand name for synthetic oxytocin, a medicine given through an IV to start or strengthen labor, or to help the uterus clamp down after birth.
- pitting edemaalso: pitting oedema, dent swellingSwelling that leaves a dent when pressed with a finger, which slowly fills back in. Common in pregnancy and after birth, especially in the legs and feet.
- placenta accreta spectrumalso: PAS, placenta accreta, accretaA group of conditions where the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall, making delivery harder and bleeding more likely. It needs planning at a specialized center.
- placenta previaalso: previa, placenta covering the cervixA placenta that lies over or very near the opening of the uterus. It can cause painless bleeding in late pregnancy and usually means a cesarean birth.
- placental abruptionalso: abruption, placenta coming off, placental separationWhen the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth. It can cause bleeding, belly pain, and changes in the baby's heartbeat. It is an emergency.
- placental corticotropin-releasing hormonealso: placental CRH, placental clock hormone, CRHA hormone made by the placenta that rises through pregnancy and is thought to help time the start of labor. It is a biological clock, and its role is still being studied.
- placental sitealso: placental bed, site where the placenta was, placental implantation siteThe area of the uterine lining where the placenta was attached. It heals after birth without scarring, and bleeding and discharge from it settle over weeks.
- plasma volume expansionalso: blood volume increase, pregnancy blood volumeThe rise in the liquid part of the blood during pregnancy, by about half. It is normal and explains some swelling, dizziness, and extra heart effort.
- plugged ductA blocked milk duct in the breast that causes a tender, firm lump. It often clears with frequent milk removal. If it does not clear, it can progress to mastitis.
- polycystic ovary syndromealso: PCOS, polycystic ovariesA common hormone condition that can cause irregular periods, extra hair growth, and trouble getting pregnant. It can raise risks in pregnancy, and it is treatable.
- polymorphic eruption of pregnancyalso: PUPPP, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancyAn itchy rash that starts in late pregnancy, usually on the belly, stretch marks, arms, or legs. It is common, not dangerous to the baby, and fades after birth.
- polysomnographyalso: sleep study, overnight sleep study, PSGAn overnight sleep test that records brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and movement. It is used to look for sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, that can come up in pregnancy.
- POP-Qalso: Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification, POPQA clinical measuring system that records how far each pelvic organ has dropped. Clinicians use it to stage prolapse on a scale from 0 to IV.
- positional asphyxiaalso: positional suffocation, suffocation from positionBreathing trouble that happens when a baby's position blocks the airway, such as slumped in a car seat or face down on a soft surface. It is preventable.
- positive predictive valuealso: PPVThe share of positive screening results that turn out to be true. It depends on how common the condition is in the group being tested.
- POST-BIRTH warning signsalso: POST-BIRTH signs, POST BIRTH warning signsA list of warning signs after birth, taught by hospital nurses through the AWHONN POST-BIRTH program. Mothers and partners learn it before going home from the hospital.
- post-dural puncture headachealso: PDPH, post dural puncture headache, spinal headacheA headache that can follow a spinal or epidural needle placed in the lower back. It usually gets worse sitting or standing and eases lying down.
- post-traumatic stress disorderalso: PTSD, perinatal PTSDA condition that can follow frightening or overwhelming events, including pregnancy loss or a hard birth. It brings flashbacks, nightmares, and strong avoidance.
- posterior reversible encephalopathy syndromealso: PRES, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathyA rare brain condition with swelling, often linked to high blood pressure, that can cause sudden headache, vision changes, or seizures. Usually reversible when found early.
- postpartum anemiaalso: postpartum anaemia, postpartum iron deficiency anemia, low iron after birthLow red blood cell count or hemoglobin after birth, often from blood loss at delivery. It can leave a mother tired, dizzy, or short of breath.
- postpartum anxietyalso: anxiety after birthPersistent worry, racing thoughts, or physical panic symptoms that begin or intensify after birth. It is common and treatable, and often overlaps with depression.
- postpartum bluesalso: maternity bluesA short stretch of tearfulness, mood swings, and feeling overwhelmed in the first two weeks after birth. Common, and it usually fades on its own.
- postpartum care planalso: postpartum plan, care plan after birthA written plan, made during pregnancy, that names who helps after birth and what care is planned. It keeps needs from being left to chance.
- postpartum coverage extensionalso: 12-month postpartum Medi-Cal, postpartum Medi-Cal extensionA rule that keeps Medi-Cal coverage going for a full year after pregnancy ends, even if income changes during that year.
- postpartum depressionalso: PPD, postnatal depressionA depression that starts after birth, with low mood, loss of interest, exhaustion, and trouble bonding or coping. It is common, treatable, and not a personal failing.
- postpartum diuresisalso: postpartum diuresis and natriuresis, postpartum urine outputThe body's natural flood of urine in the first days after birth, as extra fluid from pregnancy leaves the tissues. It is normal and often surprising.
- postpartum doulaalso: postpartum doulas, after-birth doulaA trained support worker who helps a family at home after birth with feeding, recovery, newborn care, and household needs. Not a medical provider.
- postpartum feveralso: fever after birth, puerperal pyrexiaA fever after birth, usually a sign of infection. Several infections can cause it, and a cold or flu can make the cause harder to see.
- postpartum hemorrhagealso: PPH, severe bleeding after birthHeavy bleeding after birth, usually defined as 1,000 milliliters or more, or bleeding that causes signs of shock. It is an emergency that is treated quickly.
- postpartum preeclampsiaalso: postpartum pre-eclampsia, preeclampsia after birthHigh blood pressure with signs of organ strain that appears after birth, often in the first week. It can happen even without high blood pressure during pregnancy.
- postpartum psychosisalso: postpartum psychiatric emergency, puerperal psychosisA rare, sudden mental health emergency after birth, with confusion, hallucinations, or severe disturbed thinking. Affects about 1 to 2 in 1,000 births. Needs care right away.
- postpartum thyroiditisalso: postpartum thyroid inflammation, silent thyroiditisInflammation of the thyroid gland in the months after birth. It can cause a brief overactive phase, then an underactive phase, and usually settles.
- postpartum urinary retentionalso: unable to pee after birth, urinary retention after birthBeing unable to empty the bladder after birth, usually within six hours of a vaginal birth or of a catheter removal. Often treatable, and it needs checking.
