INTRADERMAL TESTING
Testing for allergies that is performed by injecting the skin with suspected allergens at timed intervals.
INTRAPARTUM FEVER (puerperal fever)
Fever occurring in a baby or mother during labor, childbirth, or recovery. It can be caused by an infection of the lining of the uterus (postpartum endometritis), a urinary tract infection, an oncoming cold or virus, a breast infection (mastitis), an epidural, or an infection from a tear in the vaginal wall or the incisions from a cesarean section or an episiotomy.
INTRAVENOUS
A term describing the administration of drugs or fluids by means of a small needle inserted directly into a vein.
INTRAVENOUS CATHETER (IV) (See IV)
A small needle or hollow tube (catheter) inserted into a vein in order to administer fluids or medications.
INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE (IVH)
Bleeding inside the brain, in the ventricles of the brain. In babies, usually related to prematurity.
INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAPNY
A procedure used to diagnose problems of the kidneys and urinary tract. It involves the intravenous injection of a dye followed by X-ray photographs to track its progress through the system.
INTUSSUSCEPTION
A serious problem with the intestine or bowel, when one part of the intestine collapses into itself (similar to how an antenna folds down into itself). It is the predominate cause of intestinal obstruction in babies and children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years with an estimated incidence of 1 to 4 per 1,000 live births.
INVERTED NIPPLES (flat nipples)
Normal nipples stick out from the areola, particularly when they are stimulated or become cold. Inverted nipples do not protrude out of the areola or become erect. Partially inverted nipples (dimpled or folded) will not protrude when stimulated but can be pulled out manually by the fingers, while a severely inverted nipple will retract more deeply into the areola when it is squeezed, making it level or recessed from the areola. The condition may affect a baby’s latching on for breastfeeding, but correct positioning of the baby to the breast may help. (See breastfeeding positioning information on in 3. Your Baby Maintenance Guide.)
IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
A common condition of pregnancy, it is produced by not getting enough iron in the diet and can be treated with iron supplements, usually pills. (See discussion in 6. Medical and Safety Guide.)
ISOIMMUNIZATION (See also RH factor)
The development of immune fighters (antibodies) in a mother’s body most commonly when she has Rh-negative blood cells and her baby has Rh-positive blood cells. It can be prevented with the administration of Rh Immunoglobulin.
ISOLETTE (See incubator)
IUD (intrauterine device)
A small contraceptive device made of plastic or metal that is implanted in a woman’s uterus to interfere with the passage of sperm reaching an egg. It may also discourage the implantation of a fertilized egg, if fertilization has managed to occur.
IV (intravenous)
Intravenous literally means “into a vein,” and it is a method for providing fluid or infusing drugs into the body. Fluid is injected or dripped from a plastic bag suspended from a stand through a long tube and into a catheter inserted and taped onto the back of one hand, or along the forearm.
IV SITE (See iv)
The place where an IV enters the skin, usually the back of the hand or in the forearm.
J
JAUNDICE (neonatal jaundice, icterus)
In the first few days after birth, more than half of full-term babies and about 80 percent of premature babies who are otherwise healthy develop a yellowish discoloration of their skin and the whites of their eyes, called jaundice. While some babies are jaundiced at birth, most develop it during the second or third day of life. It is not a disease and, in most cases, means a baby’s liver simply isn’t mature enough to process a substance called bilirubin, which is created as the body recycles old or damaged red blood cells. It is not painful for the baby, but should the levels of bilirubin become too high (see kernicterus,) it can cause brain damage. Usually jaundice disappears within 1 to 2 weeks. A health-care practitioner may want to monitor the baby and may recommend the use of special treatment lights or sunlight to help the body break down the excess bilirubin. (See discussion on page 484 in 6. Medical and Safety Guide.)
JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association)
The trade organization for manufacturers of products for babies and young children. Products certified by the JPMA will have a sticker showing they adhere to voluntary safety standards that require testing of their product lines for safety and durability.
K
KANGAROO CARE (wearing the baby)
Modeled after how a mother kangaroo holds her baby (joey) next to her bare chest in her pouch, it is the practice of giving premature babies skin-to-skin contact to help in soothing and nurturing them.
KAROTYPE
A picture of chromosomes from a cell that is enlarged and grouped for study.
KEGEL EXERCISES (Kegels)
A form of exercise that calls for the repeated contracting and releasing of the muscles that surround the anus and vagina and those used to stop urination. Kegels help to tone up the pelvic floor during pregnancy, to strengthen the muscles of childbirth, and to help control post-birth urine leaks that some mothers experience after giving birth.
KETOACIDOSIS
A complication of diabetes, caused by a high blood-sugar episode, that can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, or even death if not properly and promptly treated.
KERNICTERUS (See also jaundice)
A rare complication of jaundice in which the base of the baby’s brain and portions of the spine become invaded by excess bilirubin during the second to eighth day of life with serious consequences.
KETONES (ketosis)
Ketones are substances made by the body when it breaks down fat for energy. Normally, the body gets the energy it needs from carbohydrates in the diet; however, stored fat is broken down and ketones are made (ketosis) if the diet fails to contain enough carbohydrate to supply the body with sugar (glucose) for energy, or if the body is unable to use blood sugar (glucose) properly, such as with diabetes.
L
LABIA
Literally means lips and refers to the two sets of skin folds that protect a girl baby’s genitals.
LACERATIONS
A laceration is any sort of tear. In pregnancy, lacerations refer to tears in the opening of the vagina that occur during birth. The seriousness of the tear is usually expressed in degrees. A first-degree laceration is minor, involving only the superficial layers of skin. A fourth-degree laceration is the most serious, involving several layers of flesh to the rectum. It is more likely to occur with the use of episiotomies, forceps deliveries, and vacuum extractions.
LACTATION
Another word for breastfeeding or milk production.
LACTATION CONSULTANT
A person trained in advising mothers and medical personnel about breastfeeding.
LACTOBACILLI
“Friendly” bacteria that are capable of fermenting milk sugar; taken as a supplement, they help to establish healthy flora in the intestines, aiding digestion and increasing the body’s resistance to certain types of infection.
LACTOSE
A sugar that is present in milk.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Some people, especially non-Caucasians, have symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, and indigestion after drinking milk or eating dairy products due to a lack of sufficient amounts of a certain digestive enzyme.
LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (LLLI)
An international, nonprofit organization that provides information and support for expectant and breastfeeding mothers through trained leaders and monthly in-home group meetings, state level conferences, and bi-annual international conferences. It also provides a Web site and a national, toll-free information line.
(See Baby Products in 7. Resource Guide.)
LANUGO
Soft, downy hair that covers the body of a baby in the uterus. Some babies are born with the hair.
LARGE FOR GESTATIONAL AGE (LGA) (See also macrosomia)
A newborn weighing more than what 90 percent of babies weigh who are the same gestational age—approximately 93/4 pounds or more for a full-term newborn.
LATCH (latching on)
When the baby connects to the breast for nursing and holds on with his mouth.
LAXATIVE
A substance that tends to stimulate the bowels to move.
LCSW (See also grief, stages of)
Stands for licensed clinical social worker. The skills of a social worker may be used to assist parents in planning for their baby’s special needs or to help them in coping with the shock and grief of baby loss.
LETDOWN (let-down reflex, milk-ejection reflex)
A letdown happens when a baby’s sucking, the action of a breast pump, or a mother’s images of breastfeeding cause hormones in a mother’s body to stimulate her breasts to flow milk through ducts inside the breasts toward the nipple. Sometimes milk will drip from the nipples, or even spew out in a steady stream.
LEUKEMIA
A cancer of the blood and lymph system, the most common cancer in children.
LEUKORRHEA
White or yellowish discharge from the vagina.
LIMBIC SYSTEM
A group of deep brain structures that transmit the perception of pain to the brain and generate an emotional reaction to it.
LIPOTROPIC
One of a group of substances, including choline, inositol, and methionine, that prevent the accumulation of abnormal or excessive levels of fat in the liver. They also help to control blood-sugar levels and enhance fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
LISTERIOSIS
A rare illness (only about 400 cases of listeria are reported for pregnant women each year in the United States), listeriosis is caused by bacteria that may be found in certain foods such as unpasteurized milk products, undercooked poultry, and prepared meats, including hot dogs and sandwich meats, soft cheeses, raw vegetables, and shellfish. Its symptoms are similar to the flu and can include fever , chills, headache, aches and pains, and sore throat. Samples of fluids from a mother’s vagina, cervix , blood, and the baby’s amniotic fluid may be checked if a provider is concerned a mother may have the disease. Listeriosis can also be transmitted during the baby’s travel down the birth canal. It can lead to life-threatening blood infections and meningitis in the newborn.
LOBAR PNEUMONIA
An inflammation of the lungs that affects one or both lobes of the lung; commonly caused by a streptococcal infection.
