DICTIONARY
/A
Ambu bag / A piece of respiratory equipment used with a face mask and placed over the baby’s nose and mouth or attached to the ET or trach tube. It is squeezed to give the baby oxygen and inflate the lungs.
Anomaly / Abnormality, Defect. Malformed body part.
Anoxia / Lack of oxygen.
Antibiotics / Medications (drugs) that fight germs, kill or interfere with the growth of bacteria, and help cure or prevent infections.
Apnea / Stop breathing for more than 20 seconds.
Areola / Dark area of the breast around the nipple.
Arterial Catheter / A thin plastic tube placed in an artery used to give your baby nutrients, blood and medications. It is also used to draw blood for lab tests. Arterial catheters are most commonly placed in the baby’s umbilical artery and are called Umbilical Artery Catheters or UAC.
Asphyxia / Lack of oxygen and blood flow to the body.
Aspiration / Breathing fluid (formula, stomach contents, meconium) or objects into the lung.
B
Bacteria / Germs that make you sick. Treated with antibiotics.
“Bagging” / Squeezing the ambu bag to give him oxygen and inflate his lungs.
Biliblanket / A special lighted “blanket” placed under the baby to treat jaundice.
Bililight / A special light placed above the baby’s bed that shines on the baby to treat jaundice
Bilirubin / Product of red blood cell breakdown; too much in the blood causes jaundice, a yellowish color of the skin.
Blood gas / Blood test to determine how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in the baby’s blood. The baby is “stuck” for the blood if he does not have a special IV, the UAC.
Blood Transfusion / Giving blood from a donor to a baby. The donor’s blood is tested and blood types are matched between the baby and the donor before we give the blood to a baby.
BPD (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia) / A lung condition caused by having immature lungs and being on oxygen and the ventilator (breathing machine) for a long time.
Some babies with BPD need oxygen after discharge from the hospital.
Bradycardia / Slow heart rate. Usually less than 100 beats per minute in a newborn or premature baby.
Breech delivery / Babies born bottom, feet, or arm first.
C
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) / Gas breathed out when the baby exhales.
Case Manager / A Registered Nurse or Social Worker who will help you with the everyday events that goes with having a premature or critically ill baby and perhaps being a distance from your family and friends.
They can help with things like: finding a place to stay, dealing with insurance or financial concerns, parking and/or meals. They provide spiritual and emotional support during this trying and tiring time.
CAT Scan or CT Scan / Computerized axial tomography. Computerized x-ray that takes special pictures of the baby’s brain.
CBC / Complete blood count. Blood test that looks at the types and number of cells in the blood. Used to see if the baby has anemia (low blood) or an infection.
Chest PT / Chest Physiotherapy. May also include Postural Drainage. Clapping on the baby’s chest with a hand or using a cup to loosen mucus in the lungs. Postural drainage is a method of positioning the baby to help mucus drain from the lungs.
Circumcision / Removal of the foreskin from the penis.
Colostomy / Surgical opening made in the large intestine that is connected to the outside of the belly to permit elimination of stool (BM).
Colostrum / Thin yellow or clear breastmilk that is present before true breastmilk comes in.
Congenital abnormality / A malformation or abnormality present at birth. A Birth defect.
Congestive Heart Failure / CHF. Heart is not able to pump blood well to the body because of a malformed heart, an illness or an infection.
Corrected Age / Length of a pregnancy (gestational age) plus the baby’s calendar age.
CPAP / Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Room air, and sometimes oxygen, given under pressure to a baby through small, soft prongs inserted in their nose. It helps to keep the baby’s lungs expanded (open) while they inhale & exhale (breathe).
CSF / Cerebrospinal fluid. Fluid made and stored in the ventricles of the brain. Same as spinal fluid.
CPR / Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Method used to revive a person whose heartbeat and breathing have stopped.
Cyanosis / Blue color of baby’s skin, fingernails or inside of mouth and tongue. Caused by a lack of oxygen.
D
Diuretic / Medicine (drug) used to get rid of extra water in the body.
Down Syndrome / Chromosome abnormality (Trisomy 21) where the baby has a variety of physical problems and varying degrees of mental retardation.
Dyspnea / Difficult breathing.
