Glossary
Glossary Of Terms
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ABRUPTIONA serious complication during pregnancy that occurs when the placental lining separates from the uterus prior to the mother giving birth. Abruption can endanger the life of the baby by depriving it of oxygen and nutrients.
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ANEMIAA condition that occurs when a patient's blood has too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's cells. Anemia often occurs when a person consumes too little iron or other minerals needed to produce red blood cells. Pregnant women are often iron deficient and experience mild anemia. Severe or untreated anemia during pregnancy can lead to babies to be prematurely and with low birth weights, developmental delays, and/or anemia.
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ANOXIAThe complete absence of oxygen to an organ or tissue, including the brain.
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ANTEPARTUMJust before childbirth.
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APGARA rating system named for obstetrical anesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar that uses a ten-point scale (with ten being a perfect score) to evaluate the condition of a baby at and near the time of birth, usually at one, five and ten minutes after birth. The criteria evaluated are skin color and complexion, pulse rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and breathing.
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ASPHYXIAA restriction of oxygen to an organ or tissue, including the brain.
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AVULSIONAn injury that occurs when a part of the body is forcibly detached from where it is normally attached.
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BIRTH ASPHYXIAA condition that occurs when a newborn infant is deprived of during the birth process for a long enough time to cause physical harm. The most common and most concerning form of hypoxic damage is to the infant's brain; such damage heals slowly and may not heal completely. Other hypoxic damage can occur in most of the infant's other organs.
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BRACHIAL PLEXUSThe cluster of nerves that run from the spinal cord through the neck and down into the arm and that provide feeling and control the muscles of the shoulder, arm, and hand.
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BRAIN HEMORRHAGEA condition caused by a burst artery in the brain bleeding into the surrounding area and killing brain cells.
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BRAIN INJURY / BRAIN DAMAGEA condition caused when an external force harms a portion of the brain.
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CEPHALO-PELVIC DISPROPORTION (CPD)A condition that occurs when the mother's pelvis does not allow the fetus to move through the birth canal. This can be caused by the size and/or formation of the mother's pelvis or the size and orientation of the fetus.
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CEPHALOHEMATOMABleeding between the skull and membrane under the skin. Cephalohematomas usually resolve on their own, but sometimes can cause other complications including jaundice, infection, and anemia.
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CEREBRAL PALSYA condition caused by abnormal brain development or brain damage, often caused by lack of oxygen, before, during, or immediately after birth that impairs body movement, motor function, muscle control, reflexes, and balance.
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CESAREAN SECTIONA surgical procedure to deliver one or more babies through incisions in the mother's abdomen and uterus instead of through the birth canal.
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CHORIOAMNIONITISA condition caused by a bacterial infection that results in the inflammation of a pregnant woman's fetal membranes and is usually is the result of bacteria traveling from the vagina into the uterus during a prolonged labor.
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COMPLEX CORD ENTANGLEMENTA condition caused by loops of an umbilical cord encircling any part of the fetus's body or from two umbilical cords becoming entangled.
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CYTOTECA drug, also called Misoprostol, which is administered in pill form to treat gastric ulcers. While the Federal Drug Administration has not approved it for this use and the drug's manufacturer recommends against it, doctors may use Cytotec to prepare the cervix for childbirth and help induce labor. When Cytotec is used improperly, it may lead to life-threatening birth injuries.
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DECREASED FETAL MOVEMENTThe perception of a mother that her fetus has been moving less frequently which may indicate reason for concern about the health of the fetus.
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DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYSA condition occurring when a child fails to meet development milestones as expected.
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DISABLING NEUROLOGIC INJURIESDamage to the brain and/or nervous system that results in permanent impairment.
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ECG (ELECTROCARDIOGRAM) / EKG (ELECTROCARDIOGRAM)A recording of the heart’s electrical activity.
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ECLAMPSIASeizures occurring during a woman's pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.
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EEG (ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM)A recording of the brain’s electrical activity through leads placed on the scalp that can be useful to identify seizures in children with birth injuries.
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ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORINGThe process of electronically monitoring and recording a mother’s contractions and a baby’s heart rate during labor, which are good indicators of the baby’s well-being.
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ERB’S PALSYComplete or partial paralysis of the entire arm caused by injury to the brachial plexus. Among babies, Erb's Palsy is most often associated with shoulder dystocia.
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EXTREME SEPSISA life-threatening condition that occurs when a massive immune system response to an infection causes inflammation and damage throughout the body. Neonatal sepsis occurs when a baby contracts a blood infection during its first month of life.
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FAILURE TO TIMELY DIAGNOSEA form of medical malpractice that occurs when no course of treatment is taken because a doctor failed to identify the connection between symptoms and an underlying medical condition.
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FATAL DIC (DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULOPATHY)A condition during which abnormal blood clots form inside small blood vessels throughout the body. The restriction of blood flow caused be these clots can deprive cells of oxygen and glucose and cause tissue and organ damage. These clots deplete platelets and clotting factors in the blood, which can lead to massive bleeding from wounds or surgical incisions.
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FETAL DISTRESSA general term for signs in a pregnant woman, before or during childbirth, which may indicate that the fetus is not well.