LOBI
Stands for low-birthweight infant.
LOCAL ANESTHESIA (A LOCAL)
Any anesthetic injected to numb a small area on the body, usually lidocaine or novocaine.
LOCHIA
Vaginal discharge after delivery. It resembles a heavy period that lasts for about 6 weeks following birth.
LOW-BIRTHWEIGHT BABY (low-birthweight infant, LBWI)
A baby weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. These babies have a greater chance of health problems. A very tiny, premature baby is referred to as an extremely low-birthweight baby (ELBW).
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT
Usually refers to the trachea (the windpipe), the bronchi, the bronchioles, and the lungs.
LYME DISEASE
A disease caused by a spirochete germ transmitted from an infected deer tick.
There may be no symptom or a circular rash with a characteristic red, raised ring with a pale center. It then may develop into a blotchy rash on the trunk and extremities along with flu-like symptoms, swollen glands near the bite, sore throat, and joint swelling that may appear later. It is detected by a blood test and treated by antibiotics.
LYMPH
The clear fluid in which all of the body’s cells are bathed. It provides nourishment to the cells and collects waste products given off by the cells.
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
A series of glands, nodes, and vessels in the body that filter a clear or milky fluid called lymph. The body uses the lymphatic system to carry waste products away from the tissues and back into general circulation for removal from the body.
LYMPH GLAND
One of the glands located in the lymph vessels; lymph glands produce lymphocytes (white blood cells) and remove foreign materials from the lymph stream.
LYMPHOCYTE
A type of white blood cell that is a crucial component of the immune system.
LYMPHOMA
A cancer of the lymph system.
M
MACROSOMIA
When a baby is larger than average (e.g., 93/4 pounds). Sometimes a very large baby is related to a mother’s having diabetes or a baby’s being born later than the due date. A large newborn may also result from having a large parent. Sometimes a baby’s size in relation to his mother can cause problems during and after delivery.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
A diagnostic tool, an MRI can be used to obtain a closer and clearer image of the baby (or a mother) than ultrasound . The procedure is non-invasive and is similar to getting an X-ray, but it uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create an image.
MALIGNANCY
The property of being cancerous and prone to spread.
MALPOSITION (malpresentation)
When a baby’s head or body is in an abnormal position during birth.
MALROTATION
Failure of normal rotation of a baby’s organs during embryological development.
MAMMARY GLANDS
Milk-producing glands of the breast.
MARFAN SYNDROME
An inherited condition caused by a genetic defect for the gene that determines the structure of fibrillin, a protein that is an important part of the body’s connective tissue in the organs and throughout the body. With Marfan syndrome, the connective tissue is defective and does not function as it should. The result may be deformities in the skeleton, eyes, heart, nerves, and skin problems. Although there is no cure, early diagnosis can help to improve the quality of life and delay complications.
MARIJUANA (cannabis, joint, pot, weed)
Like alcohol and tobacco, marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to low-birthweight and premature babies. Studies have shown that it can be associated with slow embryo growth and spontaneous abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. Symptoms such as excessive trembling and withdrawal-like irritability in newborns have also been associated with heavy marijuana use by the mother.
MASTITIS
Inflammation with redness and tenderness in an area of the breast accompanied by fever, mastitis is usually caused by bacterial infection and most often occurs to breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes there may be a discharge of pus. Treatment includes gentle massage, moist, warm compresses, nursing heavily on the affected side, and rest. In some instances, antibiotics may be recommended.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING
A field in nursing that specializes in the health of women, their partners, and their babies and children. It focuses on the problems associated with giving birth and rearing children.
MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE
A medical subspecialty of obstetrics that offers training in advanced fetal diagnosis, such as targeted ultrasound, skills in special surgeries, and interventions for fetuses prior to birth, such as transfusions, genetic counseling for parents, and management of severe pregnancy complications.
MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST (MFM, perinatologist)
A fully trained medical doctor and obstetrician/gynecologist who has undergone three additional years of training in the management of special conditions during pregnancy such as high-risk pregnancies. She also cares for pregnant women that had medical conditions prior to their pregnancies, who develop medical or surgical problems during their pregnancies, or who carry a fetus with a problem.
MATERNITY NURSING (perinatal nursing)
The field of nursing that focuses on the care of childbearing women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first four weeks afterward.
M.D.
Medical Doctor, Doctor of Medicine.
MEASLES (See also German measels)
A virus that starts with cold-like symptoms, a fever, a cough, and bloodshot eyes that are sensitive to light. After about four days, a characteristic deep red rash develops, starting on the face and spreading all over the body, and lasting about five days. Rare, though serious, complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, and ear infection. The MMR shot helps to protect babies and children from the virus.
MEATUS
The outer opening of the urethra through which urine passes.
MECONIUM
The first bowel movements of a newborn. The BM can be dark green or yellow in color and tarry in consistency, consisting of cells, mucus, and bile. Once meconium has cleared the baby’s system, its bowels will become softer and turn to green, and then to yellow, custardy stools if the baby is breastfed. The appearance of heavy meconium staining during the process of birth may indicate that a baby is in distress.
MECONIUM ASPIRATION (See aspiration)
MECONIUM STAINING
When meconium stains the amniotic fluid. It sometimes indicates a baby is in trouble (fetal distress).
MEDICAL GENETICIST
A physician who specializes in genetic disorders.
MENARCHE
The onset of menstruation.
MENINGES
The three thin membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
MENINGITIS
A serious infection of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord that can result in disability or death, especially in infants and children. Symptoms may mimic a cold, flu, or ear infection with the child becoming increasingly more ill. The child will develop a high fever, become increasingly more sluggish and drowsy, have vomiting, a stiff neck, or stiffen when legs are raised to change a diaper. The fontanels (soft spots) in the baby’s skull may rise. A spinal tap may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
MENINGOMYELOCELE
A congenital defect of the central nervous system of the baby. The covering of the spinal cord and sometimes the spinal cord itself protrude through an opening or defect in the vertebral column.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The monthly change in a woman’s reproductive organs as they prepare the uterus for implantation if the egg is fertilized by a man’s semen. A typical cycle lasts 28 days and is counted from the first day of a woman’s period to the first day of her next period. The ovaries usually release an egg approximately 2 weeks into the cycle.
MERCURY
A toxic substance that can harm an unborn baby’s brain or nervous system. Found in high concentrations in certain fish, including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Current recommendations include limiting the ingestion of these fish to two servings a week and taking a DHA (fish oil) supplement as an alternative source for omega-3 fatty acids thought to play a role in fetal brain development.
METABOLIC RATE
The rate at which the body carries out metabolic functions.
METABOLISM
The term for the entire complex of physical and chemical processes that are necessary to sustain life; these include the breaking down of certain substances (such as food, to release energy) and the synthesis of others (such as proteins for growth and repair of tissue).
METABOLITE
A substance produced as a result of a metabolic process.
MFM (See maternal-fetal medicine)
MICROCEPHALY
A birth defect in which the baby’s brain fails to develop to a normal size.
MICROGRAM (MCG)
A measurement of weight equivalent to one one-thousandth of a milligram (or one-millionth of a gram).
MICRONUTRIENT
A nutrient required in small amounts, such as a vitamin or mineral.
MICROORGANISM
A microscopically small organism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, or protozoan.
MILIA
Harmless, tiny white spots on a newborn’s nose, forehead, chin, and cheeks that originate in the oil glands. The bumps will disappear during the first few weeks of life. No treatment is needed.
MILIARIA (Sudamina)
Distended sweat glands that look like tiny pimples, especially on the face.
MILLIGRAM (MG)
A measurement of weight equivalent to one one-thousandth of a gram.
MINERAL
An inorganic substance, such as calcium or sodium, which is required by the body for proper functioning.
MISCARRIAGE (spontaneous abortion)
The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. They happen in 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies. The causes of miscarriage are not completely known, but more than half of those that occur during the first trimester of pregnancy are caused by problems with the fetus’s chromosomes. Other causes may be an infection in the uterus; the mother’s hormonal imbalance; chronic disease, such as poorly controlled diabetes; or the chronic and heavy use of cigarettes, alcohol, or certain recreational drugs.
MN
Master of Nursing.
MOHEL
A person of the Jewish faith who is legally certified and religiously ordained to perform circumcisions.
MOLDING
The temporary reshaping of a baby’s head in order to pass through the birth canal.
MONGOLIAN SPOTS (blue-gray macules)
A birthmark of slate-blue discolorations resembling bruises that are commonly found on the lower back of newborns, particularly those of African, Indian, Asian, or Mediterranean descent. These marks are not signs of abuse, nor are they associated with mental retardation, as some people believe. They usually, but not always, fade during the preschool years, and no treatment is required.
MONILIA (moniliasis) (See yeast infection)
MONITOR
In medical terminology, a machine to record vital body signs such as heart rate, breathing, and body temperature, or the length of contractions. Monitors can also be devices used to listen to baby sounds at home (nursery monitor) or to keep tabs on baby breathing (apnea monitor).