E
Echocardiogram / ECHO. An ultrasound of the heart that uses high-frequency sound waves instead of x-rays to produce a picture of the heart. It is safe and poses no risk to the baby. The ECHO can tell us about the movement of the valves and chambers of the heart, as well as blood flow within the heart
ECMO / Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Process used to circulate a baby’s blood in a special machine outside the body while his lungs rest. It’s a type of heart pump like the one used on adults having heart surgery.
Edema / Swelling or puffiness.
EEG / Electroencephalogram. Tracing of the electrical impulses of the brain.
EKG or ECG / Electrocardiogram. Tracing of the electrical impulses of the heart.
Electrodes / Small adhesive pads placed on the baby’s body—chest, tummy, arms, or legs—that pick up and send the electrical impulses of the heart and movement of the chest with breathing to a monitor.
Electrolytes / Chemicals in the body that make it function well. We draw some of the baby’s blood and send it to the lab to check them.
Endotracheal Tube / ET Tube. Small plastic tube placed in the throat and connected to a ventilator or breathing machine. The tube is in the baby’s breath passage (trachea) and delivers oxygen and pressure to the lungs.
Exchange Transfusion / Removing most of the baby’s blood in small amounts and replacing it with fresh blood in small amounts. Most often used for a very high bilirubin level.
Extubation / Take out the endotracheal (ET) tube (breathing tube).
F
Fontanel / Soft spot on the top of the baby’ head. Another soft spot is toward the back of the baby’s head.
Fraternal Twins / Twins formed from two fertilized eggs. They do not look alike. There can be a boy and a girl or two girls or two boys.
Full Term / Baby born between the 37th and 41st week of pregnancy or gestation.
G
Gastrostomy / Surgical opening made on the tummy into the stomach. A tube is placed through the opening into the stomach to feed babies unable to eat by mouth.
Gavage Feeding / Feeding by a tube placed through the baby’s nose or mouth into the stomach. It may be removed after each feeding or left in the stomach for longer periods of time.
Gestation / Length of time from 1st day of mother’s last menstrual period to the time of birth. Full-term is 40 weeks’ gestation.
Gram (gm, G, GM) / Unit of weight in the metric system. 1 ounce=28 grams.
H
Heel Stick / Method of pricking (sticking) the baby’s heel to get blood for lab tests.
Hematocrit / Hct or “crit”. Percent of red blood cells in the blood. Your baby may receive a transfusion based on the hematocrit.
Hernia / Inguinal hernia—lump under the skin in the groin or scrotum caused by the intestines pushing through a weak place in the belly wall. A common preemie problem. May be fixed by surgery before the baby leaves the hospital. May occur at home after discharge—notify the baby’s doctor.
Umbilical hernia—a pushing out of the navel or belly button caused by the intestines pushing through a weak place in the belly wall. Usually goes away by the age of two. Fixed by surgery after 2-3 years of age if still there.
Hydrocephalus / Extra spinal fluid in the spaces of the brain due to a blockage in circulation or absorption of spinal fluid. Baby’s head may become large.
Hyperbilirubinemia / High bilirubin level (yellow jaundice). Happens commonly in newborns. Some babies are placed under a special light (bili light) to help the body break down the bilirubin. The baby gets rid of the bilirubin in his stools (bowel movements) or urine.
Hyperglycemia / Elevated (high) levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypoglycemia / Decreased (low) levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypoxia / Lack of oxygen in the body tissues.
I
Identical Twins / Twins that occur from the division of a single fertilized egg. They are the same sex and look alike.
IDM / Infant of a Diabetic mother.
Infusion Pump / A machine that delivers (gives) IV fluids, blood, medication, and/or feedings in tiny, precise measured amounts through the baby’s IV line.
Ileostomy / A surgical opening made in the belly and the small intestine is brought to the outside to allow elimination of stool (BM).
Immunization / Medicine (drug) given to protect the child against harmful childhood diseases. Given by shot. For example DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus).
Intermediate Care Nursery (INT) / A step-down nursery. The care is less intensive than the NICU but still more specialized than a standard or normal newborn nursery. Babies are moved to INT as they begin to grow and get bigger.
