Dad's Doula glossary
Pregnancy, birth and the first months with a baby come with a vocabulary of their own, and partners often hear these words for the first time in a waiting room or a delivery room. This glossary explains common terms in plain English, drawing on public guidance from groups such as ACOG, the AAP, the CDC, NIH and the U.S. Department of Labor. It is for general understanding only and is not medical advice: questions about a specific pregnancy or baby belong with your obstetric care provider and pediatrician, emergencies call for 911, and for a mental health crisis you can call or text 988.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- The U.S. crisis line for anyone in emotional distress or a suicidal or mental health crisis, available 24/7: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Conversations are free and confidential, and you can also reach out on behalf of someone else.
- Related:National Maternal Mental Health HotlinePostpartum psychosis
- Abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome)
- A severe form of child abuse that causes a brain injury, often when a caregiver becomes overwhelmed by a baby's crying. The CDC stresses that crying is normal and that shaking a baby is never the right response; if you are getting upset, the CDC suggests putting the baby in a safe place, walking away to calm down, checking on the baby every 5 to 10 minutes and calling someone for support.
- Related:ColicBaby blues
- Apgar score
- A quick check of a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth that rates breathing effort, heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color. Each of the five signs gets 0, 1 or 2 points and the points are added up, so the highest possible score is 10. Higher scores are better; MedlinePlus calls 7 to 9 normal, and the AAP notes that few babies score a perfect 10 because their hands and feet stay bluish at first. MedlinePlus also notes that a lower score does not mean a child will have serious or long-term health problems.
- Related:Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care)Newborn screening
- Baby blues
- Short-lived feelings of sadness, worry, irritability or exhaustion that many people have in the first days after giving birth. They usually improve within a few days to 2 weeks without treatment; feelings that last longer or are more intense may be depression.
- Related:Postpartum depressionPerinatal depression
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- Practice or "false" labor contractions that can happen for weeks before real labor. Unlike true labor, they usually lack a regular pattern, do not get steadily stronger or closer together, and often ease with rest, a change of position or drinking water.
- Related:DilationRupture of membranes (water breaking)
- Cesarean birth (C-section)
- Birth of a baby through surgical incisions made in the abdomen and uterus. It may be planned or decided during labor for medical reasons, and ACOG notes the hospital stay may be longer than after a vaginal birth.
- Related:VBAC and TOLACEpidural blockPostpartum checkup
- Colic
- Intense crying spells in a baby that are very hard to soothe and often get worse in the early evening. The AAP says colic usually starts between the second and fourth weeks and generally stops by 3 to 4 months, though it can last until 6 months; a pediatrician can check for other causes of crying.
- Related:Abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome)SwaddlingWell-child visit
- Dilation
- The widening of the opening of the cervix (the lower end of the uterus) during labor so the baby can pass through. Providers check dilation, together with effacement, to see how labor is progressing.
- Related:EffacementBraxton Hicks contractionsEpidural block
- Doula
- A trained birth coach who gives continual emotional and physical support during labor and childbirth. A doula's role is support and comfort rather than medical care, and a doula can work alongside a partner rather than in place of one.
- Related:Obstetric care providerEpidural blockSkin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care)
- Effacement
- The thinning out of the cervix before and during labor. It happens along with dilation and is one of the changes providers look for to tell whether true labor has begun.
- Related:DilationLabor induction
- Epidural block
- Pain medication given through a thin tube placed in the lower back. ACOG calls it the most common type of pain relief for childbirth in the United States; it reduces feeling in the lower body while the person stays awake and is still able to push.
- Related:Cesarean birth (C-section)DilationDoula
- Estimated due date (EDD)
- The date a baby is expected to be born, usually counted as 40 weeks (280 days) from the first day of the last menstrual period. It is an estimate: ACOG notes there is no way to know exactly when labor will start, and most births happen between 38 and 41 weeks.
- Related:Gestational ageTerm pregnancy (early, full, late and postterm)Trimester
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- A federal law that gives eligible employees of covered employers up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period, including for the birth of a child and to bond with the newborn within one year of birth. Group health benefits continue during leave, and state laws may add more protections.
- Related:Well-child visitPostpartum checkup
- Folic acid
- A B vitamin that helps prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects. The CDC advises that everyone who could become pregnant get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily.
- Related:Prenatal careTrimester
- Fontanelle (soft spot)
- A membrane-covered soft spot on a baby's skull where the skull bones have not yet joined. Fontanelles allow the brain and skull to grow and gradually close as the bones harden; MedlinePlus says a truly bulging soft spot, especially with fever or excess drowsiness, needs emergency care.
- Related:Well-child visit
- Gestational age
- How far along a pregnancy is, usually given in weeks and days. It is typically counted from the first day of the last menstrual period and is often refined using a first- or second-trimester ultrasound exam.
- Related:Estimated due date (EDD)Ultrasound examTerm pregnancy (early, full, late and postterm)
- Gestational diabetes
- Diabetes that starts during pregnancy. ACOG says all pregnant patients should be screened, with blood sugar usually tested between 24 and 28 weeks, or earlier for people with risk factors.