- postpartum weight retentionalso: postpartum weight gain, weight left after birthWeight that stays on after birth, above the pre-pregnancy weight. It is common, varies widely, and is shaped by many things besides eating.
- postprandial glucosealso: after-meal blood sugar, post-meal glucose, postmeal blood sugarBlood sugar measured after eating. Pregnancy changes how the body handles it, which is why after-meal readings are checked for gestational diabetes.
- precipitous laboralso: precipitous birth, very fast labor, fast laborA very fast labor, under about three hours from regular contractions to birth. It can be intense, and it is most common in mothers who have had a fast birth before.
- preeclampsiaalso: pre-eclampsia, toxemia, preeclampsia and eclampsiaA pregnancy condition with new high blood pressure after 20 weeks, often with protein in the urine or signs of organ strain. It can progress quickly and needs close monitoring.
- pregnancy disability leavealso: PDL, California pregnancy disability leave, pregnancy leaveTime off work for pregnancy-related conditions and recovery from birth, which California's employment law protects. The leave is separate from paid family leave.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Actalso: PDA law, Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978A 1978 federal law that bars employers from treating workers unfairly because of pregnancy or childbirth. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
- pregnancy gingivitisalso: gum inflammation in pregnancySwollen, tender gums that bleed easily during pregnancy, caused by hormone changes that make gums react more strongly to plaque. Common and usually treatable with dental care.
- pregnancy of unknown locationalso: PUL, unknown location pregnancyA positive pregnancy test where the early ultrasound cannot yet show where the pregnancy is. Doctors repeat blood tests and scans to find out.
- pregnancy-related deathalso: maternal death, pregnancy-related mortalityA death during pregnancy or within a year after it, from any cause related to or made worse by pregnancy. Reviewed by state committees to find what could change.
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Actalso: PWFA, federal pregnant workers lawA federal law from 2023 that requires employers with 15 or more workers to make reasonable changes for pregnancy-related limits.
- prelabor rupture of membranesalso: PROM, membranes rupture before labor, water breaking before laborThe bag of waters breaking before contractions start. It happens in about 8 percent of term pregnancies and needs prompt assessment for infection risk.
- prenatal attachmentalso: maternal-fetal attachment, bonding before birth, attachment to the baby before birthThe emotional bond a mother forms with her pregnancy and baby before birth. It varies widely, and a slow or muted bond is common and not a failure.
- presumptive eligibilityalso: presumptive eligibility for prenatal care, presumptive Medi-CalTemporary Medi-Cal coverage that a qualified provider can start during pregnancy. The full application is decided later.
- preterm laboralso: preterm labour, labor before 37 weeksRegular contractions with changes in the cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Some early contractions are benign, so the pattern decides what it is.
- preterm prelabor rupture of membranesalso: preterm PROM, PPROM, water breaking before 37 weeksThe bag of waters breaking before 37 weeks, before labor starts. It is a serious sign that needs same-day assessment in a hospital setting.
- Prevotella intermediaalso: P. intermedia, PrevotellaA bacterium found in gum plaque that grows more during pregnancy. It is one reason gums can become more inflamed in the second and third trimesters.
- primiparityalso: primiparaThe state of having given birth for the first time. First-time mothers often have a longer labor and a slower milk start, which is why it is studied as a risk factor.
- primitive neonatal reflexalso: newborn reflexes, infant reflex, rooting reflexAn automatic movement a newborn makes without thinking, such as rooting toward a touch on the cheek. These reflexes help feeding and usually fade over the first months.
- probioticalso: probiotics, live bacteria supplement, gut bacteria supplementLive microorganisms that, given in enough amount, may give a health benefit. Pregnancy research is still asking whether they help mother, baby, or both.
- procalcitoninalso: PCT, pro-calcitoninA blood marker that rises with serious bacterial infection. In young febrile infants it is one of several tests doctors weigh when judging how sick a baby is.
- progesterone withdrawalalso: progesterone drop, hormone drop after birthThe sharp drop in progesterone after the placenta is delivered. It is one of the signals that starts milk production in the days after birth.
- prolactinalso: milk hormone, lactation hormoneA hormone from the pituitary gland that makes breast tissue produce milk. It rises with nursing and sleep, and it helps keep milk supply steady.
- prolonged grief disorderalso: persistent complex bereavement disorder, complicated griefGrief that stays intense and disabling for many months after a loss, well beyond what is typical. Grief after a pregnancy loss or infant loss can lead to it.
- prostaglandinalso: prostaglandins, PGE2, prostaglandin E2A hormone-like fat compound that drives uterine contractions in labor and cramping after birth. It is also what some labor induction methods use.
- proteinuriaalso: protein in urine, urine protein, albuminuriaProtein in the urine, a sign that the kidney filters are leaking. In pregnancy it is one of the signs that help doctors check for preeclampsia.
- proton pump inhibitoralso: PPI, PPIs, acid reducer medicineA class of medicine that lowers stomach acid. Some providers prescribe one for severe heartburn in pregnancy or reflux in babies, after talking through the options.
- pruritusalso: itching, itch, itchy skinThe medical word for itching. In pregnancy, itching with no rash can point to a liver condition called cholestasis, which providers check for.
- PSI HelpLinealso: Postpartum Support International HelpLine, HelpLineA free, non-crisis phone and text line run by Postpartum Support International, staffed by trained volunteers who help callers find local support and care.
- public chargealso: public charge rule, public charge testA federal immigration rule that can weigh against a visa or green card if a person is likely to depend on certain government cash or care. Its reach has changed over time.
- puborectalisalso: puborectalis muscle, pelvic floor muscle around the rectumA pelvic floor muscle that wraps around the back passage. It tightens to hold stool in and relaxes to let it out, and pain can make it tense the wrong way.
- pudendal nervealso: pudendal nerves, pudendal blockA large nerve that carries feeling from the perineum and vagina. It is involved in second-stage pain and in some numbing options during birth.
- puerperal feveralso: childbed fever, postpartum infection feverAnother name for postpartum fever from infection, an older term for fever after birth from the uterus, a wound, the breast, or the urinary tract. See postpartum fever.
- pulmonary embolismalso: PE, blood clot in the lung, lung clotA blood clot that travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow there. It comes up because pregnancy and the weeks after birth raise the risk. It is an emergency.
