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  • Pregnancy Terms
  • Sample Reports - Obstetrics / Gynecology

• Pregnancy Terms

- T -

• Teratogens

Agents such as drugs, chemicals and infections that can cause birth defects when a mother is exposed to them during pregnancy.



• Term

Referring to a 40 week pregnancy ("full term," "preterm" and "post term.").



• Timing contractions

Contractions are usually measured from the beginning of one until the beginning of the next. Time your contractions with a stopwatch or the second hand on a clock. Take note also of the duration of each individual contraction.



• Toxemia

Pregnancy-induced hypertension, a dangerous condition that may occur during pregnancy. Symptoms may include elevated maternal blood pressure, swelling of ankles and hands, sudden weight gain and protein in the urine. See Eclampsia and PIH.



• Toxoplasmosis

This disease is caused by an organism found in raw and rare meat, garden soil and cat feces. It is typically not harmful to adults, but can cause injury to the fetus and placenta.



• Transition

This is the phase after active labor when the cervix finishes dilating to 10 centimeters. Contractions are the strongest and closest together during this phase (which is also the shortest phase).



• Transverse

Describes the side-lying (where the baby's body length is horizontal in the uterus) position of the baby before birth. Unless moved, the baby will have to be delivered by c-section.



• Trimester

Each three-month period during the nine months of pregnancy.