Maternity Care Glossary

A prenatal diagnostic procedure involving withdrawal of amniotic fluid for genetic testing.

Artificial rupture of fetal membranes performed to induce or augment labor.

Occurring during pregnancy, before labor and delivery begins.

A standardized assessment tool evaluating newborn health at birth using five criteria.

Lateral deflection of the fetal head during descent through the birth canal, where the sagittal suture deviates from the...

Medical intervention to strengthen or accelerate inadequate uterine contractions during established labor using oxytocin...

A clinical technique used to assess fetal mobility within the amniotic fluid by applying gentle pressure to the maternal...

A pathological retraction ring of the uterus that forms at the junction between the upper and lower uterine segments dur...

A cervical assessment system used to predict the likelihood of successful labor induction.

The vaginal discharge of blood-tinged mucus that occurs as the cervical plug is expelled during early labor.

Biophysical profile; a comprehensive fetal assessment combining ultrasound evaluation with non-stress testing to evaluat...

Fetal malpresentation where the buttocks or feet present first instead of the head.

Fetal malpresentation where the fetal brow is the presenting part during delivery.

Swelling of the soft tissues of the baby's scalp that develops as the baby travels through the birth canal.

Continuous electronic monitoring of fetal heart rate and uterine contractions simultaneously during labor and delivery.

A medical procedure to manually turn a breech or transverse-positioned fetus to the head-down position before delivery.

A collection of blood between the skull and periosteum, typically appearing hours after birth and limited by suture line...

A condition where the fetal head is too large or the maternal pelvis too small for safe vaginal delivery.

A surgical procedure involving sutures around the cervix to prevent preterm cervical dilation.

Painless cervical dilation during the second trimester leading to pregnancy loss or preterm birth.

The softening, thinning, and opening of the cervix in preparation for labor and delivery.

Infection of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid, typically caused by bacterial invasion.

A rare, aggressive malignant tumor arising from gestational trophoblastic tissue that can occur after pregnancy, miscarr...

The outermost fetal membrane that forms the fetal portion of the placenta.