- PUMP for Nursing Mothers Actalso: PUMP Act, federal pumping law, break time for nursing mothersA federal law that gives most workers break time to pump breast milk at work, plus a private space that is not a bathroom. It covers the first year after birth.
- PUQE scorealso: PUQE, Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis, pregnancy nausea scoreA short questionnaire clinicians use to score how severe nausea and vomiting are in pregnancy. It asks about nausea, vomiting, and retching over the past day.
- pyelonephritisalso: kidney infection, upper urinary tract infectionAn infection of the kidney, usually spreading up from the bladder. In pregnancy it can become serious quickly, so fever with flank pain needs prompt care.
- pyogenic granulomaalso: pregnancy tumor, gum tumor in pregnancyA small, red, fast-growing lump, often on the gums, that can appear in pregnancy. It is usually harmless, but it bleeds easily and can look like something more serious.
- pyridoxinealso: vitamin B6, B6Vitamin B6. In pregnancy, clinicians often use it, alone or with doxylamine, as the first option for nausea and vomiting.
Q
- qialso: chi, ch'i, life energyIn traditional Chinese medicine, the body's vital energy, thought to flow through the body. Postpartum care in this tradition is meant to replenish it after birth.
- qualifying life eventalso: QLE, qualifying eventA change, such as having a baby, that lets a person enroll in or change health insurance outside the usual open enrollment period. Under federal rules, pregnancy alone does not count.
- quantitative blood lossalso: QBL, measured blood lossA measured count of blood lost after birth, using weighed pads and collection tools, rather than an estimate by eye. It is used to spot postpartum hemorrhage early.
R
- rear-facingalso: rear facing, rear-facing car seatA car seat position where the baby faces the back of the car. Safety groups recommend it for infants and young children, because it supports the head, neck, and spine in a crash.
- reasonable accommodationalso: workplace accommodation, pregnancy accommodationA change at work, such as more breaks, a stool, or water nearby, that lets a pregnant worker keep doing the job. Federal and California law generally require employers to provide it unless it causes undue hardship.
- rebate contractalso: infant formula rebate, formula rebateA deal in which a formula maker pays a state WIC program a rebate for each can of formula the program provides. It lowers WIC's cost.
- rebozoalso: rebozo wrap, Mexican shawlA long woven shawl from Mexico, used to carry babies and to wrap or support the body. Many doulas bring one to labor and postpartum visits.
- Recommended Dietary Allowancealso: RDA, daily recommended amountThe daily amount of a nutrient that meets the needs of nearly all healthy people in a group, set in the US and Canada. It is a group target, not a personal goal.
- rectus abdominisalso: abdominal muscles, six-pack muscle, ab musclesThe long, paired muscle down the front of the belly. It stretches during pregnancy, and its two halves can drift apart along the midline.
- recurrent pregnancy lossalso: RPL, recurrent miscarriageTwo or more pregnancy losses before 20 weeks, in the most common definition. It is a separate medical question from a single miscarriage, and clinicians look for possible causes.
- regressionalso: developmental regression, skill regression, sleep regressionA temporary loss of a skill a child had already gained, such as sleeping through the night, toilet training, or words. It is a common phase in early childhood.
- reinstatementalso: right to return to work, return to the same jobThe right to return to the same job, or a comparable one, after pregnancy or family leave ends. Employers in California generally must offer it under state law.
- relactationalso: re-lactation, re-establishing milk supplyRestarting breast milk production after it has stopped or never fully started. It is different from induced lactation, which begins milk in someone who has not recently given birth.
- relative infant dosealso: RID, infant dose ratioA way to compare how much medicine a breastfed baby gets through milk with the parent's own dose, adjusted for weight. Clinicians use it when judging a drug's fit with breastfeeding.
- relaxinalso: relaxin hormoneA hormone that rises in pregnancy. It is thought to loosen ligaments and tissues around the pelvis, but its role in pelvic and back pain is not proven.
- REM sleepalso: rapid eye movement sleep, dream sleepThe stage of sleep when most vivid dreams happen and the eyes move quickly under closed lids. Pregnancy can change how often people wake during it.
- remote blood pressure monitoringalso: home blood pressure checks, postpartum blood pressure at homeChecking blood pressure at home after birth and sending the readings to a care team. It helps catch rising pressure early, when preeclampsia can still appear after birth.
- reproductive coercionalso: birth control sabotage, pregnancy coercionPressure or control by a partner over a person's pregnancy, such as sabotaging birth control or forcing a decision about pregnancy. It is a form of abuse.
- reproductive life planalso: reproductive plan, family planning goalsA personal plan for whether, when, and how many pregnancies you want. Clinicians use it to decide whether the next step is contraception or help with conceiving.
- reproductive loss leavealso: miscarriage leave, pregnancy loss leaveTime off work after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or unsuccessful fertility treatment, required by California law for employers with five or more employees.
- respectful maternity carealso: respectful care in birth, dignity in childbirthCare during pregnancy and birth that protects dignity, consent, privacy, and freedom from mistreatment. It is a standard of care, not a single procedure.
- responsive feedingalso: responsive eating, feeding cuesA way of feeding where the caregiver watches a baby's hunger and fullness cues and responds to them. It is a central idea in both milk feeds and the first solid foods.
- restless legs syndromealso: RLS, Willis-Ekbom diseaseAn urge to move the legs, often at night, with an uncomfortable crawling or tingling feeling. It is more common in later pregnancy and usually eases after birth.
- retained placentaalso: stuck placenta, placenta that does not come outWhen part or all of the placenta stays in the uterus after birth. It can lead to bleeding, so the care team checks for it right after delivery.
- retained products of conceptionalso: RPOC, retained pregnancy tissuePieces of pregnancy tissue that stay in the uterus after a miscarriage, abortion, or birth. They can cause bleeding and infection, and are sometimes cleared by a procedure.
- retaliationalso: anti-retaliation, retaliation for taking leaveAn employer punishing a worker for asking for or taking protected leave, such as firing, demoting, or cutting hours. California and federal law forbid it.
- retinol activity equivalentalso: RAE, vitamin A activityA unit for measuring vitamin A in food and supplements. It combines retinol from animal foods with the lower activity of plant carotenoids such as beta-carotene.
