GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS in Obstetrics

 GLOSSARY

ABORTION

Termination of pregnancy from whatever cause before the fetus is capable of extrauterine life.

ADOLESCENT

Young person 10–19 years old.

ADVISE

To give information and suggest to someone a course of action.

ANTENATAL CARE

Care for the woman and fetus during pregnancy.

ASSESS

To consider the relevant information and make a judgement. As used in this guide, to examine a woman or baby and identify signs of illness.

BABY

A very young boy or girl in the first week(s) of life.

BIRTH

Expulsion or extraction of the baby (regardless of whether the cord has been cut).

BIRTH AND EMERGENCY PLAN

A plan for safe childbirth developed in antenatal care visit which considers the woman's condition, preferences and available resources. A plan to seek care for danger signs during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period, for the woman and newborn.

BIRTH WEIGHT

The first of the fetus or newborn obtained after birth.

For live births, birth weight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred, recorded to the degree of accuracy to which it is measured.

CHART

As used in this guide, a sheet presenting information in the form of a table.

CHILDBIRTH

Giving birth to a baby or babies and placenta.

CLASSIFY

To select a category of illness and severity based on a woman's or baby's signs and symptoms.

CLINIC

As used in this guide, any first-level outpatient health facility such as a dispensary, rural health post, health centre or outpatient department of a hospital.

COMMUNITY

As used in this guide, a group of people sometimes living in a defined geographical area, who share common culture, values and norms. Economic and social differences need to be taken into account when determining needs and establishing links within a given community.

BIRTH COMPANION

Partner, other family member or friend who accompanies the woman during labour and delivery.

CHILDBEARING AGE (WOMAN)

15-49 years. As used in this guide, also a girl 10-14 years, or a woman more than 49 years, when pregnant, after abortion, after delivery.

COMPLAINT

As described in this guide, the concerns or symptoms of illness or complication need to be assessed and classified in order to select treatment.

CONCERN

A worry or an anxiety that the woman may have about herself or the baby(ies).

COMPLICATION

A condition occurring during pregnancy or aggravating it. This classification includes conditions such as obstructed labour or bleeding.

CONFIDENCE

A feeling of being able to succeed.

CONTRAINDICATION

A condition occurring during another disease or aggravating it. This classification includes conditions such as obstructed labour or bleeding.

COUNSELLING

As used in this guide, interaction with a woman to support her in solving actual or anticipated problems, reviewing options, and making decisions. It places emphasis on provider support for helping the woman make decisions.

DANGER SIGNS

Terminology used to explain to the woman the signs of life-threatening and other serious conditions which require immediate intervention.

EMERGENCY SIGNS

Signs of life-threatening conditions which require immediate intervention.

ESSENTIAL

Basic, indispensable, necessary.

FACILITY

A place where organized care is provided: a health post, health centre, hospital maternity or emergency unit, or ward.

FAMILY

Includes relationships based on blood, marriage, sexual partnership, and adoption, and a broad range of groups whose bonds are based on feelings of trust mutual support, and a shared destiny.

FOLLOW-UP VISIT

A return visit requested by a health worker to see if further treatment or referral is needed.

GESTATIONAL AGE

Duration of pregnancy from the last menstrual period. In this guide, duration of pregnancy (gestational age) is expressed in 3 different ways:

Trimester	Months	Weeks
First	less than 4 months	less than 16 weeks
Second	4-6 months	16-28 weeks
Third	7-9+ months	29-40+ weeks

GRUNTING

Soft short sounds that a baby makes when breathing out. Grunting occurs when a baby is having difficulty breathing.

HOME DELIVERY

Delivery at home (with a skilled attendant, a traditional birth attendant, a family member, or by the woman herself).

HOSPITAL

As used in this guide, any health facility with inpatient beds, supplies and expertise to treat a woman or newborn with complications.

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT

A process of caring for the woman in pregnancy, during and after childbirth, and for her newborn, that includes considering all necessary elements: care to ensure they remain healthy, and prevention, detection and management of complications in the context of her environment and according to her wishes.

LABOUR

As used in this guide, a period from the onset of regular contractions to complete delivery of the placenta.

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABY

Weighing less than 2500-g at birth.

MATERNITY CLINIC

Health centre with beds or a hospital where women and their newborns receive care during childbirth and delivery, and emergency first aid.

MISCARRIAGE

Or spontaneous abortion. Premature expulsion of a non-viable fetus from the uterus.

MONITORING

Frequently repeated measurements of vital signs or observations of danger signs.

NEWBORN

Recently born infant. In this guide used interchangeable with baby.

PARTNER

As used in this guide, the male companion of the pregnant woman (husband, “free union”) who is the father of the baby or the actual sexual partner.

POSTNATAL CARE

Care for the baby after birth.

For the purposes of this guide, up to two weeks.

POSTPARTUM CARE

Care for the woman provided in the postpartum period, e.g. from complete delivery of the placenta to 42 days after delivery.

PRE-REFERRAL

Before referral to a hospital.

PREGNANCY

Period from when the woman misses her menstrual period or the uterus can be felt, to the onset of labour/elective caesarian section or abortion.

PREMATURE

Before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.

PRETERM BABY

Born early, before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. If number of weeks not known, 1 month early.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE*

Essential health care accessible at a cost the country and community can afford, with methods that are practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable. (Among the essential activities are maternal and child health care, including family planning; immunization; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; and the provision of essential drugs).

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL

Health post, health centre or maternity clinic; a hospital providing care for normal pregnancy and childbirth.

