Amniotic Fluid: Fluid in the sac that holds the fetus.
Anesthesia: Relief of pain by loss of sensation.
Breech Presentation: A position in which the feet or buttocks of the fetus would appear first during birth.
Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagin*.
Cesarean Delivery: Delivery of a fetus from the uterus through an incision made in the woman’s abdomen.
External Cephalic Version (ECV): A technique, performed late in pregnancy, in which the doctor attempts to manually move a breech baby into the head-down position.
Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.
Fibroids: Growths that form in the muscle of the uterus. Fibroids usually are noncancerous.
Oxygen: An element that we breathe in to sustain life.
Pelvic Exam: A physical examination of a woman’s pelvic organs.
Placenta: Tissue that provides nourishment to and takes waste away from the fetus.
Placenta Previa: A condition in which the placenta covers the opening of the uterus.
Placental Abruption: A condition in which the placenta has begun to separate from the uterus before the fetus is born.
Prelabor Rupture of Membranes: Rupture of the amniotic membranes that happens before labor begins. Also called premature rupture of membranes (PROM).
Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Ultrasound Exam: A test in which sound waves are used to examine inner parts of the body. During pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to check the fetus.
Umbilical Cord: A cord-like structure containing blood vessels. It connects the fetus to the placenta.
Uterus: A muscular organ in the female pelvis. During pregnancy, this organ holds and nourishes the fetus.
vagin*: A tube-like structure surrounded by muscles. The vagin* leads from the uterus to the outside of the body.
Vertex Presentation: A presentation of the fetus where the head is positioned down.
