Glossary
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
ACIDOSIS. An abnormally high level of acid in the blood because the lungs are not working well.
ANAEMIA. Not enough red blood cells.
APGAR SCORE. A simple way of assessing a the baby's health, immediately after birth, by scoring points for heart rate, breathing, skin colour, tone, and the baby's reactions.
APNOEA. A pause in breathing. "Apnoeic attacks" are short spurts in which breathing is interrupted. These episodes usually repeat themselves.
ASPHYXIA. Too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the blood, causing the baby to suffocate.
BAGGING. Putting a mask connected to a squeezable bag over the baby's nose and mouth to help breathing.
BILIRUBIN. Yellow pigment in blood, which gives a yellow colouring to the skin.
BLOOD GASES. Laboratory test to find out levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the blood. The purpose is to work out how well the lungs and circulation are functioning.
BRADYCARDIA. When the heart rate temporarily slows down.
BRAIN SCAN. This can be done by using ultrasound, X rays (called CT scan) or magnetic resonance (called MR) to create a picture of the brain in order to gain information about it.
BREAST PUMP. Piece of equipment which is both manual or electric, used for expressing breast milk.
BRONCHO PULMONARY DYSPLASIA (BPD). A disorder of the lung, which may have come about because the baby has been on a ventilator for a long time. When this happens, the baby needs more oxygen and may have difficulty breathing, which can take some time to improve.
CANDIDA. A yeast infection of skin and mucus membranes (mouth, digestive or genital tracts).
CENTILE CHARTS. Graphs showing the normal ranges of measurements at different ages.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF). Fluid produced within the brain which flows into the fluid in the area of the spinal cord. If the flow is obstructed, or the brain is not absorbing enough, it can lead to hydrocephalus, or 'water on the brain'.
CHEST DRAIN. Tube passed through the chest wall to drain off air leaking from the lung.
CHRONOLOGICAL AGE. A baby's age from the actual date of birth.
CORRECTED AGE. The age a premature baby would be if he/she had been born on their due date.
CPAP/CDAP (Continuous positive airway pressure /continuous distending airway pressure). When the flow of air/oxygen is passed through the baby using a slightly higher level of pressure. Used to help a baby's breathing and to reduce the number of apnoeic attacks by keeping air in the baby's under-developed lung.
CYANOSIS. Lack of oxygen in the blood, which makes the skin, lips and nails appear bluish.
DRIP. When fluids or blood are passed into a vein or artery, using a needle or plastic tube.
ECG (Electrocardiogram). Graph showing heart's electrical activity. EEG (Electroencephalogram). Graph showing brain's electrical activity.
ELECTROLYTES. Essential substances in the body which, when dissolved, give solutions able to conduct electric current (e.g. table salt, sodium chloride, potassium chloride).
ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE. Soft plastic tube inserted through the mouth or nose to the windpipe (trachea) to help breathing.
EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION. Replacing the baby's blood with blood from an adult donor.
EXPRESSING BREAST MILK. Manipulating the breast to produce milk.
EXTUBATE. Removing the endrotracheal tube (explained previous) from the windpipe
FONTANELLE. Soft spots on a baby's head which disappear as the bones grow together
GESTATIONAL AGE. The time (in weeks) from the (start of) last menstrual period.
GRUNTING. Noise made by a baby with breathing difficulty.
HAEMOGLOBIN. The part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen.
HEAD BOX. Plastic box placed over a baby's head to allow accurate control of oxygen.
HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE. Measurement of the maximum distance around the baby's head.
HEAT SHIELD. Clear plastic shell placed over the baby to prevent heat loss.
HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE (HMD) or RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS). A breathing problem in which the lungs have difficulty holding in air.
HYDROCEPHALUS. When too much 'cerebrospinal' fluid is collected inside the brain, which may cause rapid increase in head size. A lower than normal level of blood calcium.
HYPOGLYCAEIA. Abnormally low blood glucose level.