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FETAL MONITOR TRACINGSThe document created through Electronic Fetal Monitoring.
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FETAL ROTATIONThe act of turning the head of the fetus, by hand or with forceps, as it begins to travel through the birth canal so the body is in the proper position for delivery.
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FORCEPS EXTRACTIONThe use of a surgical instrument resembling a pair of tongs to assist in the delivery of a baby.
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GESTATIONAL AGEThe number of weeks along a woman has been pregnant, measured from the first day of the woman's last menstrual cycle. A normal pregnancy may last 38-42 weeks. Infants born before 37 weeks are considered to be premature.
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GESTATIONAL DIABETESA condition that occurs when a woman without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
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GROUP BETA STREPA type of bacterial infection found in the vagina and/or rectum of about 25 percent of healthy adult women.
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HELLP SYNDROMEA serious complication of high blood pressure that usually develops before the 37th week of pregnancy but can occur shortly after delivery. HELLP is an acronym of three complications: Hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells), Elevated Liver enzymes (an indicator of liver damage) and Low Platelet count (a lack of clotting factors in the blood). Many women with HELLP Syndrome are first diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
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HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY (HIE)A neurological condition caused by limited oxygen and blood flow at or near the time of birth. It is often characterized by difficulty breathing, depressed muscle tone and reflexes, low levels of consciousness and seizures. It is frequently related to cerebral palsy.
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HORNER’S SYNDROMEDamage to a nerve pathway from the brain to the face and eye on one side of the body that can occur during childbirth.
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HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCKA condition that occurs when the liquid portion of the blood (plasma) is too low.
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HYPOXIAA partial restriction of oxygen to an organ or tissue, including the brain.
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INDUCTIONThe stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor begins on its own. Successful labor induction leads to a vaginal birth.
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INTRAPARTUMDuring childbirth.
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ISCHEMIAThe impairment of blood flow to tissues or organs.
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JAW MALOCCLUSIONA misalignment of the upper and lower teeth.
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KLUMPKE'S PALSYComplete or partial paralysis of the wrist, hand, and fingers caused by injury to the brachial plexus. Among babies, Klumpke's Palsy is most often associated with shoulder dystocia.
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MATERNAL HEMORRHAGEExcessive bleeding by the mother following childbirth.
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MEDICAL MALPRACTICEAn injury caused when a health care provider like a doctor, nurse or hospital fails to follow the standard of care.
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MENINGITISA condition involving an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes that is usually caused by an infection.
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MOCK JURYA group of people empaneled to simulate how an actual jury may react to arguments being considered for use in a lower-court trial.
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MRI (MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING)A radiological scan of the body that provides more specific information than standard x-rays. It is often used to detect brain damage in the days and months following a birth injury.
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NEONATALThe period in a baby’s life from birth through its first 28 days.
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NON-STRESS TESTA noninvasive test of a baby's health that records the baby's movement and heart rhythm and contractions in the mother, if she is in labor.
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PARTURITIONChildbirth.
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PERIPARTUMImmediately before and after childbirth.
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PITOCINA synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin that causes labor contractions and can be used to induce labor, strengthen contractions during childbirth and control bleed after childbirth. When used improperly, Pitocin can cause levels of contractions that are dangerous to the baby.
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PLACENTAThe organ that connects a fetus to the wall of the uterus.
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POSTPARTUMFollowing childbirth.
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POSTPARTUM ANTIBIOTICSDrugs used to treat infections that may affect mothers following childbirth.
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PRE-ECLAMPSIAA potentially dangerous complication to pregnancy involving high blood pressure in the mother.
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PREMATURE LABORA birth occurring before the 37th week of pregnancy.
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PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANESA condition that occurs when the amniotic sac containing the fluid in which a fetus grows breaks more than one hour before the onset of labor.
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PREMIEA baby born before the 37th week of pregnancy.
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PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICSThe use of antimicrobial therapy to prevent infections and their complications.
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SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL COMPROMISENumbness, weakness, or disturbance in functions caused by compression of nerve roots or the spinal cord.
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SHADOW JURORSA group of mock jurors who are paid to observe a trial and report their reactions.
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SHOULDER DYSTOCIAA form of obstructed labor that occurs when the baby's shoulders cannot follow its head past the pubic bone.
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STANDARD OF CAREThe degree of care that a doctor or other health care provider is required to use in any given situation.
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SUBARACHNOID BLEEDBleeding occurring between the brain and the tissue covering the brain.
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SUBGALEAL BLEEDBleeding in the space between the interior layer of the skull and the tendons that cover the inner part of the cranium.
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UTERINE RUPTUREA serious event during pregnancy that involves a break in the smooth muscles of the wall of the uterus. In an incomplete rupture, the membrane surrounding the abdomen remains intact. During a complete rupture, the membrane around the abdomen also breaks and the contents of the uterus may spill into the abdominal cavity or broad tendon.
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UTERINE SCARBands of fibrous scar tissue that may form within the uterus.
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UTERINE STIMULATIONThe promotion of labor, usually using drugs like Pitocin and Cytotec.
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VACUUM EXTRACTIONThe use of a vacuum pump to help guide a baby's head out of the birth canal during childbirth.