MONONUCLEOSIS
A viral illness usually caused by Epstein-Bar virus that commonly develops in young adults. Once infected, the virus may stay in your body for the rest of your life.
MONOZYGOTIC TWINS (See also identical twins)
Twins conceived from the splitting of one egg into two eggs.
MONTESSORI SCHOOLS (montessori method)
An educational method based on the work of an Italian educator, Maria Montessori. Schools bearing her name place an emphasis on the natural exploration of the child and the use of tactual and sensory materials to aid children in learning.
MONTGOMERY’S TUBERCLES (Montgomery’s glands)
The small, goosepimple-like gland openings that supply lubrication to the areola (dark part) of the breast and alter the pH of the skin to discourage growth of bacteria.
MORO REFLEX
A primitive, preprogrammed reaction (reflex) seen in newborn babies, usually in response to noise or movement, such as tilting the baby’s head backward. The baby will react by flinging his arms and legs wide open and will stiffen, usually followed by crying. The reflex normally disappears spontaneously by four months of age.
MOTHER’S HELPER
Someone hired to help with baby care who is young or inexperienced but can assist with baby-related and household chores.
MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
The way in which a baby’s muscle skills become more sophisticated over time.
MSCN (MSN)
Master of Science in Nursing.
MSW
The letters after a person’s name signify that he has a master’s degree in social work.
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
The moist surfaces lining the vagina, rectum, mouth, nose, and throat.
MULTIPLE PREGNANCY (multiple gestation)
When a mother is carrying more than one baby inside. Babies will initially be labeled as Twin A, Twin B, etc., depending upon which baby is anticipated to be born first.
MUMPS
An inflammation of the salivary glands in the neck caused by a virus. It begins with flu-like symptoms and an upset stomach, followed by enlarged, swollen glands under the ear lobes that start on one side of the head and spread to the other making the child look like a chipmunk. It usually lasts 7 to 10 days and the MMR shot can help to prevent it.
MUTATION
A noninherited genetic disorder that happens when an egg, sperm, or embryo undergo spontaneous changes.
MYOSITIS
An inflammation of the skeletal muscles, caused by injury, infection, or disease.
MYRINGOTOMY
A minor surgical procedure in which a small slit is made in the eardrum, allowing fluid to drain from the middle ear. A tiny tube is placed in the incision to permit the drainage of fluid.
N
NANNY
A trained child-care provider, usually a live-in, who has been hired to care for babies and children.
NANNY AGENCY
A firm that specializes in screening, hiring, and training nannies that then places them in homes for a fee.
NASW
National Association of Social Workers.
It is used to signify that the social worker has been approved for practice by the national organization.
NATAL TEETH
Teeth present in a baby’s mouth at the time of birth. They are rare (about 1 in 2,000 babies have them), but often loose because their roots haven’t had time to mature.
NATUROPATHY
A system of medicine that uses herbs and other natural methods to stimulate the body to heal itself without the use of drugs.
NEONATAL
Means near the time of birth—the period from the time the baby is born until it reaches four weeks of age. The term may also be used in titles of nurses and physicians specializing in dealing with problems of babies around the time of birth, i.e., neonatal nurses who specialize in the care of sick babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU—sometimes pronounced nick-ewe); neonatal nurse practitioners who specialize in training in the management of newborns and can perform some procedures usually done by physicians; and neonatologists, physicians who specialize in the care of premature babies and those with medical or surgical problems.
NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME (baby drug withdrawal)
Babies whose mothers are addicted to heroin, barbiturates, amphetamines, or other drugs inherit their mothers’ drug dependence. A baby may appear normal at birth but begin to show extreme irritability, constant crying, poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problems, tremors, hyperactivity, and seizures within eight to ten hours after birth. The baby may be medicated temporarily and placed in a dim room to help him weather the withdrawal.
NEONATAL CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST
A registered nurse with a master’s degree who is a specialist through study and supervised practice in care of newborns.
NEONATAL DEATH
Death of a live-born infant anytime between birth and twenty-eight days.
NEONATAL FELLOW
A pediatrician who is currently getting special training in newborn intensive care (a future neonatologist).
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU, pronounced nick-ewe)
An intensive care unit just for newborns where babies who are born too early or have special medical needs are taken after birth. Babies in NICU may have been premature or show signs of physical problems, such as breathing problems or fever. NICUs are staffed with specialists trained to care for babies with special needs. Some hospitals also have step-down units for babies needing long-term care who are not well enough for regular nursery care.
NEONATAL JAUNDICE (See also jaundice)
A yellowing of the baby’s skin that may occur in the first four weeks after birth.
NEONATAL MORTALITY RATE
The number of deaths of babies prior to 28 days of life per 1,000 babies. The primary causes of neonatal mortality are prematurity, low birthweight, and birth defects . In the year 2000, the U.S. neonatal mortality rate was 4.6 per 1,000 live births.
NEONATAL NURSE PRACTITIONER (NNP)
A registered nurse with clinical expertise in the nursing care of newborns. He or she can conduct assessments and diagnoses and manage caseloads of newborn patients in collaboration with physicians.
NEONATE
Another word for newborn.
NEONATOLOGIST
A physician specializing in pediatrics with advanced training in the care of sick newborns. Neonatologists often head neonatal intensive care units.
NEONATOLOGY (See also pediatric neonatology)
A specialty field in medicine and nursing for the care of premature and sick newborns that have special medical needs.
NEURAL TUBE DEFECT (NTD) (See also hydrocephalus and spina bifida)
Any of a group of birth defects related to the fetal brain and spine.
NEUROMUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT
The development of a baby’s nervous and muscular systems. The term is sometimes used to refer to the maturity of the baby’s motor skills.
NEUROTRANSMITTER
A chemical that transmits nerve impulses between neurons (nerve cells) in the baby’s brain and nerves.
NEVUS FLAMMEUS (See port wine stain)
NEWBORN
Another name for a baby between birth and one month of age.
NFTD
Stands for normal full-term delivery.
NICU (pronounced nick-ewe) (See neonatal intensive care unit)
NIPPLE CONFUSION
When newborns drink formula from an artificial nipple, they may adapt sucking patterns that interfere with suckling at their mothers’ breast.
NIPPLES, INVERTED (See inverted nipples)
NONREASSURING FETAL STATUS (fetal distress)
A term that indicates concern that a baby is not receiving sufficient oxygen from the placenta. The baby may not move for a period of time or have a slower-than-normal heartbeat.
NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG (NSAID)
One of a class of drugs often used as painkillers for mild to moderate pain; some are available by prescription only.
NPO (nil per os [Latin])
Literally translated, as “nothing by mouth,” the term refers to a medical order that restricts someone from eating and drinking to protect from vomiting and aspirating regurgitated matter into the lungs during general anesthesia (being put to sleep for surgery). The policy of preventing pregnant women from eating and drinking during labor is now no longer universally accepted unless there is a problem during labor.
NURSE PRACTITIONER
A nurse who has completed a master’s degree or post-master’s degree program in a specialty and is certified to practice by the appropriate professional organization, such as obstetrics or neonatal medicine. Nurse practitioners can diagnose medical conditions, treat them, prescribe medications, and offer medical advice to families, but they do not deliver babies.
NURSERY SCHOOL
A child-care facility that offers educational opportunities for children from about two and a half years of age until they are eligible for prekindergarten or kindergarten.
O
OB/GYN (obstetrics and gynecology)
Stands for obstetrics and gynecology (pronounced guy-nuh-kology).
OBSTETRICIAN (an OB [oh-bee] or an OB/GYN [an obstetrician/gynecologist])
A physician with special training in providing medical care for women who are pregnant and giving birth. An OB can perform surgery, such as c-sections, if needed, or operative vaginal deliveries using forceps or vacuum extraction.
Often, obstetricians also specialize in the reproductive health of women of all ages. In that case, the initials of their specialty often call them an OB/GYN (oh-bee, gee-“y”-“n,” or gi-knee).
OBSTETRICS (See obstetrician)
The branch of medicine dealing with the management of pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period (the first forty-two days after birth).
OBSTRUCTIVE APNEA (See apnea)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
A person with special training in infant development. Patients often encounter this person in the nursery or follow-up clinic.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID
A group of essential fats the body needs for normal development. Since the human body cannot produce these fatty acids, they must be supplied through diet.
OMPHALOCELE
A birth defect involving a failure of the abdominal wall to form at the place where the umbilical cord attaches to a baby’s belly. If this occurs, the baby’s intestines are usually protruding out of its belly into a sac. It can be repaired surgically after delivery.
