Obstetric Terms

TermUseful meaning
laborphysiologic process leading to birth
contractiontightening of uterine muscle; context distinguishes labor from other contractions
deliverybirth of the baby and, in a broader clinical phrase, associated care
fetusdeveloping offspring after the embryonic period and before birth
placentaorgan connecting fetal and maternal circulation without directly mixing their blood under normal conditions
miscarriagepregnancy loss before the threshold locally defined as stillbirth
C-section / cesarean sectionsurgical delivery through abdominal and uterine incisions
ectopic pregnancypregnancy implanted outside the usual uterine cavity