May 11, 2007, Newsletter Issue #150: Pregnancy Labor and Delivery Glossary

Tip of the Week

There are many terms which surround the labor and delivery that a pregnant woman experiences during the birth of her baby. The following glossary lists some common labor and delivery terms.

* APGAR Score- This a score given to newborns at both one and five minutes immediately after birth. It measures an infant's response to birth on a rating from one to ten.

* Breech-This term refers to a baby who is positioned with his buttocks and/or feet first as delivery approaches.

* Cesarean-This refers to the birth of a baby by extraction from the uterus through surgery.

* Contraction-This is the regular tightening of the uterus, which occurs as the baby is advancing down the birth canal.

* Crowning-This term refers to the baby's head appearing at the top of the vaginal opening.

* Dilation-The cervix is measured from one to ten centimeters as it opens for childbirth.

* Effacement- The cervix begins to thin as birth approaches. The measurement is typically in percentages from one to 100 percent.

* Episiotomy-An incision that is made during childbirth to widen the vaginal opening for easier delivery of the baby.

* Labor-When the uterus contracts regularly to open the cervix.

* Post-partum-The period after childbirth has occurred.

About LifeTips

Now one of the top on-line publishers in the world, LifeTips offers tips to millions of monthly visitors. Our mission mission is to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Expert writers earn dough for what they know. And exclusive sponsors in each niche topic help us make-it-all happen.