Antenatal is a term used in the pregnancy and birthing industry to refer to the period of time between a woman becoming pregnant and giving birth. This typically lasts for 40 weeks, or 9 months. The term “antenatal” refers to the period of time before childbirth. This includes the period of pregnancy and the weeks leading up to delivery. During this time, a woman will undergo various changes as her body adapts to carrying a baby. These changes can include […]
Leopold’s Maneuvers is a term used in the pregnancy and birthing industry to describe a specific set of actions performed in order to assess the position of the fetus during pregnancy and prior to delivery. The maneuvers are named after Austrian gynecologist Karl Leopold, who first described them in 1858. There are four main types of movements performed during Leopold’s Maneuvers: 1) fundal grip – placing your hands on the top of the uterus and feeling for fetal landmarks 2) […]
A retroverted uterus is a uterus that is positioned with its fundus (uppermost aspect) pointing towards the rectum, instead of the more common anteverted position where the fundus points towards the urinary bladder. This anatomical variation is present in around 20-30% of women and usually causes no problems. However, in some cases, it can lead to difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth. This condition is also known as a tipped uterus, backward uterus, or retroflexed uterus. The symptoms of having a […]
Retrovir (azidothymidine or AZT) is a prescription medication that has zidovudine as an active ingredient, used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults and children. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Retrovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. Retrovir belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by blocking the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme needed for the HIV virus to multiply. This decreases […]
Perinatal, as used in the pregnancy and birthing industry, is a term that refers to the period of time around the childbirth process. This includes the weeks leading up to delivery, as well as the first few weeks after the baby is born. The perinatal period is a crucial time for both mother and child, and it is during this time that many important decisions are made about the care and treatment of both. There are many different aspects to […]
A Special Care Nursery, also known as a Level II Nursery, is a hospital unit that provides care for sick or premature newborns. The term “special care nursery” can be used to describe the actual physical space where these infants are cared for, or it can refer to the team of healthcare providers who staff the unit. These nurseries are also sometimes referred to as neonatal units, newborn units, or intensive care nurseries. The primary purpose of a special care […]
Macrosomia is a medical term used to describe an unusually large baby. It is generally defined as a birth weight of more than 8 pounds 13 ounces (4,000 grams). The average birth weight in the United States is about 7 pounds 3 ounces (3,300 grams). There are several factors that can contribute to macrosomia, including gestational diabetes, maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and certain medications. Additionally, certain ethnic groups are more likely to have babies with macrosomia, such as Hispanic […]
Gravida is a term used to describe the number of times a woman has been pregnant, including the current pregnancy. The word gravida comes from the Latin word for “heavy.” It can also be used to describe the number of pregnancies a woman has had, including miscarriages and abortions. This is important because each pregnancy adds weight to the mother’s body. The term is typically used when discussing pregnancy and childbirth, to help assess the risk of complications. The term […]
A transducer is a medical device used during pregnancy and childbirth to monitor the baby’s heart rate. It consists of two parts: an ultrasound probe that is placed on the mother’s abdomen, and a receiver that converts the ultrasound waves into electrical signals. The electrical signals are then transmitted to a monitor, which displays the baby’s heart rate. The transducer is a safe and painless way to monitor the baby’s heart rate. It is also non-invasive, which means it does […]
Fetal distress is a term used in the pregnancy and birthing industry to describe a fetus that is experiencing medical problems. This can include things like a heart rate that is too low, not enough oxygen in the blood, or other signs that the fetus is not thriving. Fetal distress can be a sign of a number of different conditions, some of which are serious and can lead to complications during birth or even stillbirth. Risk Factors and Disambiguation There […]