- Related:Prenatal carePreeclampsia
- Group B strep (GBS)
- A type of bacteria that many people carry normally and that can pass to a baby during birth. ACOG says about 1 in 4 pregnant women carry it; testing is part of routine prenatal care late in pregnancy, and people who test positive are usually given antibiotics during labor to protect the newborn.
- Related:Prenatal carePreterm birth
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)
- Extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can lead to dehydration, weight loss and electrolyte imbalances. It is much more severe than typical morning sickness and needs medical care.
- Related:Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy)Obstetric care provider
- Kick count
- A record kept late in pregnancy of how many times the fetus moves during a set period. ACOG lists noticing the fetus moving less often as a reason to go to the hospital.
- Related:Prenatal careObstetric care provider
- Labor induction
- The use of medications or other methods to bring on labor. It may be recommended for medical reasons, and ACOG says elective induction should not be done before 39 weeks; if the cervix is not yet soft, it may first be ripened with medications or devices.
- Related:Term pregnancy (early, full, late and postterm)EffacementRupture of membranes (water breaking)
- Latch
- How a baby attaches to the breast to feed. A good latch usually means the baby's mouth is wide open around the nipple; if feeding hurts or the mouth is not wide open, the suction can be gently broken with a clean finger and the baby repositioned.
- Related:Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care)Postpartum checkup
- Lochia
- The vaginal bleeding and discharge after giving birth. MedlinePlus says bleeding can last up to 6 weeks, slowly changing from red to pink to a yellow or white discharge; heavy bleeding is one of the urgent warning signs that needs care right away.
- Related:Urgent maternal warning signsPostpartum checkupPlacenta
- Meconium
- A greenish substance that builds up in a fetus's bowels and becomes the newborn's first stool soon after birth. If it is passed into the amniotic fluid before birth, it can get into the baby's lungs and cause breathing problems, so the care team watches for this.
- Related:Newborn jaundiceApgar score
- Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy)
- Common nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy that can happen at any time of day, despite the name. ACOG says it usually starts before 9 weeks and, for most people, eases by about 14 weeks, though for some it lasts longer.
- Related:Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)Trimester
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- A free, confidential hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) for people who are pregnant or have recently had a baby, available 24/7 by call or text in English and Spanish. Partners and family members are encouraged to use it too.
- Related:988 Suicide & Crisis LifelinePostpartum depressionPerinatal depression in partners
- Newborn jaundice
- Yellowing of a baby's skin and the whites of the eyes caused by a high level of bilirubin in the blood. MedlinePlus says most newborns have some jaundice, usually noticeable at 2 to 4 days old and gone within 2 weeks, and treatment is not needed most of the time, though the care team checks bilirubin levels.
- Related:MeconiumWell-child visit
- Newborn screening
- Tests every U.S. state runs shortly after birth to find serious, often treatable conditions early. A few drops of blood are taken from the baby's heel and sent to the state laboratory.
- Related:Apgar scoreWell-child visit
- Obstetric care provider
- A health care professional who cares for someone during pregnancy, labor and delivery. ACOG lists obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), maternal-fetal medicine specialists (MFMs) and family medicine doctors with experience in maternal care.
- Related:Prenatal careDoulaPostpartum checkup
- Perinatal depression
- Depression that occurs during pregnancy (prenatal depression) or in the weeks and months after birth (postpartum depression). NIMH describes it as a medical condition that is not caused by anything the person did or did not do.
- Related:Postpartum depressionPerinatal depression in partnersPostpartum psychosis
- Perinatal depression in partners
- Depression in a non-birthing parent during pregnancy or after the baby arrives, sometimes called paternal postpartum depression. HealthyChildren.org notes that partners of all genders, including adoptive parents, can develop it, and that it may show up as irritability or anger as well as sadness; a primary care doctor can help.
- Related:Postpartum depressionNational Maternal Mental Health Hotline988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Placenta
- The organ that grows during pregnancy to provide nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and take away waste. It connects to the fetus through the umbilical cord and is delivered after the baby is born.
- Related:Umbilical cord stumpRh factorLochia
- Postpartum checkup
- Follow-up care for the person who gave birth during the weeks after delivery, sometimes called the fourth trimester. ACOG recommends contact with an obstetric care provider within the first 3 weeks and a comprehensive visit no later than 12 weeks after birth, covering mood, recovery, sleep, feeding and more.
- Related:Postpartum depressionUrgent maternal warning signsLochia
- Postpartum depression
- A depressive mood disorder that develops in the first year after a baby is born. ACOG says it most commonly starts about 1 to 3 weeks after birth; it is a medical condition, not a personal failing, and it is treatable.
- Related:Baby bluesPerinatal depressionPerinatal depression in partners
- Postpartum psychosis
- A serious mental illness after childbirth that can involve delusions, hallucinations, mania, paranoia and confusion. NIMH calls it a psychiatric emergency: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Related:Perinatal depression988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Preeclampsia
- A serious disorder of pregnancy or the weeks after birth that involves high blood pressure and signs of organ injury, such as protein in the urine, severe headache or vision changes. It usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and can develop quietly, which is one reason blood pressure is checked at every visit.
