chapter 2 Flashcards
puberty
when a boy or a girl matures sexually into a man or a woman
menstruation
a regular flow of blood from the vagina as the lining of the uterus breaks down
ovum
medical term for a womans egg
hormone
chemical released into the blood stream that has a specific effect on a certain area of the body e.g. oestrogen and progesterone are key to sexual development and reproduction
conception
when a mans sperm has fertilised a womans egg
fertilisation
the process of the sperm entering the ovum
uterus (womb)
a strong muscle that expands during pregnancy to contain the growing baby
placenta
this develops alongside the baby throughout pregnancy providing vital hormones and nutrients and dealing with waste products
health visitor
a qualified nurse with additional specialist health visitor training
antenatal
care given to a mother and a baby before birth
EDD
estimated date of delivery (roughly when the baby is due to be born
ectopic pregnancy
implantation occurs in the fallopian tubes instead of the wall of the uterus
miscarriage
the sudden loss of an unborn baby
threatened abortion
signs of potential miscarriage are seen but all is eventually okay
inevitable abortion
when the foetus is pushed from the uterus by the womans body
missed abortion
when the foetus is dead in the uterus and needs to be surgically removed
General Practitioner (GP)
a family doctor
obstetrician
a doctor specialising in the care of women during pregnancy
gynaecologist
a doctor specialising in problems of fertility and reproduction
paediatrician
a doctor specialising in the care of babies and children
routine
straightforward and offered to everyone
hyperemesis
severe vomiting during pregnancy
ketosis
a dangerous condition which high levels of ketones build up In a pregnant woman’s urine
intravenous
fluids given straight to the blood via a drip
salmonella
a bacteria that causes food poisoning. It is sometimes found in raw eggs and chickens
listeria
a bacteria, sometimes found in soft cheeses and raw fish, which can cause miscarriage
toxoplasmosis
an infection caused by a microorganism found in animal faeces
infertility
being unable to conceive a child
fertility treatment
ways of overcoming infertility
surrogate mother
a woman who bears a baby on a behalf of another woman
screening test
a test to check for any potential problems
diagnostic test
a test to try and identify a problem
birth plan
a plan of how the mother wishes her labour to progress if there are not any complications
contraction
the tightening of the muscles in the uterus
birth canal
the vagaina,cervix and the uterus form one channel
crowning
the babys head appears at the entrance of the vagina
perineum
the skin between the rectum and the vagina
oxytocin
a hormone that stimulates contractions and reduces bleeding after the birth
pethidine
one of several drugs that relive pain during labour
entonox
a gas and air mixture
epidural
an anaesthetic given via the spine
Anaesthetic
something that stops you feeling pain
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
electrical impulses that affect pain messages from the brain
endorphins
the body’s natural pain relieving chemicals
confinement
the time a woman give birth
syntocin
a drug used to induce labour
episiotomy
a cut made in the perineum to avoid a woman tearing during the birth
forceps
a toll like BBQ tongs that holds and helps pull the baby through the vagina
ventouse extraction
delivering the baby using suction
caesarean section
delivering a baby by surgery
