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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13 2006, 1:29 PM EST | annika | 46 words added |
| Mar 13 2006, 1:03 PM EST | annika | 743 words added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Immunity – the ability to resist a particular disease. Breast milk transfers immune proteins to the baby and helps build the infant’s immunity to some conditions.
Implantation – the attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) – a method of assisted reproduction. Medications are used to stimulate a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are removed when they are mature. The eggs are placed in a laboratory dish with sperm, so that fertilization may occur. The fertilized eggs are then placed into the woman’s uterus or fallopian tubes.
Incontinence – see urinary incontinence
Induction – the use of artificial means to begin labor. These may include medication to soften the cervix, rupture of the amniotic sac, or medication to cause the uterus to contract, such as Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin).
Infertility – the inability to achieve pregnancy over a considerable period of time (such as one year) in spite of frequent sexual intercourse without the use of birth control.
Insomnia – the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for 6-9 hours over a prolonged period of time.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – a method of assisted reproduction. A catheter is used to place sperm from a woman’s husband or a sperm donor directly into the uterus. IUI is often used in conjunction with ovulation-stimulation medications. Also called artificial insemination.
Jaundice – a slight yellow tinge to the skin and eyeballs. Jaundice is caused by a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that is normally cleared from the blood by the liver. A newborn’s liver is still learning how to remove bilirubin, so many babies may appear jaundiced around the second to fifth day of life. This condition usually clears within two weeks without treatment. If treatment is necessary, the baby is placed under artificial light. The light breaks down bilirubin in the baby’s skin. In rare cases, prolonged jaundice may be a sign of something more serious.
Kegel exercises – exercises done to strengthen the pelvic floor, which can help you push more efficiently during delivery and can help recovery. To do Kegel exercises, contract and hold the muscles used to stop the flow of urine.
Labor – regular contractions of the uterus that cause the cervix to open (dilate) and thin (efface).
Lamaze – a method of managing pain during childbirth. This technique focuses on relaxation, controlled breathing, and distraction. The Lamaze approach is neutral about pain medication. Women are encouraged to learn about all options and decide what is right for them.
Latched on – a baby is latched on during breastfeeding when both the nipple and the areola (colored area around the nipple) are in his or her mouth. Being latched on properly allows the baby to feed well and reduces pain for the mother.
Latent phase – see early labor.
Let-down reflex – a physiologic response to an infant sucking at the mother’s breast. The pressure from sucking stimulates the release of milk from the milk ducts, through the nipples, and to the baby.
Lightening – see dropping.
Local anesthesia – medication given in a specific area of the body. The numbing effect does not extend past the area where the anesthetic is injected (unlike spinal or epidural anesthesia).
Lochia – a discharge from the uterus and vagina that occurs after delivery. Lochia appears bloody for the first three to four days. It changes to a pinkish-brown within a week of delivery, and then to white or yellow. Lochia will appear less bloody after two weeks, but can continue for six to eight weeks postpartum.
Low birthweight – a birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams).
Luteal phase defect (LPD) – low levels of progesterone in repeated menstrual cycles. Progesterone is a hormone that is essential for the survival of a fetus early in pregnancy. In the past, doctors thought LPD affected miscarriage in early pregnancy but recent studies have not shown this to be true.
Luteinizing hormone (LH) – a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. The level of LH rises around the midpoint of a woman’s menstrual cycle (e.g., day 14 of a 28-day cycle). This surge causes the mature egg to leave the ovary, a process called ovulation. A woman is most likely to get pregnant around the time of ovulation. Ovulation predictor kits, which help determine when a woman is most fertile, measure the level of LH.
