Gastroschisis Glossary
Reading through this website youmay well come across words and abbreviations that are unfamiliar to you, with the help of other members this Gastroschisis Glossary of terms, acronyms and abreviations will help to improve your reading experience.
(Alphabetical)
Amniotic Fluid: A liquid surrounding the unborn baby in the uterus, containing urine and skin cells shed by the unborn baby; the water that breaks when you are ready to give birth.
Cesarean birth: (C-Section), A birth in which an incision is made through the abdominal wall and uterus to deliver the baby.
Congenital: A condition which is present at birth.
Gestational age – A reference to the age of the fetus, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Induction – A means of artificially starting labor, usually by administering oxytocin or by breaking the bag of waters
ICU, NICU: A medical section of a hospital designed especially to care for newborns with complications that usually result from preterm birth.
Neonatal – Referring to the newborn, usually the first four weeks of life
Neonate – A newly born infant
Neonatologist – A physician with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of problems of the newborn.
Premature baby – A baby born before the completion of 37 weeks of gestation (preterm)
TPN: Total Parenteral Nutrition, “Parenteral” means administered any other way except by the mouth. “Nutrition” means feeding. “Parenteral nutrition” means feeding someone via their blood stream, “intravenously”. “Total parenteral nutrition” (“TPN”), means feeding a patient solely rather than partly intravenously.
Umbilical cord – The structure that carries nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to the fetus and carries waste products away
Several of these terms are sourced from: http://www.parentingweekly.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_information/glossary_terms.htm
