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The pregnancy and birth glossary
From dating scans to dilation, the pregnancy and labour words you will hear along the way, explained simply.
A
- Active labour
- The phase when contractions become strong, regular and close together and the cervix opens more quickly, usually from around 6 cm dilated.
- Amniocentesis
- A test that takes a small sample of amniotic fluid to check for certain genetic conditions, usually offered when there is a specific reason to look.
- Amniotic fluid
- The protective liquid that surrounds and cushions the baby in the womb.
- Anatomy scan
- The detailed ultrasound around 18 to 20 weeks that checks the baby’s development and, if you wish, can often reveal the sex.
B
- Birth plan
- A written outline of your preferences for labour and birth, from pain relief to who is in the room. A guide, not a script, since births rarely go exactly to plan.
- Bloody show
- The release of the mucus plug, sometimes tinged with blood, which can be an early sign that labour is approaching.
- Breech
- When the baby is positioned bottom or feet down rather than head down as the due date nears.
C
- Caesarean (C-section)
- A surgical birth in which the baby is delivered through an incision in the abdomen and womb, either planned or unplanned.
- Cervix
- The neck of the womb, which softens, thins and opens during labour to let the baby move down.
- Contractions
- The tightening and releasing of the womb muscles that open the cervix and, later, help push the baby out.
- Crowning
- The moment during birth when the widest part of the baby’s head becomes visible and stays visible between contractions.
D
- Dating scan
- An early ultrasound, usually around 8 to 14 weeks, that confirms how many weeks pregnant you are and your estimated due date.
- Dilation
- How far the cervix has opened, measured in centimetres from 0 to about 10, which is considered fully dilated.
- Doula
- A trained companion who offers continuous practical and emotional support before, during and after birth. Not a medical role.
- Due date
- The estimated date the baby is expected, roughly 40 weeks from the last period. Only a small share of babies actually arrive on it.
E
- Early labour
- The first, often long and gentle phase, when contractions start and the cervix begins to soften and open.
- Effacement
- The thinning and shortening of the cervix in preparation for birth, often described as a percentage.
- Embryo
- The name for the developing baby in the first weeks of pregnancy, up to about eight weeks.
- Epidural
- A regional anaesthetic given through the lower back that numbs pain from the waist down during labour.
- Episiotomy
- A small surgical cut sometimes made to widen the vaginal opening during birth, stitched afterwards.
F
- Fetus
- The name for the developing baby from around eight weeks until birth.
- Fundal height
- The distance from the pubic bone to the top of the womb, measured to track the baby’s growth in later pregnancy.
G
- Gas and air
- A mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide, also called Entonox, breathed in for pain relief during contractions.
- Gestational age
- How far along the pregnancy is, counted in weeks from the first day of the last period.
- Gestational diabetes
- A form of diabetes that can develop in pregnancy and usually resolves after birth, managed with diet and sometimes medication.
I
- Induction
- Starting labour artificially with medication or other methods, often when the pregnancy is overdue or there is a medical reason.
M
- Midwife
- A trained health professional who cares for you through pregnancy, birth and the early days afterwards.
- Mucus plug
- The plug of mucus that seals the cervix during pregnancy and comes away as labour nears.
N
- NIPT
- A non-invasive prenatal test, a blood test from around 10 weeks that screens for certain genetic conditions and can indicate the sex.
P
- Placenta
- The organ that develops in the womb to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the baby and remove waste.
- Pre-eclampsia
- A pregnancy condition marked by high blood pressure that needs monitoring, as it can affect both parent and baby.
Q
- Quickening
- The first fluttering movements of the baby that a pregnant person can feel, often between 16 and 24 weeks.
T
- Third stage
- The final stage of labour, after the baby is born, when the placenta is delivered.
- Transition
- The intense phase between active labour and pushing, when the cervix reaches full dilation. Often the shortest and most demanding part.
- Trimester
- One of the three roughly three-month stages of pregnancy. The first is weeks 1 to 12, the second 13 to 27, and the third 28 to birth.
V
- Ventouse
- An assisted delivery using a soft suction cup on the baby’s head to help guide them out during a contraction.
W
- Waters breaking
- The rupture of the amniotic sac, releasing fluid, which can happen as a gush or a trickle before or during labour.
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