AWCH English/German Pregnancy Terms and Definitions

Amniocentesis/Fruchtwasseruntersuchung or Die Fruchtwasserentnahme
Amniotic Fluid/Das Fruchtwasser
Amniotic Sac/Die Fruchtblase
Areola/Warzenhof
Braxton Hicks contractions/Der “Harter Bauch”, Übungswehen (practice contractions)
Painless, irregular contractions of the pregnant uterus, beginning during the first trimester and increasing in frequency as the pregnancy advances.
Breastfeeding/Stillen
Birth Preparation Course/Geburtsvorbereitungskurs
Breech Position/Steißlage
Breast Infection, Mastitis/Brustentzundung
Burp (as in burp the baby)/Bäuerchen machen
Cesarean Section/Der Kaiserschnitt
Cervix/Der Muttermund or Der Gebärmutterhals
The neck of the uterus.
Circumcision/Die Beschneidung
Colostrum/Vormilch
Constipation/Verstopfung
Contraction/Die Kontraktion (have contractions/wehen haben)
Rhythmic tightening of the uterus, usually causing the cervix to dilate and allow the passage of the baby. In labor contractions get stronger, closer together and longer.
Cord Prolapse/Nabelschnurvorfall
Delivery Room/Der Kreissaal or Der Entbindungsaal
Dilatation/Die Dilatation or Die Erweiterung/Muttermund Öffnung
The enlarging of the cervix to 10 centimeters.
Due Date/Geburtstermin/Stichtag (only for Hamburg and/or northern Germany)
Ectopic Pregnancy/Eileiterschwangerschaft
Effacement/Portio or Muttermund Verkürzung or Gebärmutterhalsverkürzung
The thinning of the cervix. Your cervix starts out being two inches long, and 50% effaced would be a 1 inch cervix.
Engagement/Senkwehen
Contractions that move the baby into the bony pelvis area.
Epidural/Die PDA (Peridural-Anästhesie)
Episiotomy/Der Dammschnitt
Fatigue/Erschöpfung
Forceps/Zangen
Genitals/Geschlechtsorgane
Gestational Diabetes Test/Der Glucosebelastungstest or Der Blutzuckerbelastungstest
Head-first Position/Beckenendlage (BEL)
Heart Monitor and Contraction Measuring Device/CTG (Wehenschreiber)
Hiccups/Schluckauf
Jaundice/Gelbsucht or Ikterus
If the amount of bilirubin in your baby's blood reaches a certain limit, it might have to be hospitalized for a UV-Light therapy (UV-Behandlung, "Blaue Lampe Therapie")
Labor/”Wehen haben” (to go into labor/einsetzten der wehen)
The period of contractions that change the cervix and ends with the birth of your baby.
Lightening or Dropping/absacken (Das Baby ist abgesackt)
Your baby changing positions in the uterus before labor, usually described as the baby "dropping." First time moms can see this as soon as 4-6 before their due date, whole other moms will notice this not until labor begins.
Inducing Labor/Wehen einleiten
Iodine/Jod
Lochia/Wochenfluß
Maternity Ward/Die Entbindungsstation
Meconium/Kindespech
Midwife/Die Hebamme
Milk coming in/Milcheinschuß
Milk ducts (clogged)/Milchstau
Miscarriage/Fehlgeburt
Mucous plug (passing it)/Schleimabgang
Nausea/Übelkeit
Nipples/Brustwarzen
Nurse/Die Krankenschwester
Pass gas/pupsen (what babies do -- pronounced "poopsen")
Passifier/Schnuller
Pediatric Hospital/Die Kinderklinik
Pediatrician/Der Kinderarzt
Pelvis/Das Becken
Pelvic Floor/Der Beckenboden
Perineum/Der Damm
The area between the external genitalia and the anus.
Perineal Massage/Dammmassage
Perineal Tearing/Dammriß
Placenta/Der Mutterkuchen or Plazenta
The organ within the pregnant uterus through which the fetus derives its nourishment; at term it averages one-sixth the weight of the fetus; is disk-shaped, about 2.5 cm thick, and 17.5 cm in diameter.
Postnatal Midwife Care/Die Wochenbettbetreuung
Postpartum Contractions or Afterpains/Nachwehen
Postpartum Exercise Classes/Rückbildungsgymnastik
Premature Birth/Frühgeburt
Stretch marks/Schwangerschaftsstreifen
Trimester/Das Trimenon
Umbilical Cord/Die Nabelschnur
The cord that connects the placenta to the baby, it helps removes waste products and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the baby.
Urination/Wasser lassen
Uterus/Die Gebärmutter
Female reproductive organ that weighs about 2-3 ounces and is about the size of a small woman's fist prior to pregnancy. During pregnancy this organ becomes 10 by 14 inches and weighs in at about 2-3 pounds. This is where a normal pregnancy takes place.
Vacuum extraction/Saugglocke
Vagina/Scheide
Vernix/Käseschmiere
Water breaking/Blasensprung