Gynaecological terms

abdomen - belly, tummy
amniotic fluid - liquid surrounding the fetus in the womb
amniocentesis - minimal surgical procedure using a very thin needle to get a sample of amniotic fluid for genetical or biochemical analysis
alphafetoprotein - a protein produced by all developing babies and present in the mother´s blood. An increased level may indicate fetal abnormalities (spina bifida…)
breech - fetus lying in the womb upside down (buttocks down)
cervix - the neck of the womb, opens during labor to allow the fetus to leave the mother´s body
contraction - cramp of the uterine muscle leading to the hardening or tightening of the stomach
dilatation- widening of the  neck of the womb (cervix) during labour
effacement of the cervix - shortening of the neck of the womb at the beginning of labor
EFM - electronic fetal monitoring (= cardiotocography), monitoring of fetal heart and uterine activity
engagement - dropping of the fetal head or buttocks into the pelvis short time before due date
embryo - the unborn baby during the first 8 weeks in the womb
enema - lavage of lower part of bowel with warm water prior to delivery
episiotomy - cut of perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening and prevent perineal tearing
femur - fetal thigh
fetus - the unborn baby in the womb from week 9 until birth
fundus - the bottom or base of anything, e.g. the uterus
gestation - the period of development of the unborn baby from conception until birth
humerus - fetal arm
hypertension - high blood pressure (hypotension = low blood pressure)
induction of labor - artificial triggering of uterine contractions by cervical massage,
breaking of water, medication
myometrium - uterine muscle (the major part of the womb)
normohydramnios - normal amount of  amniotic fluid
obstetrics - branch of medical science which deals with pregnancy, labor and childbirth
oedema - swellings, commonly of the fingers or ankles during late pregnancy
oligohydramnios - decreased amount of amniotic fluid
pelvic floor - a hammock of muscles which supports the bowel, bladder and womb
perineum - part of the female body between vagina and hnus
phenylketonuria - metabolic disease, which, when untreated, can harm the development of the baby's brain
placenta - the organ which joins the mother with her unborn baby in the womb and which helps the mother to protect the fetus against the environment
polyhydramnios - increased amount of amniotic fluid
pre-eclampsia - serious disease developing mostly in late pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and general swellings
premature labor- labor which starts between the  24th - 37th weeks  of gestation
PROM - premature rupture of membranes (before 37th week or more than 24 hours before the onset of labor)
puerperium - time period of  six weeks after childbirth necessary for a woman's organism to fully  recover rhesus factor- specific protein on the surface of  red blood cells determining rhesus factor  positivity (present) or negativity (absent)
ROM - rupture of membranes, occurs before onset of labor or during the labor
bella - german measles, a viral infectious disease which can cause fetal birth defects if acquired during the first three months of pregnancy
toxoplasmosis - parasitic infectious disease,  which,  if acquired during the first four months of  pregnancy, can cause serious fetal defects, a parasite is transmitted by certain animals or via raw meat
trmester - any period of three months during pregnancy
umbilical cord- the rope of three blood vessels which link the fetus to the placenta;  all nutrients for and waste products from the fetus pass through the umbilical cord
uterus - womb, the best incubator in the world (organ carrying and protecting the unborn baby)