- retractionalso: retractions, chest retractionsThe skin pulling inward between or below the ribs with each breath, a sign that a baby is working hard to breathe.
- reverse cyclingalso: reverse cycle, night feeding to make up for day separationA term in breastfeeding communities for shifting feeds or pumping toward night, when a parent is apart from the baby by day. Its meaning varies by source.
- reverse pressure softeningalso: RPS, softening the areolaA hand technique that uses gentle, steady pressure on the swollen areola to ease the breast so a baby can latch. Evidence for it comes mainly from clinical description.
- reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromealso: RCVS, Call-Fleming syndromeA rare condition where blood vessels in the brain narrow and then widen again, causing sudden, severe headaches. It is serious and needs emergency evaluation.
- Rh factoralso: Rh positive, Rh negative, Rh blood typeA protein on red blood cells, called D antigen. People who lack it are Rh negative, and a difference between parent and baby can matter in pregnancy.
- Rh immune globulinalso: RhIG, Rho(D) immune globulin, the Rh shotA blood product given to Rh-negative people that lowers the chance of antibodies against Rh-positive blood. It is given in pregnancy, after some losses, and after some births.
- RhoGAMalso: Rho GAM, RhoGAM shotAnother name for Rh immune globulin, the Rh shot. RhoGAM is a brand name used in the United States. See Rh immune globulin.
- right-to-suealso: right to sue notice, right-to-sue letterA notice from California's civil rights agency that lets a worker take a discrimination or leave complaint to court. It comes after a complaint is filed.
- Rome IV criteriaalso: Rome IV, Rome criteriaA set of symptom-based rules that clinicians use to name common gut problems, such as constipation and infant colic, usually without tests.
- room-sharingalso: room sharing, sharing a roomKeeping the baby's sleep space in the same room as an adult, but on a separate surface. The AAP recommends it for at least the first six months, ideally the first year.
- rooming-inalso: rooming in, baby in your hospital roomA hospital practice where the newborn stays in the parent's room day and night instead of a nursery. It is a core step of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
- RSVpreFalso: RSV vaccine, maternal RSV vaccine, AbrysvoA vaccine given during pregnancy, usually at 32 to 36 weeks, that passes protection against RSV to the baby. It is one of two ways to protect a newborn from RSV.
S
- sacroiliac jointalso: SI joint, SI jointsThe joint where the lower spine meets the pelvis, on each side at the back. In pregnancy it can become sore as the pelvis carries more load.
- safe sleepalso: safe sleep practices, ABCs of safe sleepPractices that the AAP links to a lower risk of sudden infant death. They include back sleeping and a firm, flat, clear sleep surface.
- Safe Sleep Sevenalso: Safe Sleep 7, seven safe sleep pointsA list of seven safety points for breastfeeding families who bedshare, published by La Leche League International. Breastfeeding clinicians use it in bedsharing counseling.
- safety planningalso: safety plan, personal safety planA written, step-by-step plan a person makes with a counselor or advocate to stay safe during a crisis, including warning signs and people and places to turn to.
- samchililalso: 21-day postpartum period, Korean postpartum 21 daysThe 21-day Korean period of rest and special care after birth, part of the wider sanhujori tradition. Traditional foods and rest are central to it.
- Sandifer syndromealso: Sandifer's syndrome, reflux torticollisA rare condition in infants where reflux into the esophagus causes head tilting, arching, and twisting of the neck. It can be mistaken for a neck problem.
- sanhujorialso: sanhu jori, Korean postpartum careA Korean postpartum recovery period, often about three weeks, with rest, warm foods, and help at home. Many Korean mothers value it, and its meaning varies between families.
- satogaerialso: returning to the natal home, satogaeri postpartumA Japanese tradition in which a mother returns to her own parents' home for the weeks after birth, so she is cared for and does not carry the household alone.
- scaling and root planingalso: deep cleaning, deep dental cleaning, SRPA deeper dental cleaning below the gum line that removes tartar and smooths tooth roots. Dentists sometimes use it for gum disease, and it can be done in pregnancy.
- SCOFF questionnairealso: SCOFF, SCOFF screenA five-question screening tool for disordered eating. It asks about vomiting, loss of control, weight loss, and body image. A yes answer prompts a closer conversation, not a diagnosis.
- scope of practicealso: scope, professional scopeThe set of tasks a trained professional is allowed to do, set by law, licensing, and training. A doula's scope excludes clinical tasks such as exams and medical advice.
- second stage of laboralso: second stage, pushing stage, the pushing stage of laborThe last part of labor, from full cervical opening to the birth of the baby. Often called the pushing stage, it has a passive phase and an active phase.
- second-stage arrestalso: second stage arrest, prolonged second stage, arrest of pushingA stall in the pushing stage of labor, when the baby does not move down within a set amount of time. Its time limits were lengthened by guidance in 2014.
- secondary postpartum hemorrhagealso: late postpartum hemorrhage, delayed postpartum bleeding, secondary PPHHeavy or unusual bleeding from 24 hours up to 12 weeks after birth. It is different from the normal bleeding that follows birth and is evaluated by a clinician.
- secretory activationalso: onset of lactationAnother name for lactogenesis II, the switch around days 2 to 4 after birth from colostrum to full milk. Mothers often call it the milk coming in. See lactogenesis II.
- secretory IgAalso: sIgA, SIgA, milk immunoglobulin AAn antibody made in the mother's gut, airway, and breast tissue that passes into breast milk. It coats the baby's gut and airway lining, where research suggests it helps.
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitoralso: serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI antidepressantAnother name for the SSRI, a class of antidepressant medicine used for depression and anxiety. See SSRI.
- semen analysisalso: sperm count test, semen test, sperm analysisA lab test of a semen sample that measures sperm count, movement, and shape. It is one of the first tests in a fertility check for a partner.
- serious bacterial infectionalso: SBI, serious bacterial illnessA bacterial infection in the blood, urine, or spinal fluid that can be dangerous for a young baby. Doctors test for it when a very young baby has a fever.
- serious health conditionalso: SHCA legal term for an illness or condition serious enough to need inpatient care or ongoing treatment. Pregnancy and childbirth can qualify under federal and California leave law.
- seroconversionalso: seroconverted, antibody conversionA change from a negative to a positive blood test for an infection, showing that the body has newly made antibodies. It can signal a recent infection, not an old one.