ONESIE
A baby garment that serves as both a T-shirt and a diaper cover that snaps together over the baby’s diaper.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
A severe newborn eye infection of the lining of the eye and eyelids that occurs within the first ten days of life acquired by an infection of a mother’s birth canal at the time of delivery. Gonorrhea is responsible for the great majority of cases, but it can also be caused by a streptococcus or staphylococcus infection, and chlamydia. All states in the United States require that babies receive eye medication soon after birth to protect them from the blindness that may result from these infections.
ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION (ORS)
Liquids used to prevent dehydration when a child has diarrhea or is vomiting. Oral rehydration solutions are used to prevent or correct dehydration by providing a mix of salt, sugar, potassium, and other minerals that help to replace lost fluids.
ORGANIC
A term used to describe foods that are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, hormones, or other substances thought to be toxic to humans. Some states have stiff regulations about what “organic” means for packaging and advertising.
ORS (See oral rehydration solution)
OTITIS MEDIA
The medical name for a middle ear infection, an infection behind the eardrum.
OXIMETER
A device that is placed on a toe or finger to measure the amount of oxygen being transported by the blood.
OUNCE (oz.)
A measure of weight. There are 16 ounces (oz.) in a pound.
OXYTOCIN
A natural, and sometimes synthetic (manmade), hormone used to artificially start labor (called induction) by making the uterus contractions stronger. Its natural form in the body causes the uterus to contract and is involved in the letdown of breast milk.
P
PA (physician’s assistant)
Stands for physician’s assistant, a person certified to provide basic medical services under the supervision of a licensed physician.
PALMAR GRASP
When a baby holds an object with his fingers flexed and his thumb curled inward.
PALPATION
To feel with the hand, as in pressing down upon a baby’s belly in order to determine if there are any abdominal masses.
PARASITE
An organism or microorganism that lives in or on, and takes nourishment from, another organism.
PAROTID GLAND
One of the two saliva-producing glands located in the back of the mouth, below, and in front of the ears.
PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS
A heart defect in newborns in which a part of the heart, the ductus arteriosus, stays open, causing excess blood flow into the lungs and potential heart failure.
PEDIATRICIAN
A physician with special training in the care of healthy and sick infants and children.
PEDODENTIST
A dentist specializing in the dental care of infants and children younger than seven years of age.
PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES
A group of muscles inside the base of the pelvic bones that help to support the vagina, uterus, bladder, urethra, and rectum. These muscles also help to prevent leaking urine or bowel movements (incontinence). (See Kegel exercises.)
PEPTIDES
A group of linked amino acids.
PERCENTILE CHART
A graph that plots the expected growth of babies and children starting with birth. Children who are larger than normal are considered to be in the top percentile of growth, and children who are smaller than normal are in the lowest growth percentile.
PERINATAL
The period shortly before and after birth.
It is defined by various sources as beginning with the completion of the twentieth to the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy and ending anywhere between the seventh and twenty-eighth days following delivery.
PERINATAL DEATH
Death of a fetus occurring after the birth of a live baby between the time it weighs at least 500 grams, or between the twentieth and twenty-eighth completed week of gestation and up through the seventh to twenty-eighth day after delivery.
PERINATAL PHARMACIST
A pharmacist with special expertise in drugs for babies.
PERINATOLOGIST (MFM, maternal-fetal medicine specialist)
A fully trained medical doctor and obstetrician/gynecologist who has undergone 3 additional years of training in the management of special conditions during pregnancy such as high-risk pregnancies. Provides care for pregnant women who had medical conditions prior to their pregnancies who develop medical or surgical problems during their pregnancies, or who carry a fetus with a problem.
PERINEUM
The tissues and muscular structures that surround the vagina.
PERIPAD
A sanitary pad placed against the vagina and perineum to absorb fluid and/or dress a wound.
PERITONEUM
The abdominal cavity that holds the abdominal organs.
PERMANENT TEETH
The 32 secondary (adult) teeth that start to appear at approximately six years of age.
PERTUSSIS (whooping cough)
An infection of the respiratory system caused by a bacterium. It starts as a cold but lingers with a worsening cough that has burst of 5 to 10 loud barks along with thick mucus. The “whoop” in the name refers to the whooping sound when the child breathes inward. A baby with the cough will get red-faced and possibly blue around the mouth during coughing, with vomiting afterward, but there is no fever. Usually, a baby who catches it is hospitalized, and the baby may be given oxygen, antibiotics, and treatment for complications such as pneumonia.
PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (See autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder)
PHARYNGITIS
A medical term for sore throat.
PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU)
A condition in babies found at birth in which the body lacks a specific enzyme that can lead to abnormal metabolism and, when untreated, could result in brain damage.
PHOBIA
An irrational fear of objects, situations, people, or animals; common in toddlers.
PHOSPHATIDYL GYLCEROL
A substance in the family of chemicals called surfactants that is present when fetal lungs are mature. If a baby’s lungs are immature (prior to thirty-eight weeks of pregnancy), surfactants may not present in sufficient quantities, which will affect a baby’s ability to breathe after birth.
PHOTOTHERAPY
A treatment for babies with jaundice. Bright lights, called bili lights, help babies break down bilirubin in their blood. Excessive levels of bilirubin are the cause of neonatal jaundice.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
A person with special training in assessing and helping muscle tone and movement problems in babies.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (nurse practitioner)
A trained professional (non-MD) who has received additional training in newborn intensive care so he or she can perform many of the same tasks as doctors.
PHYSIOLOGIC ANEMIA OF PREGNANCY (See also anemia)
Anemia during pregnancy caused by an increase in the amount of plasma (fluid) in the blood compared with the number of cells in the blood.
P.I.
Stands for premature infant.
PINCER GRASP
When babies hold a pellet-sized object using the tips of the thumb and index finger.
PINWORMS
Intestinal worms or parasites that are spread from animals to children. They can cause frequent night waking, restlessness, and intense itching around the anus or vagina, and small, threadlike white worms will be seen traveling out of the rectum to deposit eggs around the rectal area. Easily treated with medication.
PITUITARY GLAND (See also Sheehan’s syndrome)
A gland located in the center of the front of the brain that produces a variety of hormones that have many jobs, including signaling the breasts to produce milk in a mother. A mother’s pituitary gland may be affected by hemorrhage.
PLACENTA
A red, round, fleshy organ resembling a large piece of liver about 6 to 7 inches in diameter at birth. It forms and grows alongside the baby inside and is fastened to the side of one wall of the uterus with tiny, finger-like projections called villi. The placenta extracts oxygen and nutrition from the mother’s blood and transfers it to the fetus’s blood. The expelling of the placenta after a baby is born is known as the third stage of labor.
PNEUMONIA
A bacterial or viral infection of the tissues of the lung. The bacterial version can cause a high fever, chills, rapid breathing, fast heart rate, a wet cough, abdominal pain, and vomiting, with the baby becoming progressively more ill.
The viral type will cause a low fever, no chills, a lingering cough, and may last longer but with fewer symptoms of illness. The bacterial type can be treated with antibiotics.
PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE (See also pneumonia and group B streptococcus)
A vaccine to prevent infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can lead to meningitis, blood infections, ear infections, and more rarely to pneumonia, deafness, and brain damage. (See in 6. Medical and Safety Guide.)
PNEUMONITIS, INHALATIONAL (See inhalational pneumonitis) PNEUMOTHORAX
A disease or injury in which air or gas collects in the chest outside the lungs.
POLIO (poliomyelitis, infantile paralysis)
A viral infection that can lead to an inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal column. In most individuals it causes only mild respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, often accompanied by fever, headache, and muscle stiffness that only last for a few days. In rarer, serious cases, polio can cause paralysis of muscles with sensation remaining intact. The discovery and use of polio vaccines has all but eliminated polio in the Americas.
POLYCYTHEMIA
When a newborn’s red blood cell count (hematocrit) reaches such a mass that the blood is too thick to flow through an individual’s body. In newborns it may be associated with low blood sugar, sluggishness, poor feeding, jitteriness, possibly seizures, respiratory distress, and blood clots. The baby’s blood may be thinned through a special transfusion. Potential causes are intrauterine growth restriction, a mother’s diabetes mellitus, asphyxia, and some medications taken by mothers, smoking, and pregnancy at a high altitude. The blood condition can result in neonatal jaundice.
POLYDACTYLY
When a baby is born with extra fingers or toes.
PORT-WINE STAIN
A birthmark that appears as a patch of reddish-blue skin. A health-care provider should evaluate it since it is sometimes associated with genetic problems.
POSITIONAL APNEA (See apnea)
POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (PAP)
A noninvasive ventilation assistance technique in which low-level pressure is delivered to the lungs during spontaneous ventilation, usually through a face mask or nasal prongs.
POSTNASAL DRIP
A condition in which nasal mucus flows down through the throat rather than being discharged through the nostrils, often as a result of allergy or chronic infection.
POSTERIOR POSITION (occiput posterior/posterior presentation) (See also anterior position)
When the back of the head of the baby presses on the back of the mother. A baby in this position can play a part in back labor and may make it more difficult for the mother to push the baby out.