HYPOTHERMIA. When the body temperature drops below 35.5 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
HYPOXIA. Abnormally low amount of oxygen in the body tissues.
INTRACRANIAL HAEMORRHAGE. A bleed inside the skull.
INTRAVENOUS NUTRITION. A way of supplying all the most vital nutrients directly into the blood by either a type of drip (called a peripheral drip) or a central line.
INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESURE VENTILATION (IPPV). A way of helping breathing mechanically. IV. Intravenous ("into the vein").
JAUNDICE. Yellowness of the skin/whites of the eyes caused by a higher level of bilirubin in the blood.
JEJUNAL FEEDING. Introducing milk, using a special soft tube, directly into the jejunum (part of the small intestine).This reduces the likelihood of the baby regurgitating or vomiting (with the risk of inhalation into the lungs).
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LBW). Less than 2.5 kg.
LUMBAR PUNCTURE (LP) or LUMBAR TAP. Withdrawal of a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid in order to analyse it.
MECONIUM. Dark greenish material that builds up in the digestive system before birth, and usually starts being passed as bowel movements within 24 hours of birth.
MECONIUM ASPIRATION. A baby which becomes distressed before delivery may pass meconium (the dark greenish material described above) while he or she is still in the womb. If the baby then inhales the fluid in which he or she is "floating" in the womb, the sticky material irritates and partially blocks the airways, causing breathing difficulties in around the time that the baby is born.
NASO GASTRIC FEEDS (NG Feeds). Feeding using a fine, soft tube passed through the nose into the stomach.
NEONATE. Baby during the first four weeks of life.
NECROTISING ENTEROCOLITES (NEC). When a section of the wall of the intestine is swollen or inflamed because of damage to the lining.This is often linked to a period in which the blood flow has been obstructed. The abdomen may swell up, and blood is passed through the bowels. Air penetrates the wall of the digestive tract; and sometimes very rarely, it may make a hole in the gut.
OEDEMA. Swelling caused by too much fluid in the tissues under the skin.
PARENTERAL NUTRITION. Supplying all the most important nutrients into a vein, by an infusion.
PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS (PDA). Blood vessel in the heart remaining open after it should have closed.
PEEP (Positive End Expiratory Pressure). Pressure applied during breathing out, which helps keep the lungs from collapsing while the baby is on the ventilator.
PERIODIC BREATHING. When pauses of up to ten seconds take place in the baby's breathing.
PERSISTENT FOETAL CIRCULATION. Before birth, the blood vessels of the lung are narrow. If the blood vessels do not relax after birth, blood flow to the lungs is reduced. Oxygen, and sometimes drugs, are given to help with this. pH. Is about the acidity (low value) or alkalinity (raised value) of the blood. A value close to 7.4 is normal for arterial blood.
PHOTOTHERAPY. Using light to reduce the bilirubin level.
PHYSIOTHERAPY. Special exercises to improve or relieve physical problems.
PNEUMOTHORAX. When there is air between the lung and chest wall if a lung has leaked air.
POSSET. When the baby spits up a small amount of milk after feeding
PRETERM BABY. A baby born before reaching 37 weeks.
RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY. Damage to the retina area of the eye that is sensitive to light; usually linked to the amount of oxygen in the blood reaching the retina. SGA (Small for gestational age). Baby whose birth weight is lower than that of 90% of babies of the same gestational age.
SURFACTANI A chemical that helps to ease or loosen the surface tension in the lungs, in order to stop the lung from collapsing when the baby breathes out.
TACHYCARDIA. Rapid heart beat.
TACHYPNOEA. Rapid breathing rate.
UMBILICAL CATHETER. Plastic tube inserted through one of the two umbilical arteries. Used to take blood samples, which will be analysed. Some catheters have a special device that monitors the amount of oxygen there is in the blood.
VENTILATION. Mechanical support with breathing, so that the baby will be able to have normal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in their blood.
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BLISS, 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP Telephone: 0207 820 9471 Facsimile: 0207 820 9567 E-mail: information@bliss.org.uk