- severe-range blood pressurealso: severe blood pressure, 160 over 110, severe-range BPAnother name for severe-range hypertension: a reading of 160 or higher on top, or 110 or higher on the bottom, that lasts 15 minutes. See severe-range hypertension.
- severe-range hypertensionalso: severe hypertension, severe-range high blood pressure, hypertensive emergencyBlood pressure of 160 or higher on top, or 110 or higher on the bottom, that lasts. Clinicians treat it as an emergency in pregnancy and after birth, and it can come with a severe headache.
- Sheehan syndromealso: postpartum pituitary necrosis, pituitary infarction, postpartum hypopituitarismA rare injury to the pituitary gland after severe blood loss during birth. It can reduce breast milk and cause other hormone changes, and it is diagnosed by blood tests.
- shoulder dystociaalso: stuck shoulder, shoulder impactionA birth emergency in which a baby's shoulder gets caught behind the mother's pubic bone after the head is born. Care teams have set steps for freeing it.
- sitz bathalso: sitz soak, perineal soakA shallow warm bath that covers only the hips and bottom. Mothers use it to ease soreness around the perineum or rectum after birth, or with hemorrhoids.
- skin-to-skin contactalso: skin to skinHolding a baby bare-chested against the parent's skin right after birth. Research links it to warmth, steadier breathing, and breastfeeding in newborns.
- sleep consolidationalso: consolidated sleep, sleep continuitySleep that stays in long, unbroken stretches instead of many short pieces. Newborns and new parents often have sleep that is broken into shorter stretches.
- sleep efficiencyalso: sleep efficiency percent, percent of time asleep in bedThe share of time in bed that is spent asleep. Postpartum, it is often below 85 percent, which means a lot of time awake in bed.
- sleep-disordered breathingalso: SDB, snoring during sleep, breathing pauses in sleepA group of breathing problems during sleep, from loud snoring to pauses in breathing. It can disturb sleep, and pregnancy can make it more common.
- slow-wave sleepalso: deep sleep, N3 sleep, stage 3 sleepThe deepest stage of non-dream sleep, often linked to physical restoration. It is reduced in late pregnancy, according to sleep studies.
- small for gestational agealso: SGA, small baby, small for datesA baby whose size is below the usual range for how far along the pregnancy was, often under the 10th percentile. It is checked with growth scans and birth measurements.
- social comparisonalso: comparing yourself to others, social comparison theoryThe habit of measuring yourself against other people, often from social media or appearance ideals. In pregnancy and postpartum, it can shape body image and mood.
- social supportalso: perceived support, support networkHelp and care from other people, including practical help, company, and feeling understood. Research links it with lower rates of depression during pregnancy and after birth.
- soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1also: sFlt-1, sFlt1, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1A protein made by the placenta that can circulate in the mother's blood. Raised levels are linked to preeclampsia, and blood tests can measure it.
- spermatogenesisalso: sperm production, making spermThe process by which the testes make sperm, which takes about 74 days plus transit time. Exposures in the months before conception can show up in sperm.
- spinal anesthesiaalso: spinal injectionNumbing medicine injected into the fluid around the spinal cord, giving fast, complete numbness below the waist. It is often used for cesarean births.
- spiral artery remodelingalso: spiral artery transformation, placental bed remodeling, uterine spiral arteriesThe change in the mother's uterine arteries early in pregnancy, widening them to supply the placenta. Problems with it are linked to preeclampsia and growth limits.
- splintingalso: perineal splinting, bowel splintingPressing a hand or pad against the healing perineum during a bowel movement or cough. Many mothers report it eases pain after birth.
- SSRIalso: SSRIs, SSRI medicineShort for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, the most common class of antidepressant medicine. Used for depression and anxiety in and after pregnancy, with its own risks and benefits.
- standing recommendationalso: Medi-Cal standing recommendationA statewide directive that lets Medi-Cal cover a service without a separate order from each provider. California issued one in 2023 for doula services.
- staphylococcal scalded skin syndromealso: SSSS, scalded skin syndromeA rare skin infection caused by a staph toxin, causing widespread redness, tenderness, and peeling skin. It mostly affects young children and is treated as an emergency.
- Staphylococcus aureusalso: staph, S. aureus, staph aureusA common bacterium that lives on skin and in the nose. In breastfeeding, it is one of the germs linked to infections of the breast and nipple.
- State Disability Insurancealso: SDI, California SDI, EDD disability insuranceCalifornia's state program that pays partial wages during time off for a disability, including pregnancy and recovery from birth. Often paired with Paid Family Leave.
- stepped carealso: stepped care model, stepped-care approachA way of matching mental health treatment to severity. Mild cases usually start with talking therapy, and more severe cases add medication.
- sterile water injectionalso: sterile water blocks, back labor water injectionsA labor comfort method in which small amounts of sterile water are injected under the skin of the lower back. It is used for back pain in labor, with limited evidence.
- sternocleidomastoidalso: SCM, SCM muscle, neck muscleA large muscle on each side of the neck that turns and tilts the head. In babies, one tight side can make the head favor one direction.
- stillbirthalso: stillborn, fetal deathThe death of a baby before birth, at 20 weeks or later in the United States. It is a loss, and support is available for families.
- storage capacityalso: breast storage capacity, breast capacityHow much milk the breast can hold between feeds or pumps, which affects how often a baby or pump needs to empty it. It varies widely between mothers.
- stratum corneumalso: outer skin layer, skin barrierThe outermost layer of skin, a dead-cell barrier that protects against water loss and germs. It keeps maturing through a baby's first year.
- stress urinary incontinencealso: SUI, stress incontinence, leaking when you coughLeaking urine when pressure rises, such as with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting. It is common after birth, and several approaches are used to manage it.
- striae gravidarumalso: stretch marks, pregnancy stretch marksStretch marks that form on the belly, breasts, hips, or thighs during pregnancy as the skin stretches. They are common and often fade to silvery lines.
- subacute mastitisalso: subacute lactational mastitis, lingering breast inflammationA breast inflammation that lasts longer than typical mastitis and can feel like a lump or ache. It sits along a range from a clogged duct to a breast abscess.
- subclinical hypothyroidismalso: mild underactive thyroid, subclinical hypothyroidA thyroid pattern where the signal hormone TSH is raised but thyroid hormone levels still read normal. Often found on routine blood tests in pregnancy.
