Labor comes with its own vocabulary, and hearing unfamiliar words in the delivery room can add stress you don’t need. Here’s a plain-language glossary of the childbirth terms you’re most likely to hear — so on the big day, you can follow every conversation.
Childbirth Terms to Know
Amniotic Fluid: The fluid that surrounds and cushions your baby in the womb; it is released when your water breaks.
Braxton Hicks: Practice contractions that tighten the uterus but do not dilate the cervix — a rehearsal, not the real thing.
Cervix: The lower part of the uterus that must thin out and open up for the baby to be born.
Dilation: How open the cervix is, measured in centimeters from 0 to 10; 10 cm is fully dilated.
Effacement: The thinning and shortening of the cervix, measured in percent, that happens alongside dilation.
Contraction: The rhythmic tightening of the uterine muscle that moves labor forward.
Epidural: Pain relief delivered through a small catheter in the lower back, numbing from the waist down.
Episiotomy: A small surgical cut to widen the vaginal opening; once routine, it is now done only when needed.
Induction: Starting labor artificially, for example with medication, a balloon catheter, or breaking the waters.
Pitocin: A synthetic form of oxytocin used to start contractions or make them stronger.
Mucus Plug: The thick plug of mucus that seals the cervix during pregnancy; losing it can be an early sign that labor is near.
Bloody Show: Blood-tinged mucus that appears as the cervix begins to change — another early labor sign.
Water Breaking: When the amniotic sac ruptures and fluid leaks or gushes out; labor usually follows within a day or so.
Vertex Presentation: Baby positioned head-down — the most common and favorable position for birth.
Breech: Baby positioned bottom-first or feet-first instead of head-down.
Fetal Monitoring: Tracking the baby’s heart rate during labor, by a belt on the belly or a monitor in the room.
C-Section (Cesarean): Surgical delivery of the baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus.
VBAC: Vaginal birth after cesarean — having a vaginal delivery after a previous C-section.
Placenta: The organ that feeds and oxygenates the baby during pregnancy; it is delivered after the baby.
Umbilical Cord: The cord connecting the baby to the placenta, carrying nutrients and oxygen.
APGAR Score: A quick health check scored at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, looking at breathing, heart rate, tone, reflexes, and color.
Meconium: The baby’s first stool; sometimes passed into the amniotic fluid before birth, which the team watches for.
Fundus: The top of the uterus; after birth, nurses press on it to check that the uterus is contracting back down.
Lochia: The vaginal discharge and bleeding that continues for several weeks after birth as the uterus heals.
Perineum: The area between the vagina and the anus, which stretches — and sometimes tears — during birth.
Doula: A trained, non-medical support person who provides physical and emotional support during labor.
Midwife: A trained health professional who provides pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
Transition: The intense final stretch of dilation, roughly 8 to 10 centimeters, right before pushing.
Crowning: The moment the baby’s head becomes visible and stays visible at the opening.
Afterbirth: The delivery of the placenta, which happens in the minutes after the baby is born.
Colostrum: The first milk your body makes — thick, golden, and packed with antibodies for your newborn.
Keep this list on your phone for your hospital tour and appointments — and remember, you can always ask your team to explain anything in plain words. That’s what they’re there for.