Terms and conditions

Fontanelle, episiotomy, meconium—oh my! With all that jargon spinning around in your head, you may feel like you’re back in grade school staring down a vocabulary quiz. And that’s not a distraction you need when you’re trying get a tiny human out of your body. Read up on the most common technical terminology, so you’ll be a whiz at any words your labor nurse throws at you.

Anatomy
Amniotic sac. Sometimes called a “bag of waters” or “membranes,” this sac of clear amniotic fluid is where your itty-bitty bean grows inside the uterus. Your baby’s water bed cushions her from injury, helps maintain a constant temperature and protects her from infection. The most important thing you need to know? When it ruptures and your water breaks (on its own or with your care provider’s help), baby is coming soon.

Cervix. This narrow, neck-like passage makes up the lower part of the uterus and connects it to the vagina. The cervix is about an inch wide, but it opens during childbirth (see: dilation), so baby can pass through to make her exit.

Cord blood. You guessed it—it’s the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. This blood is packed with stem cells that are genetically unique to your newborn and close relatives. It can be collected and stored (or donated) for future medical use.

Fontanelle. Nicknamed “soft spots” on an infant’s skull, fontanelles are spaces where skull bones come together but have yet to harden. A baby may have several; find them at the top, back and sides of her noggin. These gaps allow the head to compress as it passes through the birth canal. Don’t worry: Everything will shift back to normal and solidify soon enough.

Perineum. Extending from the anus to the opening of the vagina, this area of tissue and muscle can tear (or might be intentionally cut by your health care provider; see: episiotomy) during delivery.

Placenta. This organ attaches to the lining of the uterus during pregnancy and keeps baby’s blood supply separate from yours. Remember, after your newbie is on the outside, you’ll still need to deliver the placenta. Contractions help pass it, but you’ll hardly notice—you’re going to be too busy staring at that sweet new face.

Umbilical cord. This cord is vital in getting baby the oxygen and nutrients she needs, all
of which come from mama’s bloodstream. It’s impossible to miss this (on average) 20-inch cord in the labor room. Not long after birth, it’ll be clamped about 2 inches from baby’s belly button and again near the placenta before it’s cut in between. Breathe easy—neither you nor your mini will feel a thing!

Physical changes
Contractions. The uterine muscles (the ones that help push baby down the birth canal) periodically tighten and relax, which is what’s called a contraction. They’ll grow stronger and come more frequently as labor progresses.

Crowning. This is the moment when your babe’s head pushes through the fully dilated cervix and into the birth canal. It’s been dubbed the “ring of fire” because of the burning sensation that occurs as the perineum stretches.