- subgaleal hemorrhagealso: subgaleal bleed, bleeding under the scalpBleeding under a newborn's scalp, in a loose layer over the skull, most often after vacuum-assisted birth. It can grow over hours and needs prompt checks.
- subinvolutionalso: uterus not shrinking, failure of uterine involutionThe uterus failing to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size as expected after birth. It can show up as bleeding that returns or cramping days to weeks later.
- suboptimal intake jaundicealso: starvation jaundice, low intake jaundiceYellowing of a newborn's skin from bilirubin that rises when the baby takes too little milk early on. Usually eases as feeding becomes established.
- suck-swallow-breathe coordinationalso: suck swallow breathe, SSB coordinationThe repeated pattern a baby uses to feed safely: sucking, swallowing, and breathing in turn. Preterm babies often have trouble with it until closer to term.
- sudden infant death syndromealso: SIDS, crib deathThe sudden death of a baby under one year old that stays unexplained after a full investigation. Research links many cases to sleep surface and sleep position.
- sudden unexpected infant deathalso: SUIDThe umbrella term for a baby's unexpected death under one year when the cause is not clear at first. Includes SIDS and deaths from suffocation during sleep.
- sudden unexpected postnatal collapsealso: SUPC, sudden collapse of a newbornA rare, sudden collapse in a newborn during the first hours or days, usually with a breathing or heart change. It is often noticed through close observation.
- Sultan classificationalso: perineal tear grades, degrees of tearingThe four-level system clinicians use to describe how deep a tear reaches during vaginal birth, from skin only to the anal lining. Used to describe repair and recovery.
- superbillalso: insurance receipt, itemized receipt for insuranceAn itemized receipt a provider gives a patient so the patient can ask an insurer for partial payment. Common when a provider is out of network.
- supine hypotensionalso: lying flat low blood pressure, back-lying low blood pressureAnother name for supine hypotensive syndrome, a drop in blood pressure some pregnant people feel when lying flat on their back. See that entry.
- supine hypotensive syndromealso: vena cava syndromeA drop in blood pressure caused by a growing uterus pressing on the large veins when a pregnant person lies flat on her back. Also called supine hypotension.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programalso: SNAP, food stampsThe federal program that gives low-income households food benefits on a card. In California it is run as CalFresh.
- supplementationalso: top-ups, formula top-upsGiving a baby milk other than the breast's own milk, such as formula or expressed milk in a bottle, alongside breastfeeding. Done for medical or family reasons.
- surgical site infectionalso: SSI, wound infection, incision infectionAn infection in or around the cut made during surgery, such as a cesarean. Signs can include redness, warmth, drainage, or fever in the days after the operation.
- swaddlingalso: swaddle, swaddled babyWrapping a newborn snugly in a light blanket with the arms close to the body. Used to calm babies and support sleep, with rules about hip room and rolling.
- synaptic pruningalso: brain pruning, neural pruningThe brain's process of trimming unused connections so the remaining ones work more efficiently. Proposed to happen during pregnancy and early parenthood too.
T
- tandem feedingalso: feeding two babies at once, nursing two at once, simultaneous nursingBreastfeeding two children: twins at the same time, or a baby and an older child. The two may nurse together or in turns.
- Tdapalso: Tdap vaccine, whooping cough vaccine, whooping cough shotA vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Recommended in each pregnancy so the baby gets antibodies before birth.
- telogen effluviumalso: postpartum hair loss, hair shedding after birthTemporary hair shedding that often starts three to four months after birth, when hair that stopped falling out during pregnancy sheds together. Usually recovers.
- tension-type headachealso: tension headache, stress headacheThe most common kind of headache: a steady band-like ache or pressure, often from tight neck and scalp muscles. Common in pregnancy and after birth.
- teratogenalso: teratogenic agent, teratogens, teratogenicAny drug, chemical, infection, or exposure that can harm a developing embryo or fetus. Many are checked before pregnancy because the first weeks matter most.
- test weightalso: test weighing, pre- and post-feed weightsWeighing a baby before and after a feed on a very precise scale, to measure how much milk she took at the breast in that feed. Read with other signs.
- testosteronealso: testosterone levelsA sex hormone found in higher amounts in men and in smaller amounts in women. Studies show it tends to be lower in fathers, and its link to mood is unclear.
- thalassemia traitalso: thalassemia carrier, thalassaemia trait, thal traitAn inherited carrier pattern in red blood cells that can look like iron deficiency on a blood count. Testing tells them apart, and partner screening can matter.
- thiaminealso: vitamin B1, thiaminVitamin B1, a nutrient the body needs to turn food into energy. Low levels matter with severe, prolonged vomiting in pregnancy.
- third stage of laboralso: third stage, afterbirth stage, placental stageThe part of labor from the baby's birth to the delivery of the placenta. Usually a few minutes to under an hour, and watched closely for bleeding.
- thrombosed external hemorrhoidalso: clotted hemorrhoid, hemorrhoid clot, blood clot in hemorrhoidA hemorrhoid just outside the anus where a blood clot forms, causing a sudden, painful, firm lump. It often settles on its own, and a clinician can confirm the cause.
- thunderclap headachealso: sudden severe headache, sudden headacheA headache that reaches full intensity within about a minute. It is an emergency warning sign, especially in pregnancy or after birth.
- thyroid peroxidase antibodyalso: TPO antibody, TPO antibodies, anti-TPOA thyroid antibody found on a blood test. A positive result suggests an immune process affecting the thyroid, which can matter after birth.
- thyrotoxicosisalso: overactive thyroid, too much thyroid hormoneToo much thyroid hormone in the body, from an overactive gland or inflamed thyroid tissue. Can cause a racing heart and weight loss, and can happen after birth.
- tight junctionalso: tight junctionsA seal between the cells that line milk-making tissue in the breast. It tightens and loosens over the first days and over weaning.
- tocolysisalso: tocolytics, tocolytic, labor-stopping medicationMedicines given to temporarily slow preterm contractions, to buy time for steroid treatment or transfer to a hospital with a neonatal unit.
- tokophobiaalso: fear of childbirth, fear of birth, birth fearAn intense, lasting fear of pregnancy or childbirth that goes beyond ordinary nerves. It can affect sleep, choices about care, and whether someone wants a pregnancy.
