Newborn and Postpartum Medical Terms Every Parent Should Know
Your baby’s arrival doesn’t mean the new words stop. In the hours and days after birth, you may hear terms like Apgar score, jaundice, or NICU. Knowing what these mean helps you feel calm, prepared, and able to participate in your baby’s care.
Why These Terms Matter
When you understand newborn and postpartum terminology, you can:
Recognize what’s normal vs. what needs attention
Ask informed questions about your baby’s health
Feel less anxious in the hospital and at home
Understand the language used in your baby’s records and tests
If you’re still pregnant, you may want to first read Pregnancy Medical Terms Every Parent Should Know and Labor and Delivery Terminology Every Parent Should Know.
Common Newborn Terms
Apgar Score
A quick test of your baby’s breathing, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and color at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. Most healthy babies score between 7–9.
Jaundice
A yellow tint to the skin or eyes caused by extra bilirubin in the blood. Very common, usually mild, and often resolves with feeding and monitoring.
Meconium
Your baby’s first stool — thick, greenish, and sticky. If meconium shows up in the amniotic fluid before birth, your care team will monitor closely.
Colostrum
The first milk your body produces, rich in nutrients and antibodies. Often appears thick and yellow before your mature milk comes in.
Preparing for birth? Our comprehensive online pregnancy & childbirth class guides you through every step of your journey with evidence-based information and practical techniques.
Immediately After Birth
The Apgar score is a quick test performed one minute after birth, then again at five minutes, assessing your baby's:
- A ppearance (skin color)
- P ulse (heart rate)
- G rimace (reflex response)
- A ctivity (muscle tone)
-
R espiration (breathing)
A perfect Apgar score is 10, with typical scores being 7, 8, or 9. Scores below 7 indicate your baby might need help breathing.
Interactive Medical Terminology Reference
Use our interactive medical terminology guide below to quickly look up any pregnancy or birth term. Click any term to see its definition, or continue reading for detailed explanations in context.
Pregnancy Timing Terms
Preterm
Babies born before 37 weeks. They may need extra support for breathing, feeding, and growth.
Post-term
Pregnancies lasting beyond 42 weeks. Extra monitoring helps ensure baby’s health.
Complications and Specialized Care
Fetal Distress
Signals that a baby may not be getting enough oxygen. Monitoring during labor helps providers respond quickly if this happens.
Posterior Position
When a baby is face-up during labor instead of face-down. This can make labor longer, but vaginal delivery is still often possible.
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
A specialized hospital unit for babies born early, small, or needing extra medical support. Staff are experts in newborn critical care.
Learn These Terms in Context
Reading definitions is helpful—but learning them alongside breathing, comfort measures, and birth planning makes the terms come alive. Our online pregnancy and childbirth class walks you through all of this so you and your partner feel confident and prepared. 👉 Explore our class at Nurtured Nest
How Parent Education Classes Help You Master Medical Terminology
Parent education classes do much more than teach breathing techniques—they provide crucial context for understanding medical terminology. When you learn these terms alongside information about labor stages, pain management options, and newborn care, the vocabulary becomes practical knowledge rather than intimidating jargon.
Making the Most of Your Healthcare Appointments
With a solid understanding of pregnancy and birth terminology, you can:
- Ask specific questions: Instead of asking "Is everything okay?" you might ask "How is my cervical effacement progressing?" or "What's my baby's current position?"
- Understand test results: When your provider discusses your Apgar scores, gestational diabetes screening, or monitoring for fetal distress, you'll know what these results mean for you and your baby.
- Participate in decision-making: If interventions like induction or cesarean delivery are discussed, you'll understand the options and can make informed choices.
- Recognize normal vs. concerning symptoms: Understanding terms like ruptured membranes or signs of preterm labor helps you know when to contact your healthcare provider.
What You'll Gain from Parent Education
- Confidence in Medical Settings: When your provider mentions cervical dilation or discusses your baby's position, you'll understand what they mean and can ask informed follow-up questions.
- Better Birth Planning: Understanding terms like episiotomy, induction methods, and pain relief options helps you make informed decisions about your birth preferences.
- Improved Communication: You'll be able to express your concerns and preferences using the same language as your healthcare team.
- Reduced Anxiety: Knowledge reduces fear. Understanding what different terms mean helps you feel more prepared and less anxious about the unknown.
- Partner Involvement: When both partners understand medical terminology, your support person can better advocate for you and understand what's happening during labor and delivery.
Continue your learning with our full Pregnancy & Childbirth Course where all of these terms are explained in context.
Create By The Nurtured Nest Team
Nurtured Nest’s content is developed by parenting educators, healthcare professionals, and real parents—so it’s always grounded in evidence and real-life experience. Learn more about our team.