POSTMATURE PREGNANCY
A pregnancy that lasts longer than forty-two weeks with evidence of placental dysfunction.
POSTNATAL PERIOD
The time following delivery, usually between birth and 10 to 28 days, when mothers and babies are carefully watched for complications.
POSTPARTUM
After delivery.
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD)
PPD can set in anytime during the year after a baby is born. It affects 10 to 15 percent of new mothers and is more serious and prolonged than baby blues. It requires professional help. (See page 368 in 5. Managing Your First Year.)
POSTPARTUM ENDOMETRITIS (See also intrapartum fever)
Swelling and infection in the inner layer of the uterus following birth. Its symptoms are a fever, a uterus that is tender to the touch, a discharge from the vagina that is foul-smelling, and a change in blood cells due to infection. It is treated with a strong course of antibiotics. The infection occurs in approximately 1 to 3 percent of women who have given birth vaginally and between 10 to 30 percent of women following cesarean sections. It remains one of the leading causes of death from cesarean section, although the aggressive use of antibiotics has made that occurrence extremely rare.
POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE (See also hemorrhage)
Hemorrhage (heavy, difficult-to-stop bleeding) from the birth canal usually during the first 24 hours after birth.
POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS
Mental illness that is precipitated by pregnancy and birth. It is rare and affects approximately 0.1 percent of new mothers (or about 1 out of 1,000 women). It can happen anytime during the first year after childbirth and is marked by a break with reality that resembles bipolar disorder. Symptoms may include hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there) and delusions (believing things that aren’t true). Professional intervention is needed.
POSTPARTUM THYROIDITIS
Fluctuating thyroid function after childbirth. Symptoms may include fatigue, anxiety, emotional ups and downs, and feelings of weakness and tiredness. It is not usually associated with a painful or tender thyroid gland, which is located in the center of the neck.
POST-TRAUMATIC BIRTH DISORDER (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Severe emotional turmoil following birth experienced by some women whose births were complicated, or who have perceived that mistakes were made during their deliveries. It is more common in women who had previous emotional vulnerabilities prior to giving birth, such as a history of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Symptoms include feelings of panic when nearing the place where the birth occurred; obsessive thoughts about the birth; feelings of numbness and detachment; disturbing memories of the birth experience; nightmares; flashbacks; and unexplainable sadness, fearfulness, anxiety, or irritability.
PREECLAMPSIA
A complication of pregnancy that occurs after the twentieth week of pregnancy. Sometimes it can be silent, with no outward symptoms, but a mother will have protein in her urine and high blood pressure. Physical symptoms include rapid weight gain and swelling in the fingers, face, and ankles from fluid retention. A mother may also experience odd vision problems such as blurring or headaches. The causes of preeclampsia are not completely understood, but poor nutrition and genetic disposition are thought to be contributors. Preeclampsia (toxemia) left untreated can turn into seizures (eclampsia) and could lead to coma and possibly death.
PRE-K
Stands for prekindergarten, a type of preschool for children under five years of age.
PREMATURE BABY (preemie)
A baby who comes early, that is, one who is born before thirty-seven weeks of gestation, and usually weighing less than 51/2 pounds.
PREPUCE
The foreskin, the fold of skin that naturally covers the tip (glans) of the penis.
Circumcision surgically removes it.
PRESENTATION
The part of the baby that will deliver first. Cephalic presentation is head first; breech presentation is the buttocks or leg.
PRESENTING PART
The part of the baby’s anatomy that delivers first, usually the skull, but it could be an arm, or the buttocks or a leg in a breech presentation.
PRETERM BABY (premature baby, preterm infant)
A baby born before thirty-seven weeks of pregnancy, regardless of weight.
PRETERM DELIVERY (PTD, preterm birth)
Delivery of a baby prior to 37 weeks of completed pregnancy that happens in 5 to 16 percent of all deliveries. Currently, PTD can rarely be predicted, prevented, or effectively treated. Some factors thought to contribute to preterm delivery include infection, abnormalities in the baby or uterus, problems with the placenta, bleeding caused by pregnancy, multiple gestation (twins, etc.), premature rupture of the amniotic sac, and hydramnios (too much fluid in the amniotic sac). But, in one-third to one-half of the cases, there is no known cause for PTD.
PRICKLY HEAT (See heat rash)
PRIMARY STANDING
Upright standing by a newborn when his trunk is supported and his feet touch a surface.
PRIMARY TEETH (deciduous teeth)
The 20 temporary teeth that usually erupt between ages 6 months through 24 to 30 months of age.
PROGESTERONE
A hormone that keeps the uterus from contracting and promotes the growth of blood vessels in the wall of the uterus.
PROGNOSIS
A prediction about the course of a disease and its outcome. A poor prognosis means that a mother, or baby, may not be expected to do well (or survive).
PROJECTILE VOMITING
Vomiting so violent that vomit is ejected in a forceful stream and lands at a distance from the mouth.
PROLACTIN
A hormone that is involved in the production of breast milk. Called the mothering hormone, prolactin working together with oxytocin are thought to be partly responsible for the strong feelings of attachment that mothers have toward their babies. During pregnancy, prolactin speeds the growth of breast tissues in preparation for breastfeeding.
PROLAPSED CORD (prolapse)
When a loop of a baby’s umbilical cord slips down below the body and into the birth canal during birth.
PROLONGED LABOR
A labor lasting more than 18 to 24 hours.
PROPOLIS
A resinous substance collected by bees; used as a dietary supplement or salve, it has antibacterial properties that aid in fighting infection.
PROSTAGLANDINS
Unsaturated fatty acids that function like hormones and act in extremely low concentrations on local target organs. For example, prostaglandins secreted by the uterine lining cause the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract.
PROTEIN
Proteins are chains of amino acids that are required to repair and build the body tissue especially needed for fetal growth. Common sources of protein for pregnancy are milk, eggs, cheese, fish, meat, beans, tofu, and some vegetables.
PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES
Proteins that have been treated with enzymes to break them down into amino acids and shorter peptides.
PROTOCOL
A course of medical treatment.
PROTOZOAN
One of a group of single-celled microorganisms, such as amoebas.
PRURITUS
A medical term for itching.
PUERPERAL FEVER (See puerpal sepsis)
PUERPERAL SEPSIS (puerperal fever, puerperal infection, childbed fever) (See also intrapartum fever)
A maternal infection of the mucous membrane lining of the uterus around the time of childbirth that can be a cause of maternal death if it is not treated in time.
PUERPERIUM
A period of time following delivery that lasts about 6 to 8 weeks when a mother’s reproductive organs and body gradually return to the pre-pregnancy state. The uterus undergoes involution, a remarkable reduction in size.
There is also a discharge of blood and other fluids, called lochia, for 4 to 6 weeks following pregnancy.
PULMONARY
Pertaining to the lungs.
PULMONARY ATRESIA (PA)
A complicated congenital defect that occurs due to abnormal development of the fetal heart during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
PULSE OXIMETER
The “pulse ox” continuously measures the baby’s blood oxygen. There is a tiny light that is attached to the baby’s palm, foot, finger, toe, or wrist by a piece of adhesive elastic. A cord travels from the light to a machine that displays the amount of oxygen being carried by red blood cells in the baby’s body. This may be part of the cardiorespiratory monitor or a separate monitor.
PURULENT
Containing or causing the production of pus.
R
RADIATION THERAPY
A type of treatment for cancer in which radiation is used to kill cancerous tissues also called radiotherapy.
RAKING
Using the fingers to pull small objects into the palm of the hand.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT (REM)
A state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep; usually occurs during the dream phase of sleep.
RAST TEST (radio-allergo-sorbent test, skin-prick test)
A blood test used to measure antibodies produced by the body’s immune system to test for allergic reaction.
RDS (See respiratory distress syndrome)
REBOUND EFFECT
A situation in which a person who has been treated for a particular symptom or illness, particularly with drug therapy, experiences worse symptoms after the treatment is stopped than he or she had initially.
RECALL
Baby products routinely undergo federally mandated recalls or corrective actions when serious safety flaws are discovered. Unsafe products may be removed from the marketplace, or they may simply be furnished with new components to make them safer. Cribs, strollers, toys, and other baby products are recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), car seats by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and baby formula and cosmetics by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (See Fatherhood in 7. Resource Guide, and discussion on page 279 of 4. Gear Guide.)
RECESSIVE DISORDER
A genetic disorder that is transmitted to a child when both parents are carriers of defective genes.
RECTUM
Lower part of the large intestine about 5 inches in length, which connects from the colon to the anus, the outward opening for bowel movements.
RED BLOOD CELLS
Blood cells containing hemoglobin, which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.
