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• OB-Gyn
  • Pregnancy Terms
  • Sample Reports - Obstetrics / Gynecology

• Pregnancy Terms

- E -

• Early labor

This is usually when you've had regular contractions for two hours or more, as frequent as every five minutes to every twenty minutes. Your cervix dilates up to three or four centimeters during this stage.



• Eclampsia

Pregnancy-induced hypertension, a dangerous condition that may occur during pregnancy. Symptoms may include elevated maternal blood pressure, swelling of ankles and hands, sudden weight gain and protein in the urine. See also pre-eclampsia.



• Ectopic (Tubal) Pregnancy

A pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. The large majority of ectopic (tubal) pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube, but some can occur in the abdominal cavity as well.



• Edema

Swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess water retention.



• Effacement

This refers to the thinning of the cervix in preparation for birth, and is expressed in percentages. You'll be 100% effaced when you begin pushing.



• Electronic Fetal Monitor (EFM)

This electronic instrument is used to record the heartbeat of the fetus and contractions of the mother's uterus.



• Embryo

From conception to the eighth week of pregnancy, the baby growing inside you is called an embryo.



• Endometrium

The blood-rich mucus membrane lining the uterus (which is usually shed as your period). The embryo implants into this lining, and takes early nourishment from it.



• Engaged

When the baby's presenting part (usually the head) has settled into the pelvic cavity, usually in the last month of pregnancy. You are likely to notice that the baby's position has visibly changed and may also feel increased pressure on your bladder.



• Epidural

A common method of administering anesthesia during labor. A small amount of anesthesia is inserted through a narrow catheter threaded thorough a needle inserted into the dura space near the spinal cord.



• Episiotomy

An incision made during childbirth to the perineum, the muscle between the vagina and rectum, to widen the vaginal opening for delivery.



• External Version

Performed late in pregnancy, this is where a doctor manually attempts to move a breech baby into the typical head-down position for birth.