- tolerable upper intake levelalso: UL, upper limit, upper intake limitThe highest daily amount of a nutrient considered unlikely to cause harm for almost everyone. Set by national academies, and it matters most with supplements.
- topical corticosteroidalso: topical steroid, steroid creamA steroid medicine applied to the skin to calm inflammation. In baby care it appears for some rashes and for certain nipple or breast problems.
- torticollisalso: wry neck, tight neck muscle in babiesTightness in a baby's neck muscle that tilts the head to one side and limits turning. Often noticed during feeding or tummy time, and assessed by a pediatric team.
- total serum bile acidsalso: bile acid test, bile acids, TSBAA blood test measuring bile acids, used with symptoms and liver tests to diagnose intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. A raised level is taken seriously.
- touched outalso: touched-out, touched-out feelingA feeling of having no physical space left after hours of a baby touching, holding, or nursing. Often described as sensory overload from constant contact.
- Toxoplasma gondiialso: toxoplasmosis, toxoA parasite that can infect people and animals, spread mainly through undercooked meat and contact with contaminated soil. Infection in pregnancy can affect the baby.
- transcutaneous bilirubinalso: TcB, skin bilirubin test, bilirubin meter readingA light-based estimate of bilirubin through a newborn's skin, usually on the forehead or chest. A blood test confirms the number when the reading is high.
- transepidermal water lossalso: TEWL, skin moisture lossThe steady amount of water that passes out through the skin's surface. It is higher in premature babies, and newborn skin can look dry or flaky as it adjusts.
- transferrin saturationalso: TSAT, iron saturation, transferrin satA blood measure of how much of the iron-carrying protein transferrin is loaded with iron. Read with ferritin when checking for iron deficiency.
- transient gestational thyrotoxicosisalso: TGT, pregnancy-related overactive thyroidA short-lived overactive thyroid pattern in early pregnancy, driven by the hormone hCG. Usually eases by the middle of pregnancy.
- transient tachypnea of the newbornalso: TTN, wet lung, fast breathing newbornA brief period of fast breathing in a newborn, from fluid still in the lungs after birth. Most common after a planned cesarean, and usually eases within days.
- transitionalso: transition phase, transition in laborThe last stretch of the first stage of labor, when the cervix opens the final few centimeters. Contractions are often strongest and feel intense.
- transition to parenthoodalso: becoming a parent, becoming parents, new parent adjustmentThe period of change when a person or couple becomes parents. It reshapes roles, sleep, identity, and the relationship, and is studied as a major life stress.
- transplacental IgGalso: maternal antibodies, passive immunity from mother, IgG antibodies from motherProtective antibodies that cross the placenta from the birthing parent to the baby, mostly in late pregnancy. They fade over the baby's first months.
- transvaginal ultrasoundalso: TVUS, vaginal ultrasound, transvaginal scanAn ultrasound done with a thin probe placed in the vagina. It gives a clearer view of the cervix and early pregnancy than an abdominal scan, and is considered safe.
- transversus abdominisalso: TVA, deep core muscle, transverse abdominal muscleThe deepest abdominal muscle, wrapping around the waist like a corset. Its tone and its connection to the midline matter for core support after birth.
- trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapyalso: TF-CBT, trauma-focused CBT, trauma CBTA structured talk therapy that helps people work through a distressing event, its memories, and the reactions that followed. One of the main treatments for trauma symptoms, including after birth.
- trauma-informed carealso: trauma-informed approach, trauma-informed maternity careA way of caring for a person that assumes past trauma may shape how she feels in exams and birth, and plans for it. Also called a trauma-informed approach.
- trial of labor after cesareanalso: TOLAC, trial of labor, labor after a cesareanAn attempt at vaginal birth after a previous cesarean. Eligibility depends mostly on the type of uterine incision from the earlier surgery.
- triple feedingalso: triple feeding plan, breastfeeding, pumping, and supplementingA time-limited plan that combines breastfeeding, pumping, and supplementing with milk to help a baby gain weight and help supply build. Used when milk supply is low.
- triple-risk modelalso: triple risk model, triple-risk hypothesis, SIDS triple riskA model that explains sudden infant death as the meeting of three things: a vulnerable baby, a critical period of development, and an outside stressor.
- triptanalso: triptans, triptan medication, migraine triptanA class of medicine used to relieve an acute migraine attack. Some providers prescribe one during pregnancy after weighing the risks, and the evidence is observational.
- TSHalso: thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin, thyroid stimulating hormoneThyroid-stimulating hormone, a pituitary signal that tells the thyroid how hard to work. A blood test for it is the usual first check for thyroid trouble.
- tummy timealso: tummy time for babies, prone play, awake time on the bellySupervised time with a baby awake and on her stomach, to build neck, shoulder, and head control. Done only while awake and watched.
U
- UGT1A1also: UGT1A1 gene, Gilbert syndrome gene, UGT1A1*28A liver enzyme gene that helps clear bilirubin. Some versions are slower, which can make newborn jaundice more pronounced and matter for breast milk jaundice.
- ultradian cyclealso: ultradian rhythm, sleep cycle, infant sleep cycleA repeating cycle of sleep and waking shorter than a day, about 50 to 60 minutes in babies. Explains why baby sleep comes in short stretches.
- umbilical herniaalso: belly button hernia, navel hernia, umbilical hernia in babiesA soft bulge at or near the belly button where tissue pushes through a small gap in the abdominal wall. Common in babies and in some mothers after birth.
- undue hardshipalso: undue hardship exemptionThe narrow exemption that lets an employer skip pumping-break or private-space duties when meeting them would cause serious difficulty or expense.
- unexplained infertilityalso: idiopathic infertility, unexplained fertility problemsTrying to conceive without success for a year or more, with standard tests finding no clear cause in either partner.
- unmetabolized folic acidalso: UMFA, free folic acid, unconverted folic acidFolic acid from supplements and fortified foods that is still in the blood unchanged, because the body converts it to active folate slowly. Its effects are debated.
- urate crystalsalso: uric acid crystals, pink urates, brick dust in diapersOrange or pink staining on a newborn's diaper in the first days, from concentrated urine rich in uric acid. Common and usually harmless.
- ursodeoxycholic acidalso: ursodiol, UDCAA bile acid medicine sometimes prescribed for liver-related itching in pregnancy. Trials show mixed effects on itch and no clear drop in serious outcomes.