REFERRED PAIN
Pain from a malfunctioning or diseased area of the body, which is perceived as happening in another area—sometimes far from the source of the pain. A common example of referred pain in babies is the perception that the baby is experiencing abdominal pain when the source is an inner-ear infection.
REFLUX
A condition, common among infants, caused by the valve or muscle at the upper end of the stomach being immature and allowing feedings to come back up. As the baby’s muscles mature the reflux will improve.
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA
Numbing of just the lower part of a mother’s body during labor in contrast to general anesthesia, which puts the mother totally to sleep.
RENAL
Pertaining to the kidneys.
RESCUE BREATHING
A life-saving measure to get air in the lungs when a person has stopped breathing.
RESIDENT
A physician who has completed an MD degree and is in the process of training in a specialty under the supervision of experienced specialists.
RESPIRATOR (ventilator)
This is a machine to help the baby breathe. Some machines make the baby’s own breaths bigger (synchronized ventilation) or give breaths like the baby should be taking. Others, called high frequency ventilators, or HiFi, hold the lungs open with a constant pressure and then give hundreds of tiny puffs of air or oxygen each minute.
RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION
Slowed or shallow breathing that can be caused by medications that a mother is taking. It may occur temporarily when a mother hyperventilates (breathes too fast) during birth.
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) (See hyaline membrane disease)
A lung condition occurring in some premature babies when their lungs don’t completely expand or expand imperfectly. It can be caused by the lack of a surfactant in the airway. Treatments include giving the baby oxygen and administering a surfactant.
RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
A person with special training for care and management of oxygen and breathing machines.
RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY (ROP, retrolental fibroplasias, retinopathy)
An eye condition that can develop in very premature newborns. In milder cases, a premature baby’s eyes will recover, but if the baby is very immature, the blood vessels within the retina may not have had adequate time to grow, and the baby may be visually impaired or blind.
RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA (See also renithopaty of prematurity)
A condition in premature infants that can cause blindness.
RETT SYNDROME
A disorder of the nervous system that leads to regression in development, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use. In most cases, it is caused by a genetic mutation.
REUSABLE DIAPERS
Cloth diapers that can be washed over and over again (versus disposable diapers that must be thrown away after they’ve been soiled).
REYE’S SUNDROME (RS)
A potentially serious or deadly disorder in children affecting all organs of the body but which is most harmful to the brain and the liver. Symptoms include increasing sluggishness that may proceed to a coma, persistent vomiting, fever following another virus infection, and seizures. RS is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or psychiatric illness. Hospitalization is required. It has been associated with aspirin when given with chicken pox or the flu, but this is not proven.
RHESUS ANTI-D GAMMA GLOBULIN INJECTION (Rh Immunoglobulin [RhIg], Rhogam)
An injection given to an Rh-negative pregnant woman at 28 weeks of pregnancy, or at the time of an amniocentesis, to prevent the development of antibodies that could be harmful to the baby. If the baby is Rh-positive, the injection will be given again within 72 hours following birth.
RH FACTOR (Rh blood factor)
A protein found in the blood serum. If a mother has this substance, she is considered Rh-positive; if she does not have it, she is Rh-negative. (Rh stands for rhesus.) An Rh-negative mother carrying an Rh-positive baby may produce antibodies against the fetus that attack the fetus’s blood. Rh incompatibility requires special care during pregnancy.
RH IMMUNOGLOBULIN (RHIG) (See rehesus anti-D gamma globulin injection)
RHINITIS
Inflammation of nasal membranes; commonly accompanied by discharge.
RHOGAM (See rehesus anti-D gamma globulin injection)
A drug given during and after pregnancy to prevent isoimmunization.
RINGER’S LACTATE SOLUTION
A special salt solution used in an IV (intravenous tube) designed to replace the body’s fluid loss. Its main ingredients are sodium, potassium, and calcium balanced with chloride and lactate.
ROOTING
Instinctive head and mouth movements of a baby (reflexes) that help him find his mother’s nipple. A baby will turn his head toward the nipple, open his mouth, and extend his tongue to enclose the nipple for nursing.
ROTAVIRUS (rotavirus gastroenteritis)
A virus transmitted by fecal matter and secretions from others that is an extremely common cause of diarrhea, fever, and vomiting in children ages three months to two years, particularly those exposed in group settings such as day care centers and hospitals. The more serious form of the infection, rotavirus gastroenteritis, is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children, and kills over 600,000 infants worldwide. February 3, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a live, oral vaccine RotaTeq® for use in children.
ROUND-LIGAMENT PAIN
Pain caused by ligaments stretching on the sides of the uterus during pregnancy.
RSV DISEASE (respiratory synctial virus)
RSV infects nearly all children by the time they reach two. It usually causes mild cold-like symptoms, including those of bronchiolitis: raspy cough, rapid breathing, wheezing, and sucking in of the area around the chest. In premature babies with vulnerable lungs, the infection can be serious and potentially fatal. Babies are more at risk of catching RSV if they are in child care, have school-age siblings, or are exposed to tobacco smoke.
RUBELLA (“three-day measles”)
(See German measles)
S
SAC (sacque, sleep sack)
A small sleeping bag for babies that has a nightgown top. It may have sleeves or be sleeveless and usually zips down the front.
SATURATED FAT
A type of fat that comes from animals.
These fats are solid at room temperature, like butter or lard. A diet high in saturated fats can cause heart disease and certain types of cancer.
SCABIES
A skin infection that is caused by a nearly invisible mite. It causes intense itching and scratching, with flea-bite-sized bumps. Sometimes the mites burrow under the skin, leaving a bumpy rash in lines. It is passed from one person to another. Treatment includes anti-itch medications and prescription creams or lotions.
SCAN (See also ultrasound)
Another term for an ultrasound examination or a sonogram.
SCARLET FEVER (scarlatina)
Caused by a streptococcus bacterium, it causes a sunburn-like rash on the child’s face, trunk, arms, and legs that feels rough like sandpaper and leaves peeling areas. The area around the lips may be white. Other symptoms may include fever, swollen tonsils, and vomiting. Antibiotics may be prescribed.
SCRATCH TEST
An allergy test that involves placing a small amount of a suspected allergen on a lightly scratched area of the skin.
SCROTUM
The pouch of skin containing a male’s testes.
SDMS
Member of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, persons trained to perform ultrasound tests.
SEBACEOUS GLANDS
Glands in the skin that secrete sebum.
SEBUM
The oily secretion produced by glands in the skin.
SECONDARY INFECTION
An infection that develops after and is made possible by the presence or effect of a previous infection or inflammation, but is not necessarily directly caused by it.
SEESAW RESPIRATIONS
When a newborn struggles to breathe so that his chest rises as his abdomen falls.
SEIZURE
A sudden, uncontrollable contraction of a group of muscles that may be accompanied by loss of consciousness, twitching, shaking, clenching of teeth, labored breathing, and/or loss of bladder control.
SENSITIVITY
A tendency to react to the presence of a particular agent or substance.
SEPSIS
The presence of infection in the blood.
SEPTIC SORE THROAT (See also streptococcus)
A sore throat resulting from bacterial infection. Also known as strep throat.
SEROTONIN
A neurotransmitter that, among other things, is responsible for regulating the mechanisms of normal sleep.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD)
An infection transmitted primarily through sexual contact between a man and a woman. Syphilis and gonorrhea are two STDs that can seriously harm unborn babies.
SHEEHAN’S SYNDROME
When a mother’s pituitary gland dies as the result of severe bleeding (hemorrhage) following childbirth. Symptoms are cessation of periods, shrinking of the genitals, and premature aging.
SHOULDER DYSTOCIA
When a baby’s shoulders become entrapped in the bones of the mother’s pelvis following the delivery of his head. It is rare and can be life-threatening for the baby.
SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA
A genetic disorder that occurs in families of African descent that causes red blood cells to be crescent shaped, rather than round, and to clump in small capillaries so that the body has trouble getting adequate oxygen from the blood.
The result is anemia, fatigue, delayed growth and development, and episodes of severe, debilitating pain.
SICKLE-CELL TRAIT
A disorder in which a mother carries the trait of sickle-cell anemia but her red blood cells have a normal lifespan. Presence of the trait for sickle-cell anemia is not sickle-cell disease itself.
SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATE
A simple sugar, such as glucose or lactose (milk sugar), that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.
SINUS
One of four pairs of open spaces within the bones of the skull, located behind the bridge of the nose, the back in the upper nose, in the forehead, and under the eyes.
SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT
Allowing a newborn to lie chest-to-chest on her mother’s body in order to help with mother-baby bonding, breastfeeding, and maintaining the baby’s body temperature.
SLEEP APNEA (obstructive sleep apnea [OSA]) (See also apnea and positional apnea)
Some pregnant women develop breathing problems as the result of physical changes during pregnancy, such as changes in the upper airway, increased nasal congestion, and pressure from the baby on the mother’s lower chest. Symptoms can be breathing irregularity, snoring and restlessness during sleep, and exhaustion after awakening. Treatment includes adequate hydration, nasal strips, adopting a semi-upright position and, for serious cases, the use of a mask attached to a ventilation machine to offer a continuous air supply. Some premature babies also suffer from sleep apnea.
