Select the first letter of the term

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


A

AB Spell: A pause in your baby's breathing, which then lowers his or her heart rate.

Anemia: Too few red blood cells.

Apnea: A pause in breathing for a short period. Common in premature babies.

 

B

Bilirubin: A pigment produced from the breakdown of red blood cells. When in excess, bilirubin appears as yellow skin known as jaundice.

Blood Gases: A blood test to check the level of oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity.

Bradycardia: Slowing of the heart rate to lower than normal.

 

C

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Waste gas eliminated by the lungs.

Catheter: A plastic tube to put fluids into or to remove them from the body.

CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. This is continuous pressure applied to the lungs through a mask or endotracheal tube and helps the baby’s breathing.

 

E

Edema: Presence of too much fluid in body tissues causing a swollen appearance.

Endotracheal Tube: A tube inserted into the mouth to the windpipe to keep the airway open.

 

G

Gavage: Feeding by a tube passed through the mouth into the stomach.

Gestational Age: The time period in weeks from conception to delivery.

Glucose: Sugar.

 

H

Hematocrit: The concentration of red cells in blood.

Hyperalimentation: Nourishing the baby with a glucose, fat and protein solution through the veins. Also called Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).

Hypoglycemia: Blood sugar level below normal.

 

J

Jaundice: Yellow color in the skin from excess bilirubin.

 

M

Meconium: Dark greenish waste products that accumulate in the bowel during fetal life and are eliminated shortly after birth.

Meconium Aspiration: The condition in which the baby breathes in meconium that is in the amniotic fluid.

 

P

P02: Blood oxygen level.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA): A blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the lungs. It should close shortly after birth.

pH: Amount of acid in the blood.

Phototherapy: Treatment of jaundice by use of special lights on the baby’s skin to breakdown the bilirubin.

Pulse Oximeter: A probe that wraps around a hand or foot, connected to a machine, which measures how much oxygen the blood is carrying.

 

S

Sepsis: Infection in the blood or other body tissues.

SGA: Small for gestational age; lower birth weight than expected for age.

Suction: Mechanical removal of mucous from the nose or throat or endotracheal tube with a plastic tube.

 

T

Transcutaneous Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide Monitor (TCOM): A button-like probe placed on the baby’s skin to measure the amount of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood without taking a blood test.

 

U

Umbilical Catheter: A small plastic tube inserted into one of the arteries of the umbilical cord.

 

V

Ventilator: Also known as a respirator; a machine used to deliver air and oxygen into the lungs with pressure to help the baby breathe.

Vital Signs: Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure.