Vocabulary

Meeting the midwife or the gynecologist can be nerve-racking in itself. Sometimes they will use words or phrases you might not be familiar with. In this glossary you’ll find explanations to words and phrases that are commonly used in maternity care.

A

Antiemetika = Antiemetics: drugs that alleviate nausea and vomiting

B 

BM/Barnmorska = Midwife

BMM/Barnmorskemottagning = Maternity care center

D 

Dehydrering = Dehydration: caused by frequent vomiting or not enough hydration 

Duplex = Twin 

E 

Elektrolytrubbning = Electrolyte imbalance: imbalances of salts in your body, possibly caused by frequent vomiting

Emesis = Throw up, vomit

F 

Flerbörd = Multiples: carrying more than one child, e.g. twins or triplets

Foglossning = Pelvic girdle pain: pain originating from the symphysis and joints in the pelvis. This is caused by hormones preparing the body for delivery

Folat = Folate: a water-soluble B vitamin that exists in different forms. Folate and folic acid are different types of the same vitamin-B which is needed for foetal development and maternal blood production.

Folsyra = Folic acid: folic acid is a synthetic form of folate. Women are advised to take supplemental folic acid when trying to conceive and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in order to decrease the risk of spina bifida in the foetus.

G 

Gravidillamående = Pregnancy-related nausea

Graviditet = Pregnancy 

Gestationsvecka = Week of pregnancy

H 

Havandeskapsförgiftning = Pre-eclampsia: a medical condition where the pregnant person’s organs become affected by high blood pressure, which can be harmful to both mother and baby

HCG = Human chorionic gonadotropin: pregnancy hormone

Hereditet = Heredity 

HG = Short for hyperemesis gravidarum: severe pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting 

M 

Multipara = Woman who has given birth two or more times 

MVC/Mödravårdscentral = Maternity care center

MÖL/Mödravårdsöverläkare = Maternity care doctor, OBGYN

N 

NVP = Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Nullipara = A woman who has not given birth  

O 

Obstetrik = Obstetrithe science of pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period

Ovarium = Ovary

P 

Partus = Delivery 

Preeklampsi = Preeclampsia

Prematur = A baby that has been born too early, before 37 weeks of gestation

Prematurbörd = Premature delivery: delivery that happens too early, before 37 weeks of gestation

Primigravid = First time pregnant 

PUQE Score = Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis Score

S 

SGA = Small-for-Gestational-Age: a newborn that is smaller then expected

T 

Trimester = Pregnancy is divided into 3 different parts: trimesters. One trimester is one third of a pregnancy’s 9 months. The first few months after birth are also known as the fourth trimester.