| afterbirth | The placenta, the remaining section of the umbilical cord, and the fetal membranes that are expelled in the final stage of labor.
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| alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) | screening A blood test of a pregnant woman's blood to determine the existence of neural tube defects.
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| amniocentesis | A process in which amniotic fluid is withdrawn by needle from the uterus and then examined for evidence of possible birth defects.
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| amnion | An embryonic membranous sac containing the embryo and amniotic fluid.
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| amniotic fluid | The fluid within the amniotic sac that surrounds the embryo or fetus.
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| Apgar score | The cumulative rating of the newborn's heart rate, respiration, color, reflexes, and muscle tone.
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| assisted reproductive technology (ART) | A group of procedures developed to achieve conception in cases of infertility; includes in vitro fertilization, GIFT, ZIFT, and ICSI.
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| blastocyst | A collection of about 100 human cells that develops from the zygote.
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| Braxton Hicks contractions | Uterine contractions during the last trimester of pregnancy that exercise the uterus, preparing it for labor.
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| capacitation | The process by which a sperm's membranes become fragile enough to release the enzymes from its acrosomes.
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| cesarean section (C-section) | Removal of the fetus by an incision in the mother's abdominal and uterine walls.
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| chorion | The embryo's outermost membrane.
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| chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | A procedure in which tiny pieces of the membrane that encases the embryo are removed and examined for evidence of possible birth defects.
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| colostrum | A yellowish substance containing nutrients and antibodies that is secreted by the breast 2 or 3 days prior to actual milk production.
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| dilation | Opening up of the cervix during labor.
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| ectopic pregnancy | A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Also known as tubal pregnancy.
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| effacement | Thinning of the cervix during labor.
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| embryo | The early form of life in the uterus between the stages of blastocyst and fetus.
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| embryonic membrane | One of the embryo's membranes, including the amnion, yolk sac, chorion, and allantois.
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| endometriosis | A disease caused by endometrial tissue (uterine lining) spreading and growing in other parts of the body; a major cause of infertility.
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| epidural | A method of anesthetic delivery during childbirth in which a pain-killing drug is continuously administered through a catheter in the woman's lower back.
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| episiotomy | A surgical procedure during childbirth that enlarges the vaginal opening by cutting through the perineum toward the anus.
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| fetal alcoholeffect (FAE) | A condition affecting children whose mothers used alcohol during pregnancy, characterized by moderate intellectual and behavioral deficits.
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| fetal alcohol syndrome | A condition affecting children whose mothers chronically used alcohol during pregnancy, characterized by unusual facial features, small head and body size, congenital heart defects, defective joints, and intellectual and behavioral impairment.
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| fetus | The stage of life from 8 weeks of gestation to birth.
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| gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) | An ART technique in which oocyte and sperm are collected and then deposited together in the fallopian tube.
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| gestation | Pregnancy.
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| Hegar's sign | The softening of the uterus above the cervix, indicating pregnancy.
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| human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) | A hormone secreted by the developing placenta and needed to support a pregnancy.
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| implantation | The process by which a blastocyst becomes embedded in the uterine wall.
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| infertility | The inability to conceive a child after trying for a year or more.
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| intercytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) | An ART procedure in which a single sperm is injected into an oocyte in a laboratory dish and the resultant blastocyst is transferred to the mother's uterus.
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| intrauterine insemination (IUI) or artificial insemination (AI) | A means of achieving pregnancy by depositing semen by syringe near the cervical opening during ovulation.
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| in vitro fertilization (IVF) | An ART procedure that combines sperm and oocyte in a laboratory dish and transfers the blastocyst to the mother's uterus.
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| lanugo | The fine, downy hair covering the fetus.
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| lochia | A bloody vaginal discharge following childbirth.
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| miscarriage | The spontaneous expulsion of the fetus from the uterus; also called spontaneous abortion.
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| neonate | A newborn.
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| oxytocin | A hormone produced by the fetus that stimulates strong uterine contractions.
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| pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | An infection of the fallopian tube (or tubes) caused by an organism, such as C. trachomatis or N. gonorroehae, in which scar tissue may form within the tubes and block the passage of eggs or cause an ectopic pregnancy; a leading cause of female infertility. Also called salpingitis.
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| placenta | The organ of exchange between the mother and the fetus.
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| postpartum period | The period (about 3 months) following childbirth, characterized by physical stabilization and emotional adjustment.
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| pregnancy-induced hypertension | High blood pressure and edema along with protein in the urine.
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| premature birth | A birth that takes place prior to 27 weeks of gestation.
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| prepared | childbirth An approach to childbirth that encourages the mother's understanding of the process and teaches exercises to reduce tension; also known as natural childbirth.
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| relaxin | A hormone produced by the placenta in the later months of pregnancy that increases flexibility in the ligaments and joints of the pelvic area. In men, relaxin is contained in semen, where it assists in sperm motility.
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| sonogram | A visual image created by ultrasound.
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| sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | A phenomenon in which an apparently healthy infant dies suddenly while sleeping.
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| surrogate motherhood | An approach to infertility in which one woman bears a child for another.
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| teratogen | A toxic substance that causes birth defects.
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| therapeutic donor insemination (TDI) | Intrauterine insemination in which the semen is from a donor rather than from the woman's husband.
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| transition | The end of the first stage of labor, when the infant's head enters the birth canal.
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| ultrasound | The use of high-frequency sound waves to create a visual image of the fetus in the uterus.
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| umbilical cord | The cord connecting the placenta and fetus, through which nutrients pass.
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| varicocele | A varicose vein above the testicle that may cause lowered fertility in men.
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| vernix | The waxy substance that sometimes covers an infant at birth.
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| yolk sac | The producer of the embryo's first blood cells and the germ cells that will develop into gonads.
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| zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) | An ART technique in which oocyte and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish and immediately transferred to the fallopian tube.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education