Dictionary

pregnancy, extrauterine See ectopic pregnancy.

pregnancy, molar See hydatidiform mole.

pregnancy, pernicious vomiting of See hyperemesis gravidarum.

pregnancy, tubal An ectopic pregnancy that takes place in a fallopian tube. Tubal pregnancies are due to the inability of the fertilized egg to make its way through the fallopian tube into the uterus. Tubal pregnancies account for 95 percent of all ectopic pregnancies. See also ectopic pregnancy.

pregnancy planning Planning that addresses issues that may affect a woman’s ability to carry a child to term, such as nutrition, vitamins, body weight, exercise, potentially harmful medications and illnesses, immunizations, and genetic counseling. See also birth control; family planning.

postpartum The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refers to the mother, and postnatal to the baby.

postpartum depression A form of severe depression after delivery that interferes with daily functioning and requires treatment. It can occur a few days, weeks, or even months after childbirth. A woman with postpartum depression may have feelings of sadness, despair, anxiety, and irritability to a severe degree. Treatment involves counseling and/or medications.

postpolio muscular atrophy Muscle wasting that occurs years after the acute polio episode has resolved as part of postpolio syndrome. Abbreviated PPMA. See also postpolio syndrome.

postpolio syndrome A constellation of symptoms and signs that appear years after an initial polio infection. Abbreviated PPS. PPS is characterized by new muscle weakening in muscles that were previously affected by polio or in muscles that were not previously affected. Other symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, and slowly progressive muscle weakness. PPS symptoms can…

postprandial After mealtime. A postprandial rise in the blood glucose level is one that occurs after eating.

postremission therapy Chemotherapy given to kill cancer cells that survive after remission-induction therapy.

post-term infant A baby born 14 days or more after the usual 40 weeks of gestation, as calculated from the mother’s last menstrual period. This is an important calculation because if delivery is delayed 3 weeks beyond term, the possibility of infant mortality increases dramatically.