SLEEP CLINIC
A clinic especially for children and adults who have problems sleeping.
SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE (SGA)
A newborn who is less than the weight of the smallest 10 percent of babies of a similar gestational age. It may mean that the baby is not growing as well as it should; that a mother’s due date hasn’t been calculated accurately; or simply that a baby is taking after his small parents.
SMEGMA
A white, curd-like substance that forms under the folds of an uncircumcised boy’s foreskin and in the folds of a girl’s vagina. It serves to moisturize and lubricate delicate genital tissues. Smegma has antibacterial and antiviral properties to protect from infection, so there is no need to try to wash or wipe it off.
SMFM
A title indicating that the person is a member of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
SOLIDS (starting solids)
The first solid foods that babies are given, such as rice cereal or banana, usually after the first six months of life.
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
A professional who is trained in assessing and treating children’s problems in communication, including: how sounds are pronounced (articulation); understanding and processing communication (receptive language); the ability to communicate with others (expressive language); the ability to speak clearly and stuttering (fluency); and voice problems (including pitch and intonation). A speech and language pathologist also is trained to work with swallowing and feeding difficulties.
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
A person with special training in feeding problems related to sucking and swallowing.
SPEECH THERAPY (speech therapist)
Help with speech problems provided by a therapist trained in working with children or adults. It may be recommended if a child has trouble with pronunciation, a lisp, stuttering, or a deformity or physical problem that interferes with talking.
SPINA BIFIDA
A defect in the spine that results in the failure of the vertebrae to fuse. It can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often the condition happens at the base of the back or lower spine. In some cases, folic acid deficiencies in the mother can result in this condition.
SPINAL TAP
A procedure in which a small amount of spinal fluid is withdrawn for examination by means of a needle inserted into a space between two vertebrae.
SPIROCHETE
One of a number of different harmful bacteria characterized by their slender, spiral shape.
STAPHYLOCOCCUS
Any of thirty species of bacteria that can cause a wide variety of diseases and infections in humans.
STEM CELLS
A basic blood cell, or mother cell, found in a baby’s umbilical cord blood that can reproduce and give rise to different blood cell lines of distinct characteristics and appearance. Cord blood stem cells make red blood cells for carrying oxygen, white blood cells for fighting infections, and platelets for clotting blood.
Stem cells have been used experimentally to help in treating patients with leukemia and other blood disorders.
STENOSIS
A narrowing or constriction of any blood vessel, valve, or passage.
STEPDOWN NURSERY
Where babies are sometimes sent after being discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but before they are moved to a standard nursery. The care in a stepdown nursery is less intensive than in the NICU, but more specialized than nurseries for healthy newborns.
STEROID
A type of medication that is administered to reduce swelling and inflammation.
STILLBIRTH (intrauterine death, intrauterine stillbirth, intrapartum death, or intrapartum stillbirth)
When a baby dies inside his mother or during the process of being born. The exact cause of a baby’s dying is often difficult to pinpoint, although research shows that stillbirth happens more often in pregnancies with multiple babies, to mothers who smoke, and to those who are over 3 years of age.
STILLBORN (STILLB.)
Born dead.
STORK BITE
A red birthmark that is flat and whitens on touch. It usually appears on the back of the neck, but can also appear on the face. The mark may gradually fade, or it may be permanent but only show up when a person blushes, becomes excited, or gets hot.
STRAWBERRY MARK (NEVUS VASCURIS)
A raised, red birthmark with a rough surface that may be present at birth or not appear until days or weeks later. The mark usually goes away on its own, but if constant chafing irritates it, surgical removal may be recommended.
STREP THROAT
A bacterial infection caused by streptococcus that can cause tonsillitis (red swollen tonsils) that make swallowing extremely painful. Sometimes the tonsils are covered with white matter. There may also be red patches on the roof of the mouth, a white tongue, fever, swollen glands, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Symptoms in babies are usually milder, but may include a red throat.
Antibiotics may be prescribed.
STREPTOCOCCUS, GROUP B (See group-B streptococcus)
STREPTOCOCCUS
A genus of pathological (harmful) and nonpathological bacteria.
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS, pronounced “sids,” like “kids”)
A sudden, unexplained death of a baby less than one year of age, and the leading cause of death in babies after one month of age. Most deaths occur between two and four months of age, and more happen in colder months. Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die than those placed on their backs. African-American babies are twice as likely to die of SIDS than white babies, and Native-American babies nearly three times more likely to die from it. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that all babies be placed on their backs for sleep. (See SIDS warning in 1. Your Baby’s First Half-Year.)
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
The basic body system by which human milk is produced. The volume of milk is directly related to how often and how long the baby nurses.
SURFACTANT
A slippery substance covering the inner lining of the air sacs inside the lungs so they can expand normally during breathing. Premature babies may need to be given a surfactant to enable their lungs to function.
SYMPTOM-SPECIFIC
Designed to treat a particular symptom or set of symptoms.
SYNCHRONIZER
This is a small soft circle attached to the abdomen. It is used only with certain kinds of breathing machines. It tells the machine when the baby starts to take a breath so the machine breaths can be timed to the baby’s own breaths.
SYNCOPE
Temporary loss of consciousness; fainting.
SYNDACTYLY (syndactylism)
When a baby is born with webbed fingers or toes.
SYPHILIS
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can affect an unborn baby.
SYSTEMIC
Pertaining to the entire body.
T
TACHYCARDIA
Rapid heartbeat. For an unborn baby, that can mean 160 to 180 bpm (beats per minute) or more. Causes include oxygen starvation (hypoxia), maternal fever, maternal hyperthyroidism (hyperactive thyroid), and certain drugs that affect the nervous system.
TACHYPNEA (transient tachypnea)
Abnormally fast breathing.
TALIPES (clubfoot)
A foot deformity that affects babies in 1 of 1,000 births and is more common in boys than girls. The baby’s foot is held in a drawn-up, turned-in position that will require orthopedic correction at some point. Positional clubfoot is when a newborn’s feet are turned inward because of pressure inside the uterus. It goes away without treatment.
TAY-SACHS DISEASE
One of a series of inherited genetic disorders common among Ashkenazi Jews. The enzyme needed to break down certain lipid fats is absent, resulting in physical and mental retardation, enlargement of the head, and eventually death.
TEETHING
When a baby’s teeth begin to erupt, sometimes leading to irritability, the desire to gnaw, and excess drooling.
TELANGIECTATIC NEVI (See stork bites)
TEMPERATURE PROBE
A coated wire will be placed on the baby’s skin and covered with an adhesive patch. The coated wire measures the baby’s temperature. This information is used to help regulate the amount of heat from the overhead heater or Isolette.
TERATOGEN
A drug or agent that can cause abnormal fetal development or physical deformities when a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy.
TERATOLOGY
The study of the effects that drugs, medications, chemicals, and other exposures may have on babies during pregnancy. A drug will be termed teratogenic if it is known to cause changes in a baby’s body during pregnancy.
TERM
The length of pregnancy, usually measured in weeks.
TESTICLES (testes)
Male sexual glands contained within the scrotum. The testes produce sperm as well as male hormones.
TETANUS (Clostridium tetani)
Extremely rare, with only 100 cases per year in the United States, tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that leads to stiffness of the jaw and other muscles. It can cause severe muscle spasms, make breathing difficult and, ultimately, be life threatening. The tetanus bacterium enters the body through open wounds and produces a toxin that interferes with the nerves that control muscles. The DTaP vaccine routinely administered to babies and children includes immunization against tetanus.
THALASSEMIA
Group of inherited disorders of hemoglobin formation, which result in a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin formed. This can cause severe anemia and require blood transfusions.
THRUSH
Monilia or yeast infection occurring in the mouth or mucous membranes of a newborn infant. It appears as milky, white patches on a baby’s tongue that cannot be wiped off.
THYMUS
The gland that produces T-cells.
THYROID
The gland that helps regulate metabolism and growth.
TINCTURE
A concentrated essence made by using alcohol to extract and concentrate the active properties of a substance, such as an herb.
TLC (tender loving care)
Refers to giving babies gentle, loving attention. Example: “All babies need lots of TLC.”
TONIC NECK REFLEX
A built-in baby behavior (reflex). During sleep, the baby’s head is turned to one side with one arm bent behind the head and the other arm extends in front of the face in a fencing position.
TONSILLECTOMY
Surgical removal of the tonsils.
TONSILS
Two small masses of lymphatic tissue located at the left and right of the back of the throat that are believed to help the body defend against respiratory infection.