- uterine atonyalso: atonic uterus, boggy uterus, uterine hypotoniaA uterus that does not clamp down after birth, so it keeps bleeding. The most common cause of heavy bleeding right after a birth.
- uterine involutionalso: uterus shrinking back, postpartum uterine shrinkingThe process by which the uterus shrinks back toward its pre-pregnancy size after birth, over about six weeks. Felt as cramping and seen as bleeding that lightens.
- uterotonicalso: uterotonic agent, uterotonic medicine, uterine-contracting medicineA medicine or substance that makes the uterus contract. Given after birth to slow bleeding, and standard equipment at many births.
V
- vagal tonealso: vagus nerve tone, parasympathetic tone, vagal activityThe steady activity of the vagus nerve, which slows the heart and calms the body. Studies link skin-to-skin holding with higher vagal tone in newborns.
- vaginal seedingalso: vaginal microbial transfer, vaginal swab seeding, newborn vaginal seedingWiping a newborn born by cesarean with vaginal fluids, to try to match the microbes a vaginal birth passes on. Not recommended outside research.
- varicocelealso: varicocele vein, enlarged scrotal veins, varicose veins of the testicleEnlarged veins inside the scrotum, above a testicle. A common, often silent cause of male factor infertility that a doctor may check.
- vasomotor symptomsalso: hot flashes after birth, postpartum hot flashes, postpartum flushingSudden heat, flushing, and sweating, including at night, caused by shifting hormones and fluid after birth. Usually short-lived.
- vasospasmalso: Raynaud phenomenon of the nippleNarrowing of the small blood vessels in the nipple, causing color changes from white to blue to red and pain after feeds. Often triggered by cold.
- vasovagal syncopealso: fainting, vasovagal faint, reflex syncopeFainting caused by a reflex that briefly slows the heart and drops blood pressure. Often set off by heat, standing too long, dehydration, or pain.
- vataalso: vata dosha, vata energy, Vata constitutionOne of three energies in Ayurveda, linked with movement, air, and dryness. In postpartum traditions, a vata imbalance is said to call for warm, grounding routines.
- VBACalso: vaginal birth after cesarean, vaginal birth after C-section, VBAC birthVaginal birth after cesarean: a birth through the vagina for a woman who had a cesarean before. The outcome of a trial of labor that succeeds.
- venous thromboembolismalso: VTE, blood clots in veins, venous clotA blood clot that forms in a vein, usually in the leg, and can travel to the lungs. Pregnancy and the weeks after birth raise the risk.
- very low birth weightalso: VLBW, very low birthweight, under 1,500 grams at birthA birth weight under 1,500 grams, about 3 pounds 5 ounces. These babies usually need a NICU stay, and their mothers often express milk for them.
- Virchow's triadalso: Virchow triad, Virchow's triad of thrombosisThe three factors that together raise the risk of a blood clot: a sticky blood state, slowed blood flow, and damage to the vein wall. Pregnancy touches all three.
- vitamin K deficiency bleedingalso: VKDB, vitamin K bleeding in newborns, hemorrhagic disease of the newbornBleeding in a newborn caused by low vitamin K, which the newborn's blood needs to clot. Rare, and lowered by the vitamin K given at birth.
- vulvar hematomaalso: perineal hematoma, paravaginal hematoma, vaginal hematoma after birthA pocket of blood that collects in the tissue beside the vagina or vulva after birth. Causes deep pressure and pain that can be out of proportion to what is seen.
W
- wage replacement ratealso: replacement rate, PFL pay percentageThe share of your usual paycheck that a leave program pays while you are off work. For Paid Family Leave it depends on your earnings and changes by year.
- waiting periodalso: unpaid waiting period, seven-day waiting period, SDI waiting periodThe unpaid days at the start of a California claim before benefits begin. State Disability Insurance has a seven-day wait, and Paid Family Leave has had none since 2018.
- water immersionalso: labor in water, water labor, warm water bath in laborSitting or lying in warm water during labor, to ease pain and help relaxation. Different from a water birth, which is giving birth in the water.
- weight nadiralso: lowest newborn weight, lowest point of weight, nadir weightThe lowest weight a newborn reaches after birth, usually in the first three to five days. After it, most babies start to regain weight.
- weighted feedalso: pre- and post-feed weightAnother name for a test weight: weighing the baby right before and right after a feed on a very precise scale, to see how much milk she drank at the breast.
- Wernicke encephalopathyalso: Wernicke's encephalopathy, thiamine deficiency brain injury, Wernicke syndromeA sudden brain condition from severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which can happen with prolonged vomiting in pregnancy. It is an emergency that needs urgent care.
- WHO growth standardsalso: WHO Child Growth Standards, WHO growth charts, WHO infant growth chartsThe World Health Organization's charts for how healthy children grow from birth to five years, built from breastfed babies in several countries.
- WICalso: Women, Infants, and Children, WIC program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenA US government program that gives food benefits and breastfeeding help to low-income mothers and to young children.
- Widström nine stagesalso: nine stages of newborn behavior, Widstrom nine stages, newborn nine behavioral stagesA description of nine behavior stages a newborn often moves through in the first hour after birth, from birth cry to sleep, when left skin to skin.
- witching houralso: witching hours, evening fussiness, the fussy hourA common informal name for the stretch of evening crying many babies have. It is not a medical term, and it usually eases by about three months.
- Women's Preventive Services Guidelinesalso: WPSI guidelines, HRSA women's preventive services, preventive services guidelines for womenUS federal guidelines listing preventive care that most health plans must cover without a copay, including breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.
Z
- zuo yue zialso: zuoyuezi, postpartum confinement in Chinese tradition, sitting monthAnother name for zuo yuezi, the Chinese practice of about thirty days of rest, warmth, and special foods after birth. See zuo yuezi.
- zuo yuezialso: zuo yue zi practice, yuezi, confinement monthThe Chinese postpartum practice of about thirty days of rest, warmth, and special foods after birth, also called sitting the month.
- zuranolonealso: Zurzuvae, oral zuranolone, neuroactive steroid for postpartum depressionAn oral medicine approved in 2023 for postpartum depression. It acts on brain receptors and can ease symptoms within days, and it can impair driving.