GLENDALE COLLEGE EMT Dept. OB/GYN Vocabulary Students: An understanding of these terms is required for the module 6 exam. Most are NOT included in your text. Please consult your instructor prior to the exam if you have any questions. Abortion: An abortion is the intentional interruption or termination of pregnancy at any time from conception through birth. “Spontaneous abortion” is another term for an unintended miscarriage. Abruptio Placenta: Abruptio Placenta is the premature separation of the placenta from the inner wall of the uterus. Afterbirth: The afterbirth is the placenta after being expelled from the mother, after a baby is born. Amniotic fluid: Amniotic fluid is the liquid surrounding the baby in the womb. Amniotic sac: Amniotic sac is the sac that surrounds the baby inside the womb, which contains the baby, placenta and the amniotic fluid. APGAR score: The APGAR score or scale is a rating given to a newborn at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. Birth canal: The birth canal is a channel, which a baby passes through during childbirth. Bloody show: A blood-tinged mucus plug that is discharged from the vagina indicating the onset of labor. Breech presentation: An abnormal position of the fetus in the birth canal, where the buttocks or both legs come into the birth canal before the head. Cervix: The cervix is in the lower part of the uterus, which dilates and effaces during labor to allow passage of the baby. Cesarean section: A c-section or cesarean section is delivery of the baby through an incision in the abdomen, instead of vaginally. Dilation: The gradual opening up of the cervix to permit passage of the baby during labor. Progress of dilation is measured in centimeters, with 10 centimeters being fully dilated. Eclampsia: A life-threatening form of hypertension (high blood pressure) marked by seizures in the pregnant or postpartum patient. Usually occurs late in pregnancy but can occur even after delivery. Ectopic pregnancy: An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus, sometimes referred to as a “tubal pregnancy”. Fontanelles: The two “soft spot” on a baby’s head where the skull has not fused together. Fundal massage: Firm massaging of the upper portion of the uterus after delivery of baby and placenta intended to decrease post partum hemorrhage. Gestation: The period of time a baby is carried in the uterus. Normal gestation period is 40 weeks. Full-term gestation is at least 36 weeks.Gestational diabetes: Form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gravida: The number of times a woman has been pregnant, including current pregnancy. Meconium: The baby’s first bowel movements, which can be present in the amniotic fluid at the time of birth. Light meconium is not a serious problem. Dark, thick meconium is a significant emergency for the newborn. Miscarriage: Delivery of the newborn prior to about 20 weeks gestation. Placenta: Also known as afterbirth, the placenta is a circular, flat organ which connects the unborn baby to the uterus for oxygen, nutrients and elimination of waste products. Placenta Previa: Placenta partially or completely covers the opening of the cervix. Painless vaginal bleeding may be a warning sign. Placenta previa can cause excessive vaginal bleeding. Postpartum: The period after the mother delivers the baby, e.g. “post partum” hemorrhage refers to vaginal bleeding after the baby is delivered. Preeclampsia: Also known as toxemia of pregnancy. A serious condition occurring during pregnancy, characterized by hypertension, headaches, and acute edema in the pregnant patient. Para: Number of live births the patient has delivered. Example: gravida 2 / para 1 means that the patient has been pregnant twice and delivered one live baby. Prolapsed Cord: Prolapsed cord precedes the fetal presenting part in the birth canal. It can be a serious complication because blood flow to the baby can be cut off when the uterus contracts. Stages of Labor: There are three stages of labor: first- onset of true labor contractions to complete dilation and effacement of the cervix. Second- complete dilation and effacement of the cervix to the birth of the baby. Third- from the birth of the baby to the delivery of the placenta. Still birth: Death of a baby, still birth, after the 20th week of gestation, but before birth. Umbilical cord: Cord is tissue that connects the placenta to the developing baby. It removes waste products and carbon dioxide from the baby and carries oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the placenta to the baby. Uterus: The uterus is a pear-shaped organ in which the unborn baby