TONSILLITIS
A throat infection caused by a bacteria or virus with symptoms of a sore throat, fever, and possibly swollen neck glands. It can be associated with colds and abdominal pain. Treatment depends upon the cause of the infection.
TOP
Stands for medical “termination of pregnancy,” an abortion.
TOPICAL
Applied to the surface of the body.
TOPPING AND TAILING
Keeping a newborn clean by simply wiping off the face, neck, hands, and diaper area instead of giving a full bath.
TORSION
Twisting. A baby rolls over using torsion.
TORTICOLLIS (wry neck)
When a baby’s neck is stiff on one side as the result of birth trauma so that his head is pulled to one side of the neck and his chin to the opposite side. Although the problem may not show up at birth, within 2 weeks a small lump can be felt in a muscle of the neck. Parents may be given exercises to help stretch the baby’s neck, and physical therapy may be recommended. Rarely, surgery may be required.
TOURNIQUET
A tightly tied bandage used as an emergency measure to temporarily stop the flow of blood through a limb. Applying a tourniquet is a drastic measure that should be resorted to only if it is necessary to prevent death from blood loss following a severe injury, such as partial amputation of a limb.
TOXIN
A substance that is poisonous to the body.
TOXOID
An ordinarily poisonous substance that has been treated to remove its dangerous properties, but that remains capable of stimulating the body to develop protective antitoxins.
TOXOPLASMOSIS
An airborne protozoon (Toxoplasma gondii) found in cat feces that can also be caught from contaminated, raw, or rare meat, and unwashed fruits and vegetables or from gardening without gloves. The infection can affect unborn babies, but most mothers have already developed immunity to it from prior infection. The disease is not serious unless a mother catches it for the first time during pregnancy. Exposure can cause blindness, mild retardation, and hearing loss in unborn babies. Some children may develop brain or eye problems years after birth. Most health-care providers routinely test to see if a mother is at risk.
TRACE ELEMENT
A substance, most commonly a mineral, required by the body in minute amounts.
TRANSCUTANEOUS OXYGEN (and/or carbon dioxide) MONITOR
This machine measures oxygen and/or carbon dioxide at the skin. A small circular piece attaches to the skin with a thin circle of adhesive. This piece both heats up a tiny area of skin and measures the oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both. A tiny cord travels from the circular piece to a machine that displays the information. Because the skin must be heated, there may be a red spot where the circular piece has been. The location of the piece is changed regularly. The red spots will fade over time.
TRAUMA
An injury or a wound. Birth trauma can refer to physical injury to the baby as a result of delivery, or the term is sometimes used to refer to profound psychological damage from the birth experience that remains a part of a person’s deep, but repressed, memories even into adulthood.
TREMOR
Involuntary trembling.
TUBERCULIN TEST
A test used to determine if a person has been exposed to or is infected with tuberculosis.
TUBERCULOSIS
A bacterial infection that affects the lungs.
TUMOR
An abnormal mass of tissue that serves no function.
U
ULTRASOUND
The use of ultra-high-frequency sound waves as a diagnostic tool (especially for viewing a developing fetus) or for medical treatment.
UMBILICAL ARTERY CATHETER (UAC) (or umbilical venous catheter [UVC])
This is a small piece of tubing threaded into the baby’s artery or vein in the umbilical stump. In addition to delivering fluids, medication, and nutrients, blood can be withdrawn painlessly for laboratory studies.
UMBILICAL CORD
The flexible, cord–like structure that connects a baby at the navel with the placenta, which, in turn, is attached to the uterus. It contains two umbilical arteries and one vein that transport blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the baby and carry away waste products and carbon dioxide.
UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BANKING (See also cord blood)
Harvesting and storing stem cells from the blood of a baby’s umbilical cord following birth, usually for a fee. It may offer promising therapies in the future, especially for family members who may need a transplant of stem cells in order to overcome serious diseases, such as leukemia, but at this time the procedure and the uses for stem cells are still in the experimental phase.
UMBILICAL HERNIA (belly-button hernia)
A protrusion (outward bulging) of the abdominal lining, or a portion of abdominal organ(s), through the area around the navel (belly button). The condition is caused by the incomplete closure of the umbilical ring (muscle), through which the umbilical blood vessels passed to provide nourishment to the developing fetus during pregnancy.
UMBILICAL STUMP
The leftover portion of a baby’s umbilical cord that dries up and falls off a few weeks after birth. Sometimes the stump can get infected, causing the belly button area to turn red and ooze pus. Antibiotics may be necessary to prevent the spread of infection (umbilical sepsis).
UMBILICUS (navel)
Another word for belly button.
UNDESCENDED TESTICLES (cryptorchidism)
Failure of a baby boy’s testicles to descend into the scrotum through the small, inguinal canal at the time of birth. More common in premature boys.
It usually resolves itself in time.
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT
Referring to the nose and nasal passages, the throat, and the larynx (the voice box).
URETER
A tube that transports urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
URETHRA
The tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria or other infectious organisms invade the organs that produce urine and transport it out of the body: the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidneys.
URTICARIA
Medical term for hives.
UTERUS
A hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ where a fertilized egg implants, it serves to nurture a growing baby during pregnancy. Its muscular walls help push the baby out during birth. While a non-pregnant uterus is about 3 to 4 inches long and weighs about 3 ounces, at the time of birth it will weigh approximately 2 pounds.
UTI
Urinary tract infection.
V
VACCINATION (immunization, shots) (See also immunization and vaccine)
Another word for immunization to help prevent diseases. (See IDIOPATHIC.)
VACCINE (See immunization and vaccination)
A preparation containing killed or weakened living microorganisms that cause the body to form a protective fighter (antibodies) against that type of organism. Once that happens, the person is protected from catching the disease, either permanently, or for a period of time. (See in 6. Medical and Safety Guide.)
VAGINA
The tube that leads from the uterus to the opening between the labia.
VAGINITIS
A vaginal infection with a number of causes. Symptoms may include unusual discharge that may be green, yellow, or strong smelling; redness; soreness; or itching around the vagina.
VASCULAR
Pertaining to an infant’s circulatory system.
VENEREAL DISEASE (See sexually transmitted disease)
A disease transmitted primarily by sexual intercourse or contact.
VENOM
A poisonous substance produced by animals, such as certain snakes and insects.
VENTRAL WALL HERNIA
A protrusion of the contents of the fetus, usually its abdominal organs, sometimes discovered during an ultrasound examination.
VERNIX (vernix caseosa)
A thick, protective white or yellowish cream produced by an unborn baby’s skin that protects the skin while the baby floats in the amniotic fluid. It is often wiped off immediately after birth, but can also be gently massaged into the baby’s skin. It contains antibacterial properties.
VESTIBULAR SYSTEM
The structure of the inner ear responsible for maintaining the body’s sense of balance and equilibrium.
VIABLE
Able to live. A baby mature enough to survive outside the womb.
VILLI
Microscopic, hair-like “fingers” lining the walls of the intestinal tract that absorb and transport fluids and nutrients.
VIRAL PNEUMONIA (See pneumonia)
VIRUS
One of a large class of minute parasitic organic structures that consist of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA and are capable of infecting plants and animals by reproducing within their cells. Because a virus cannot reproduce outside of a host organism’s cells, it is not considered a living organism.
VITAMIN K
All newborns routinely receive injections of vitamin K, which encourages the liver to produce blood-clotting agents to assist a baby’s immature liver and to prevent excessive bleeding. Excessive vitamin K in a baby’s bloodstream can lead to jaundice.
VULVA
A woman’s external genital organs. The vulva includes the labia (the lips around the opening of the vagina) and the clitoris (a small knob of tissue at the opening of the vagina that helps a woman achieve orgasm during intercourse).
W
WHARTON’S JELLY
Jelly-like substances on the baby’s umbilical cord that is thought to protect the vessels of the cord and to prevent kinking.
WHITE BLOOD CELLS
Cells in a baby’s blood that fight infection.
WHOOPING COUGH (See pertussis)
WIC
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
It provides breastfeeding information, breast pumps, formula, and food supplementation for low-income mothers and children.
WITCHES’ MILK
Small amounts of white, milky discharge from a newborn’s swollen nipples due to stimulation of the male or female baby’s breast tissue by high levels of female hormones. The swollen nipples should not be massaged, since this may introduce infection. The swelling will disappear within two weeks as the hormonal levels drop.
Y
YEAST
A single-celled organism that can cause infection in various parts of the body.
YEAST INFECTION (candida infection, monilia, moniliasis)
A vaginal infection common during pregnancy, its symptoms are intense itching, bright red coloration, and a white discharge that smells like baking bread. Consult a health-care provider before undertaking any over-the-counter treatment. A baby can also have a yeast infection. In a baby’s mouth, it is called thrush and is a white, milky patch that cannot be rubbed off.
Z
ZINC OXIDE
A thick, white cream used in diaper rash products to protect a baby’s skin and aid in healing from diaper rash.