English words related to Pregnancy

In this vocabulary lesson, we will learn English words and phrases related to pregnancy such that you are familiar with terms like "her waters broke" or "she's in her third trimester." This lesson covers the pregancy words from conception to the early weeks at home.

1. People involved in pregnancy

Several different health professionals may be involved during pregnancy and birth. These roles have specific titles, and knowing the difference between them is useful both for real-life situations and for understanding medical dramas or news articles.

A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who supports a woman throughout pregnancy, labour, and the early weeks after birth. In the UK, midwives are the main point of contact for most pregnant women and lead routine antenatal care. An obstetrician is a medical doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth; they are typically involved when complications arise or when a pregnancy is considered higher risk.

A gynaecologist (note the British spelling, with a "y") specialises in the female reproductive system more broadly. Many obstetricians are also gynaecologists, which is why you often see the combined term OB-GYN. A doula is a non-medical birth companion who provides emotional and practical support during labour, and a health visitor is a nurse who makes home visits after the baby is born to check on both the mother and the newborn.

2. Stages of pregnancy

A full-term pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks, which is why people often say "nine months." To make it easier to discuss, the pregnancy is divided into three stages called trimesters, each lasting roughly three months. The word "trimester" comes from the Latin trimestris, meaning "of three months."

2.1 Embryo, foetus, and womb

In the very early weeks, the developing baby is called an embryo. From around week 9 onwards, it is referred to as a foetus (also written as "fetus," particularly in American English and in much modern British medical writing; both are acceptable). The everyday word for the organ in which the baby grows is womb; the medical term is uterus.

The foetus is enclosed within the amniotic sac, a membrane filled with amniotic fluid that protects and cushions the baby throughout the pregnancy. The placenta is the organ that connects the baby to the mother's blood supply, delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing waste.

3. Common symptoms and experiences

Pregnancy brings a range of physical experiences, many of which have specific names in English. Knowing these words will help you follow conversations, read health information confidently, and support those around you.

Morning sickness refers to the nausea and vomiting that many pregnant women experience, especially during the first trimester. Despite the name, it can occur at any time of day. A severe form, involving persistent vomiting and dehydration, is called hyperemesis gravidarum, a Latin-origin medical term that appears regularly in newspapers and health journalism.

Cravings are strong desires to eat specific foods, sometimes unusual combinations. Other common experiences include fatigue (extreme tiredness), heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid), and oedema (swelling, particularly of the feet and ankles; Americans write this as "edema").

• She had terrible morning sickness throughout her first trimester.
• He laughed when his wife's cravings led her to eat pickles with chocolate.
• By the third trimester, the fatigue was making it hard for her to concentrate at work.
• The midwife checked her ankles for signs of oedema at every appointment.

4. Antenatal care and key terms

In the UK, care during pregnancy is usually described as antenatal care. The prefix ante- means "before" in Latin, so "antenatal" literally means "before birth." The word prenatal has exactly the same meaning and is more common in American English; you will encounter both, particularly in medical contexts.

4.1 Scans, tests, and the due date

An ultrasound (also called a scan) is a medical test that uses sound waves to create an image of the baby inside the womb. In the UK, pregnant women routinely have two scans: one at around 12 weeks, known as the dating scan, and one at around 20 weeks, called the anomaly scan, which checks the baby's development in detail.

The due date, or expected date of delivery (EDD), is the date on which the baby is expected to be born. A pregnancy is considered full-term once it reaches 37 weeks; a baby born before that point is described as premature or preterm. A birth plan is a written document outlining a woman's preferences for labour and delivery, covering choices such as pain relief and who should be present.

5. Labour and birth vocabulary

Labour (Americans write "labor") is the process by which the baby is born. It begins with contractions, rhythmic tightenings of the uterus that gradually push the baby downwards. As labour progresses, the cervix (the lower part of the uterus) dilates (opens), eventually reaching 10 centimetres to allow the baby to pass through the birth canal.

5.1 Waters breaking and pain relief

When the amniotic sac ruptures, this is commonly described as "the waters breaking" or "her waters broke." It is also possible for a midwife to rupture the membranes manually in a procedure called an artificial rupture of membranes (ARM), sometimes used to speed up labour.

Pain relief during labour takes several forms. An epidural is an injection of local anaesthetic into the lower back that provides significant pain relief. Gas and air (the brand name is Entonox) is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide inhaled through a mouthpiece; this is a very British expression that learners of American English may not recognise. Pethidine is an injectable opioid painkiller that may also be offered during labour.

5.2 Types of birth

A vaginal birth (sometimes called a natural birth or normal delivery) is when the baby is born through the birth canal without surgical intervention. A caesarean section (shortened to C-section; note the British spelling "caesarean," as opposed to the American "cesarean") is a surgical operation in which the baby is delivered through an incision in the abdomen. It may be planned in advance (an elective caesarean) or unplanned (an emergency caesarean).

An assisted birth occurs when instruments are used to help deliver the baby. Forceps are large curved tongs placed around the baby's head, and a ventouse is a suction cup attached to the baby's head; both guide the baby out during delivery. It is also important to know two more sensitive terms: a miscarriage refers to the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks, and a stillbirth is when a baby is born without signs of life after 24 weeks.

6. After the birth (postnatal) vocabulary

The period after birth is described as the postnatal period; Americans more commonly say postpartum. The NHS generally defines the postnatal period as the first six to eight weeks after delivery, though recovery and adjustment extend well beyond that. A baby in its first few weeks of life is called a newborn.

The placenta is delivered shortly after the baby, and this is sometimes called the afterbirth. The first milk a mother produces is called colostrum, a thick, yellowish fluid rich in antibodies. Breastfeeding means feeding the baby directly from the breast, while bottle-feeding refers to feeding using a bottle, either with expressed milk or with formula (sometimes called "formula milk" in the UK). Postnatal depression (PND) is a form of depression that can affect mothers, and sometimes fathers or partners, in the weeks or months after birth.

7. British vs. American English: baby vocabulary

This is an area where British and American English differ quite noticeably, and the differences are not always obvious from context. Here is a table summarising the difference.

8. Useful phrases and expressions

Individual words are only part of the picture. These phrases are the ones you will actually hear in conversation, in films, and in news reports, and they often cannot be guessed from the individual words alone.

• "She's expecting." (A polite, informal way to say someone is pregnant; "expecting" can also be used as an adjective, as in "an expecting mother.")
• "How far along are you?" (A common way to ask how many weeks pregnant someone is.)
• "She's due in April." (Used to say when the baby is expected to be born.)
• "Her waters broke." (The amniotic sac has ruptured; labour is often imminent.)
• "She went into labour." (Labour has begun.)
• "She gave birth to a healthy baby boy." (The standard way to describe a birth.)
• "The baby was delivered by caesarean." (A C-section was performed.)

One distinction that learners often mix up is the difference between "give birth" and "deliver." The mother gives birth; the midwife or doctor delivers the baby. Saying "the mother delivered the baby" is grammatically possible but usually implies she did so alone, without medical assistance, so it is best to reserve "deliver" for the professional's role.

It is also worth knowing that maternity leave is time off work taken by the mother around the birth, while paternity leave is taken by the father or second parent. A baby shower is a celebration held before the birth, typically hosted by friends, at which gifts are given to the expecting parents.