Le jargon de l’accouchement expliqué
Les termes du travail et de la naissance en mots simples, dans l’ordre où vous les rencontrerez, de la perte des eaux à l’engagement, la péridurale et l’Apgar.
What does "station" mean in labor?
How far down your baby's head has moved in your pelvis, from −5 (high) through 0 (level with the narrowest part of the pelvis) to +5 (at the opening).
What is the difference between dilation and effacement?
Dilation is how open the cervix is, from 0 to 10 cm, which is fully open. Effacement is how short, thin and soft it has become, often given as a percentage.
What is a membrane sweep?
A midwife sweeps a finger around the cervix during an internal exam, which may help labor start. It's often offered near or after the due date.
What does it mean if the waters are green or brown?
It's meconium, your baby's first poo, in the waters. Call your maternity unit straight away. Your baby will be watched more closely.
What is the difference between gas and air and an epidural?
Gas and air (Entonox, nitrous oxide) is breathed in through a mouthpiece and takes the edge off contractions. An epidural is pain relief through a thin tube in your lower back that numbs the belly and legs, and you're monitored more closely with it.
What is an Apgar score?
A quick check of your baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth: color, heart rate, breathing, muscle tone and reflexes. It isn't a test of how your baby will do.
What is a VBAC?
A vaginal birth after cesarean: giving birth vaginally after a previous cesarean.
Can I search with US words like C-section or Pitocin?
Yes. Every term carries its UK and US names, so cesarean, caesarean and C-section all find the same entry.