- Related:Urgent maternal warning signsGestational diabetesLabor induction
- Prenatal care
- Health care during pregnancy, from the first visit until birth. It typically includes regular checkups, screening tests and ultrasound exams, and partners are often welcome to attend appointments when the pregnant partner wants them there.
- Related:Obstetric care providerUltrasound examTrimester
- Preterm birth
- Birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born preterm may need extra care after birth, sometimes in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
- Related:Term pregnancy (early, full, late and postterm)Gestational ageGroup B strep (GBS)
- Rear-facing car seat
- A car safety seat installed so the baby faces the back of the vehicle. The AAP says all infants should ride rear-facing from their first ride home and stay rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the seat's highest weight or height limit, and never in front of an active passenger airbag.
- Related:Well-child visit
- Rh factor
- A protein that may be on the surface of red blood cells and forms the positive or negative part of a blood type. If an Rh-negative pregnant person carries an Rh-positive fetus, their body may make antibodies that can harm a future fetus; a medication called Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) can help prevent this.
- Related:Prenatal carePlacenta
- Rupture of membranes (water breaking)
- When the fluid-filled amniotic sac around the fetus breaks, often called the water breaking. The fluid may trickle or gush; ACOG advises calling the obstetric care provider and following their instructions, and going to the hospital if the water has broken without contractions.
- Related:Braxton Hicks contractionsLabor inductionDilation
- Safe sleep
- The practices the AAP and NICHD's Safe to Sleep campaign recommend to lower the risk of sleep-related infant death: placing the baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface that is not inclined, with only a fitted sheet, and without blankets, pillows, bumpers or toys. They also recommend sharing a room, but not a bed, for at least the first 6 months.
- Related:Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)Swaddling
- Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care)
- Holding a baby directly against a parent's bare chest. The AAP says it can promote bonding and help regulate the baby's body temperature and heart rate, and that both parents can take part.
- Related:Safe sleepLatchApgar score
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- The sudden death of a baby younger than 1 year that has no known cause even after a full investigation, which includes an autopsy, a review of the death scene and the baby's medical history. It is one type of sudden unexpected infant death, and safe sleep practices lower the risk.
- Related:Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)Safe sleep
- Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)
- The CDC's term for the sudden and unexpected death of a baby younger than 1 year with no obvious cause before investigation. It includes SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes, and these deaths often happen during sleep.
- Related:Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)Safe sleep
- Swaddling
- Wrapping a baby snugly in a thin blanket or wrap to help calm them. The AAP advises placing a swaddled baby only on their back, keeping the hips loose, and stopping swaddling as soon as the baby shows any signs of trying to roll over.
- Related:Safe sleepColicTummy time
- Term pregnancy (early, full, late and postterm)
- ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine label births by timing: early term is 37 weeks through 38 weeks 6 days, full term is 39 weeks through 40 weeks 6 days, late term is 41 weeks through 41 weeks 6 days, and postterm is 42 weeks and beyond. Births before 37 weeks are preterm.
- Related:Preterm birthEstimated due date (EDD)Labor induction
- Trimester
- One of the three roughly three-month periods that pregnancy is divided into: the first, second and third trimesters. Care visits, tests and common symptoms are often described by trimester.
- Related:Gestational agePrenatal careEstimated due date (EDD)
- Tummy time
- Short periods when an awake baby lies on their stomach while closely supervised. It helps build the muscles and skills babies need for developmental milestones, and it is for awake time only; sleep is always on the back.
- Related:Safe sleepSwaddling
- Ultrasound exam
- A test that uses sound waves to create images of the fetus and the inside of the body. ACOG says a pregnancy should include at least one standard exam, usually done at 18 to 22 weeks, to check the fetus's development and estimate gestational age.
- Related:Gestational agePrenatal carePlacenta
- Umbilical cord stump
- The bit of cord left on a baby's belly after the umbilical cord is cut. MedlinePlus says it should dry and fall off on its own by about 5 to 15 days old; it should not be pulled off, and the pediatrician should hear about one that has not fallen off by 4 weeks.
- Related:PlacentaWell-child visit
- Urgent maternal warning signs
- Symptoms during pregnancy or in the year after delivery that the CDC says need medical care immediately, such as a headache that won't go away, dizziness, a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher, or extreme swelling of the hands or face. Partners can help by knowing the list and speaking up; for an emergency, call 911.
- Related:PreeclampsiaLochiaPostpartum checkup
- VBAC and TOLAC
- VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean. TOLAC, a trial of labor after cesarean, is the attempt to have a VBAC; if it does not succeed, another cesarean birth is needed. Whether TOLAC is an option depends on factors such as the type of previous incision, so it is a decision to make with the obstetric care provider.
- Related:Cesarean birth (C-section)Obstetric care provider
- Well-child visit
- A routine checkup to track a baby's growth and development, give recommended vaccines and answer questions. The AAP schedule starts with a first-week visit at 3 to 5 days old, then visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months and beyond.
- Related:Newborn screeningNewborn jaundicePerinatal depression in partners