Intracranial Hemorrhage / ICH. Bleeding in or around the brain.
Intravenous / IV. Tube or needle placed in the vein to give fluids, medications, or blood.
Intraventricular Hemorrhage / IVH. Bleeding into the ventricles in the brain.
Intubation / Placing a small tube in the baby’s windpipe (trachea) to give oxygen and pressure by an ambu bag or breathing machine.
“In Utero” / Inside the womb or uterus.
Isolette / An incubator (plastic box) the baby is placed in to keep him warm while he grows and gets well.
J
Jaundice / Skin and whites of the eyes become yellow. Caused by a high bilirubin.
K
Kilogram, “kilo” / Kg, KG, kg. Unit of weight in the metric system. 1 kg=2.2 pounds. 1 kg=1000 grams.
L
Lactation / Making milk in the breast.
Let-down Reflex / Flow of milk from the breasts into the nipples.
Low Birthweight Infant / LBW infant. A baby who weighs less than 5 ½ pounds at birth. The baby can be premature or full-term.
LP / Lumbar puncture. Spinal tap. Procedure where a hollow needle is inserted between the bones in the back (spine) to withdraw spinal fluid.
M
Meconium / Baby’s 1st bowel movement (stool). Green-black in color and sticky.
Meconium Aspiration / Breathing meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs. Sometimes babies have this stool while in the uterus before birth.
Meningitis / Infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningocele / Birth defect where the tissue lining the brain and spinal cord comes out through an opening in the skull or spinal column.
Milliliter / Ml, ml. Unit of volume in the metric system. The same as a cc.
5 ml=1 teaspoon. 30 ml=1 ounce
Monitor / A machine that records the baby’s heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and other information
Mucus / Sticky material made in the nose and throat.
Murmur / Sound made by blood flowing through the heart.
N
Navel / Belly button, umbilicus.
NICU / Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
NEC / Necrotizing Enterocolitis. An infection of the intestines that sometimes results in part of the intestines dying. The dying part is removed by surgery.
Neonatal Nurse / A Registered Nurse with specialized training to provide nursing care to critically ill babies.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner / NNP. A Registered Nurse with advanced or specialized education in the care of critically ill babies and their families. The NNP may give medical care, perform special procedures and/or other types of care under the supervision of the neonatologist (doctor).
The NNPs make up the Neonatal Advance Practice Service or NAPS
Neonate / Baby during the 1st month of life.
Neonatologist / Baby doctor (pediatrician) with specialized training in the care of premature or critically ill newborns. Your baby will be cared for by our Neonatologists while in the NICU.
NG/OG Tube / Nasogastric/orogastric tube. Small plastic tube placed in the baby’s nose (naso) or mouth (oro) into his stomach used for feeding. Sometimes the tube is placed in the stomach to keep it empty when the baby is sick and not feeding.
NICU Nurse Manager / A Registered Nurse with administrative and clinical skills, the Nurse Manager is responsible for the overall functioning of the NICU. The Nurse Manager is available to discuss any questions or concerns you have regarding the care of your baby while in the NICU.
Nippling / Sucking on a bottle filled with formula or breastmilk.
O
Occupational Therapist / OT. A person who treats problems involving the use of muscles. They may also work with babies who have trouble eating.
P
PDA / Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Small vessel outside of the heart that sometimes fails to close after birth and causes the baby to have breathing and heart problems. Sometimes it is closed with medicine or by surgery.
Periodic Breathing / A type of breathing pattern. The baby will stop breathing for a few seconds then quickly begin breathing again.
Persistent Fetal Circulation
-or-
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension / PFC, PPHN. At birth, blood flow (circulation) and breathing change. In PPHN (PFC) the baby’s blood flow does not change and continues to bypass the lungs. When this happens, the body and brain do not get enough oxygen.
Phototherapy / Treatment of jaundice or high bilirubin by placing the baby under a special bright light called “bili lights.”
Physical Therapist / PT. A person who treats feeding problems and problems of the muscles.
Pneumonia / An infection of the lungs that causes fluid to collect and makes it harder for the baby to breathe. An antibiotic is given to treat the infection; we may also give the baby oxygen or put them on a ventilator (breathing machine).