PRIORITY SIGNS

Signs of serious conditions which require interventions as soon as possible, before they become life-threatening.

QUICK CHECK

A quick check assessment of the health status of the woman or her baby at the first contact with the health provider or services in order to assess if emergency care is required.

RAPID ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Systematic assessment of vital functions of the woman and the most severe presenting signs and symptoms; immediate initial management of the life-threatening conditions; and urgent and safe referral to the next level of care.

REASSESSMENT

As used in this guide, to examine the woman or baby again for signs of a specific illness or condition to see if she or the newborn are improving.

RECOMMENDATION

Advice. Instruction that should be followed.

REFERRAL, URGENT

As used in this guide, sending a woman or baby, or both, for further assessment and care to a higher level of care; including arranging for transport and care during transport, preparing written information (referral form), and communicating with the referral institution.

REFERRAL HOSPITAL

A hospital with a full range of obstetric services including surgery and blood transfusion and care for newborns with problems.

REINFECTION

Infection with same or a different strain of HIV virus / TB.

REPLACEMENT FEEDING

The process of feeding a baby who is not receiving breast milk with a diet that provides all the nutrients she/he needs until able to feed entirely on family foods.

SECONDARY HEALTH CARE

More specialized care offered at the most peripheral level, for example radiographic diagnostic, general surgery, care of women with complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and diagnosis and treatment of uncommon and severe diseases. (This kind of care is provided by trained staff at such institutions as district or provincial hospitals).

SHOCK

A dangerous condition with severe weakness, lethargy, or unconsciousness, cold extremeties, and fast, weak pulse. It is caused by severe bleeding, severe infection, or obstructed labour.

SIGN

As used in this guide, physical evidence of a health problem which the health worker observes by looking, listening, feeling or measuring. Examples of signs: bleeding, convulsions, hypertension, anaemia, fast breathing.

SKILLED ATTENDANT

Refers exclusively to people with midwifery skills (for example, midwives, doctors and nurses) who have been trained to proficiency in the skills necessary to manage normal deliveries and diagnose or refer obstetric complications.

For the purposes of this guide, a person with midwifery skills who:

• has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice training and licensing requirements are country-specific;
• May practice in hospitals, clinics, health units, in the home, or in any other service setting
• Is able to do the following:

  →

  give necessary care and advice to women during pregnancy and postpartum and for their newborn infants;

  →

  conduct deliveries on her/his own and care for the mother and newborn; this includes provision of preventive care, and detection and appropriate referral of abnormal conditions.

  →

  provide emergency care for the woman and newborn; perform selected obstetrical procedures such as manual removal of placenta and newborn resuscitation; prescribe and give drugs (IM/IV) and infusions to the mother and baby as needed, including for post-abortion care.

  →

  provide health information and counselling for the woman, her family and community.

SMALL BABY

A newly born infant born preterm and/or with low birth weight.

STABLE

Staying the same rather than getting worse.

STILLBIRTH

Birth of a baby that shows no signs of life at birth (no gasping, breathing or heart beat).

SURVEILLANCE, PERMANENT

Continuous presence and observation of a woman in labour.

SYMPTOM

As used in this guide, a health problem reported by a woman, such as pain or headache.

TERM, FULL-TERM

Word used to describe a baby born after 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.

 

VERY SMALL BABY

Baby with birth weight less than 1500 g or gestational age less than 32 weeks.

WHO definitions have been used where possible but, for the purposes of this guide, have been modified where necessary to be more appropriate to clinical care (reasons for modification are given). For conditions where there are no official WHO definitions, operational terms are proposed, again only for the purposes of this guide.\

ACRONYMS

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is the final and most severe phase of HIV infection.

ANC

Care for the woman and fetus during pregnancy.

ART

The use of a combination of three or more antiretroviral drugs for treating a pregnant and breastfeeding woman with HIV infection for their own health and to prevent the transmission of HIV to her baby.

ARV

Antiretroviral drugs refer to the medicines themselves and not their use.

BCG

An immunization to prevent tuberculosis, given at birth.

BP

Blood pressure.

BPM

Beats per minute.

FHR

Fetal heart rate.

Hb

Haemoglobin.

HB-1

Vaccine given at birth to prevent hepatitis B.

HMBR

Home-based maternal record: pregnancy, delivery and inter-pregnancy record for the woman and some information about the newborn.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

INH

Isoniazid, a drug to treat tuberculosis.

IV

Intravenous (injection or infusion).

IM

Intramuscular injection.

IU

International unit.

IUD

Intrauterine device.

LAM

Lactation amenorrhea.

LBW

Low birth weight: birth weight less than 2500 g.

LMP

Last menstrual period: a date from which the date of delivery is estimated.

MTCT

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

NG

Naso-gastric tube, a feeding tube put into the stomach through the nose.

ORS

Oral rehydration solution.

OPV-0

Oral polio vaccine. To prevent poliomyelitis, OPV-0 is given at birth.

QC

A quick check assessment of the health status of the woman or her baby at the first contact with the health provider or services in order to assess if emergency care is required.

RAM

Systematic assessment of vital functions of the woman and the most severe presenting signs and symptoms; immediate initial management of the life-threatening conditions; and urgent and safe referral to the next level of care.

RPR

Rapid plasma reagin, a rapid test for syphilis. It can be performed in the clinic.

STI

Sexually transmitted infection.

TT

An immunization against tetanus

>    More than

≥    Equal or more than

<    Less than

≤    Equal or less than

 

Source: 

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Care: A Guide for Essential Practice. 3rd edition.