Madriella Birth Doula Certification Vocabulary
Abruptio Placenta Ans✓✓✓ a complication of pregnancy, wherein the placental
lining has separated from the uterus of the mother prior to delivery
Afterbirth Ans✓✓✓ occurs when the placenta comes out of the birth canal after
childbirth
Albumin Ans✓✓✓ a protein which if found in the urine of a pregnant woman can
be a sign of pre-eclampsia
Alpha fetoprotein Ans✓✓✓ protein that in humans is encoded by the AFP gene;
monitored through urine
Amino acid Ans✓✓✓ the building blocks of proteins which are used by the body
to build muscle and other tissue
Amniocentesis Ans✓✓✓ a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of
chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections, and also used for sex
determination in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal
tissues, is sampled from the amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus, then the
fetal DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities
Amniotic fluid Ans✓✓✓ the clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the
unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy
Amniotic sac Ans✓✓✓ a thin but tough transparent pair of membranes that hold
a developing embryo (and later fetus) until shortly before birth
, Anencephaly Ans✓✓✓ the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and
scalp that occurs during embryonic development
Anesthesia Ans✓✓✓ a temporary induced state with one or more of analgesia
(relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), amnesia (loss of
memory), and possible unconsciousness
Anomaly Ans✓✓✓ malformation or abnormality of a body part or a deviation
from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form
Anterior Fontanelle Ans✓✓✓ the largest fontanelle; allows the skull to deform
during birth to ease its passage through the birth canal and for expansion of the
brain after birth; also called the frontal fontanelle
Antibiotics Ans✓✓✓ a type of antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and
prevention of bacterial infections
Antibody Ans✓✓✓ a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells
that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens such as
bacteria and viruses
APGAR scoring system Ans✓✓✓ a method of evaluating a baby's health
immediately after birth
Apnea Ans✓✓✓ suspension of breathing
Abruptio Placenta Ans✓✓✓ a complication of pregnancy, wherein the placental
lining has separated from the uterus of the mother prior to delivery
Afterbirth Ans✓✓✓ occurs when the placenta comes out of the birth canal after
childbirth
Albumin Ans✓✓✓ a protein which if found in the urine of a pregnant woman can
be a sign of pre-eclampsia
Alpha fetoprotein Ans✓✓✓ protein that in humans is encoded by the AFP gene;
monitored through urine
Amino acid Ans✓✓✓ the building blocks of proteins which are used by the body
to build muscle and other tissue
Amniocentesis Ans✓✓✓ a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of
chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections, and also used for sex
determination in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal
tissues, is sampled from the amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus, then the
fetal DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities
Amniotic fluid Ans✓✓✓ the clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the
unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy
Amniotic sac Ans✓✓✓ a thin but tough transparent pair of membranes that hold
a developing embryo (and later fetus) until shortly before birth
, Anencephaly Ans✓✓✓ the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and
scalp that occurs during embryonic development
Anesthesia Ans✓✓✓ a temporary induced state with one or more of analgesia
(relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), amnesia (loss of
memory), and possible unconsciousness
Anomaly Ans✓✓✓ malformation or abnormality of a body part or a deviation
from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form
Anterior Fontanelle Ans✓✓✓ the largest fontanelle; allows the skull to deform
during birth to ease its passage through the birth canal and for expansion of the
brain after birth; also called the frontal fontanelle
Antibiotics Ans✓✓✓ a type of antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and
prevention of bacterial infections
Antibody Ans✓✓✓ a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells
that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens such as
bacteria and viruses
APGAR scoring system Ans✓✓✓ a method of evaluating a baby's health
immediately after birth
Apnea Ans✓✓✓ suspension of breathing
