Congratulations! You are officially a pregnant woman and perhaps you have a few questions about some of the terms and words that your doctor has been telling you. It's hard to take it all in when so much is coming at you, but this article will help to decipher some of the terminology.

Pregnancy

• An abortion is the interruption or termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable. A spontaneous abortions or miscarriage occurs without outside action. An induced abortion is deliberately caused by human action for medical purposes.

• An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is implanted and begins to develop outside of the uterus.

• A tubal pregnancy is an ectopic pregnancy implanted within the fallopian tube rather than the uterus.

• Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy brought on by high blood pressure and proteinuria. Proteinuria is an abnormally high level of protein in the urine.

• Exclampsia is a more serious form of preeclampsia and is characterized by convulsions and sometimes coma.

The Rh Factor

If your blood is Rh-negative and your baby's father's blood is Rh-positive, then your baby could inherit the Rh-positive factor from the father. During labor or a miscarriage, some of the baby's blood may enter your circulation which will sensitize you to the Rh-positive factor and cause your body to develop Rh-positive antibodies. These antibodies will cause a problem during your next pregnancy. Blood tests of both parents will identify this potential problem and, if it exists, you will be vaccinated with Rh immune globulin to prevent the development of these antibodies.

Some Childbirth Terms

• Abruptio placentae is an abnormal condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall prematurely before the birth of your baby.

• Breech is when the buttocks or feet of your baby come first.

• Placenta previa is the abnormal implantation of the placenta in the lower portion of the uterus. Symptoms include painless sudden onset of bleeding during your third trimester. Treatment ranges from bed rest to immediate delivery by cesarean section.

• A premature infant is also called a preemie, is any baby born before the 37th week of gestation

• Stillbirth is the birth of a fetus that died before or during delivery.

For more information or if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy, you should consult with your Ob-Gyn doctor.

---