Amnion | The life-support system that is a bag containing clear fluid in which the developing embryo floats
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Apgar Scale | A method to assess the health of newborns at one and five minutes after birth
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Blastocyst | The inner layer of cells that develops in the germinal period; these cells provide nutrition and support for the embryo
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Bonding | Close physical contact between parents and their newborn shortly after birth
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Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale | A test given 24 to 36 hours after birth to assess newborns neurological development
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Breech position | The babys position uterus that causes the buttocks to be the first part to emerge from the vagina
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Embryonic period | The period of prenatal development that occurs two to eight weeks after conception
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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) | A cluster of abnormalities that appears in the offspring of mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy
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Fetal period | The prenatal period that begins two months after conception and lasts seven months
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Gender ambiguity | A condition in which a child is born with both male and female features
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Germinal period | The period of prenatal development that takes place in the first two weeks after conception
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Low-birth-weight infant | An infant born after a regular period of gestation, but who weighs less than 2.5 kg
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Midwife | Nurses who have been specially trained in delivering babies
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Natural childbirth | This method attempts to reduce the mothers pain by decreasing her fear through education about childbirth and by relaxation techniques
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Organogenesis | Organ formation that takes place during the first two months of prenatal development
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Placenta | A life-support system that consists of a disk-shaped group of tissues in which small blood vessels from the mother and offspring intertwine
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Postpartum period | The period after childbirth when the mother adjusts to the process of childbirth
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Prepared childbirth | This strategy includes a special breathing technique to control pushing in the final stages of labour
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Preterm infant | An infant born prior to 38 weeks after conception
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Teratogen | From the Greek word tera, meaning monster, any agent that causes a birth defect
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Trophoblast | The outer layer of cells that develops the germinal period; these cells provide nutrition and support for the embryo
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Umbilical cord | A life-support system containing two arteries and one vein that connects the baby to the placenta
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