Medical Terminology for Doulas

G-2, P-1: Gravida(G) refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant. Para(P) indicates the number of live births.

Pain intensity scale: Scale used to quantify pain. 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain.
Dilation: The opening of the cervix. It is measured as 1-10 cm. Once it is 10 cm, the baby’s head is able to come through.
Palpation: Using the hands or fingers to feel or examine a certain body part.
BM: Bowel movement
Cervix: The lower end of the uterus. It is about I inch thick.
Rebound pain: Pain felt after the removal of pressure

Pyelonephritis: A urinary tract infection that has reached the kidney.
Straight Cath: A tube is inserted into the urethra from the outside in order to get a sample of urine. It is then removed.

CBC: Complete blood count. A test that exams different parts of the blood.

WBC: white blood count. Done as a part of the cbc. Normal values are 4500-10000. This can be elevated normally during pregnancy.

Appendicitis: Infection of the appendix

Purulant: Pus like drainage

Chorioamnionitis: Inflammationo of the fetal membranes, usually due to a bacterial infection.

Electronic Fetal Monitor: A monitor that is strapped around the mothers belly. It measures the heart rate of the fetus which allows the doctors to make clinical judgments about the baby’s well being.

Unaysn: An antibiotic used to treat certain infections.

Pitocin: A synthetic form of oxytocin(which is a hormone) that will start labor or increase contractions

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