Perinatal Medicine Glossary

Abnormal placental attachment where chorionic villi adhere directly to the myometrium without intervening decidua.

Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before delivery. A serious obstetric emergency requiring imme...

Excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid during pregnancy, typically defined as an amniotic fluid index greater than 24...

Excessive bleeding following delivery, defined as blood loss greater than 500 mL after vaginal delivery or 1000 mL after...

Rupture of fetal membranes before 37 weeks gestation and before the onset of labor.

Abnormally rapid labor lasting less than three hours from onset of regular contractions to delivery.

Pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and protein in urine, potentially progressing to seizures.

A woman experiencing her first pregnancy.

Infection of the genital tract occurring within 42 days of delivery, abortion, or miscarriage. Also known as postpartum...

Six-week period following childbirth during which maternal anatomy and physiology return to non-pregnant state.

Failure of the placenta to deliver spontaneously within 30 minutes of fetal birth. May be partial or complete retention.

Obstetric emergency where fetal shoulders become impacted after delivery of the head, impeding vaginal delivery.

Measurement of fetal head descent in relation to maternal ischial spines during labor.

Bleeding into the potential space between the skull periosteum and scalp aponeurosis, a serious birth injury.

Inadequate production of pulmonary surfactant in premature infants, leading to respiratory distress syndrome.

Combined medication containing ergometrine and oxytocin, used for active management of the third stage of labor to preve...

External monitoring device that measures uterine contractions by detecting changes in abdominal wall tension during labo...

Medication used to suppress uterine contractions and delay preterm labor.

Complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies where blood flow is unevenly distributed between fetuses.

Obstetric emergency where the umbilical cord descends through the cervix ahead of the presenting fetal part.

Failure of the uterine muscle to contract adequately after delivery, leading to postpartum hemorrhage. The most common c...

Complete separation of all uterine wall layers, including the serosal surface, during pregnancy or labor.

Operative vaginal delivery technique using suction cup applied to fetal head to assist with delivery.

Condition where fetal blood vessels cross the internal cervical os, presenting ahead of the fetal presenting part.