Maternity Care Glossary

Excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

Excessive bleeding following childbirth, defined by specific blood loss thresholds.

Autoimmune thyroid inflammation occurring within one year after delivery or pregnancy loss.

Rapid labor and delivery occurring within three hours from onset of regular contractions.

Abnormally rapid labor and delivery occurring in less than three hours from onset to birth.

A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and protein in urine after 20 weeks gestation.

A woman who is pregnant for the first time.

Premature rupture of membranes occurring before labor onset, regardless of gestational age.

Serious postpartum infection causing systemic inflammatory response within 42 days of delivery.

The six-week period following childbirth during which the mother's reproductive system returns to its non-pregnant state...

The first fetal movements felt by the mother, typically occurring between 16-20 weeks of pregnancy.

Failure of the placenta to deliver within 30 minutes of infant birth or incomplete placental delivery.

An obstetric emergency where fetal shoulders become impacted after delivery of the head.

The natural breaking of the amniotic sac during labor, releasing amniotic fluid; commonly called 'water breaking.'

The position of the fetal presenting part relative to the maternal ischial spines, measured in centimeters above (-) or...

Drop in blood pressure that occurs when a pregnant woman lies on her back, caused by compression of the vena cava by the...

Clinical measurement from the pubic symphysis to the uterine fundus used to assess fetal growth.

External monitoring device that measures uterine contraction frequency and duration during labor.

A device that measures uterine contractions during labor, typically part of electronic fetal monitoring equipment.

Pathological fear of childbirth that can significantly impact pregnancy decisions and birth experiences.

An intense, irrational fear of pregnancy and childbirth that can significantly impact a woman's reproductive choices.

An obstetric emergency where the umbilical cord drops through the cervix ahead of the presenting fetal part.

Failure of the uterine muscle to contract effectively after delivery, leading to excessive bleeding.

Complete separation through all layers of the uterine wall during pregnancy or labor.