Glossary
Anaemia, a low number of red blood cells. Also called a low Hb (haemoglobulin). Anaemia can be caused by an increased and/or an impaired breakdown. Treatment of anaemia can be a blood transfusion or iron medication. Also look at the article “Ferrous fumarate”.
Medicine against an infection caused by bacteria.
A test that shows how your child is doing just after birth. Heart rate, breathing, colouring, muscle tension and reflexes are checked. A maximum of 2 points can be scored for each part. The baby gets a score between 0 and 10. This score is determined one, five and ten minutes after birth.
Period of a respiratory arrest of at least 10 seconds, often occurs in premature babies.
Arteries. Any of the blood vessels through which blood flows from the heart around the body.
Shortage of oxygen in the baby’s body during birth. Because of this damage to the cells and tissue can occur. For more extensive information, see the article “Shortage of oxygen at birth (asphyxia)”.
A product that is released in the body when red blood cells are broken down. If too many red blood cells are broken down, the skin and the whites of the eyes can become yellow in the first few days after birth. This is normal. If the levels in the blood are too high, phototherapy (light therapy) can be given. See also the article “Jaundice”.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia is damage to the lungs that can occur in premature babies after breathing support. See also the article “Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)”.
A heartbeat that is too slow.
Caesarean section, this is an operation where the child is delivered through a cut in the abdominal wall. The operation lasts for about 45 minutes. Usually, the baby is born within a quarter of an hour after the operation has begun. After that the gynaecologist stitches up the uterus and the various layers in the abdominal wall. The medical term for a caesarean is section caesarea. There are two sorts, sometimes it is known in advance that a caesarean is necessary and sometimes the need occurs during the delivery:
- primary caesarean: planned caesarean
- secondary caesarean: non-planned caesarean
A medicine that stimulates the still immature respiratory system and the breathing muscles.
The fluid that flows in and around the hollow spaces of the brain and spinal cord.
Stress and pain score for newly born and premature babies. See also the article “Pain”.
Complaints or illnesses (diseases) the baby is born with.
Convulsions are also sometimes known as seizures. A seizure is when the baby’s muscles contract. This can happen in different ways and be caused by different complaints. For instance, that might be an infection or a brain haemorrhage.
It is the technical equipment that allows to reduce and maintain the temperature of the newborn stable at 33.5-34°C and later increase it to 36.5-37°C
Corticosteroids are medicines with hormones that normally are produced by the body when stressed. If these medicines are given to pregnant women, then they ensure that the baby’s lungs mature faster. The chance of a bowel infection (NEC) and a brain haemorrhage (IVH) in the baby become less likely with these medicines.
CPAP means Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. By blowing air into the nose, pressure is applied to the lungs, which in turn makes breathing easier.
Blue discolouration of the skin or mucous membranes, because there is not enough oxygen in the blood.
A newly born baby with a weight that is too low for the gestational age.
Blood is transported through the baby’s body differently before birth to after birth. The baby’s lungs get almost no blood before the birth. The blood from the lungs is sent directly to the rest of the body then. This happens through a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery with the aorta. This blood vessel is called the ‘ductus of Botalli’
Nutrition that your baby drinks himself or is given through a tube and so directly into the stomach.
Family Centred Care, means that parents are central in the care.
Medicine that is given to premature children to increase the number of red blood cells (Hb; hemoglobin).
Temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius, often a sign of inflammation.
Born at 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.
A thin tube that goes into the tummy through the nose or mouth. Nutrition can be given through it and air can be taken out.
Amount of air, often more than 1 litre per minute, that is blown into the nose by means of a nasal mask. This is warm and humidified air.
The blood sugar level in the blood is too low. See also the article “Low blood sugar”.
The body temperature is too low, below 36.5 degrees Celsius.
It is the clinical state that results from the lack of oxygen and blood in the brain immediately before or during birth (asfyxia). Depending on the intensity of this deficiency, it can also cause damage to other internal organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and intestines.
Jaundice. See also the article “Jaundice”.
An incubator is a sort of confined “room” made of plexi glass for premature babies or SGA babies, where the temperature and humidity can be set accurately. The incubator is therefore warm. You can touch and look after your baby through two little doors in the incubator. Often the incubator is covered with a cloth or cover, so that the light and sound are muffled, just like in the womb.
When medication is given in a blood vessel, as with an intravenous drip.
A plastic tube (cannula) that is inserted into a blood vessel. Fluid, nutrients and medicine can be given through it.
Intraventricular haemorrhage: A haemorrhage in the brain of prematurely born babies, where the blood is usually in the brain ventricles. See also the article “Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)”.
Also known as the kangaroo method. A baby (wearing only a nappy) is placed on the bare chest. This enables skin to skin contact. See also in the library “Skin-to-skin care/Kangaroo Care”.
An epidural to obtain brain fluid for examination.
A baby’s first dark and sticky defecation (poo).
Meningitis, the membranes around the brain are inflamed.
A piece of apparatus which displays the numbers for the heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. See also the article “Monitor”.
Necrotizing enterocolitis, this is an inflammation of the bowel that occurs in premature and SGA babies and in babies who have had a bad start.
Paediatrician who is especially medically trained to care for premature and ill babies.
A newly born baby. A baby.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Intensive care for newly born babies.
Nursing specialist (NS) is originally a nurse who has completed a Master’s degree in the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice. The nursing specialist has experience as a nurse in a certain field of expertise in direct patient care, in this case in neonatology.
Nutrition that directly goes into the blood vessels via an intravenous drip. The nutrition consists of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins.
This is a treatment for jaundice where the baby is placed on top of or under a lamp with a blue light. Also look at the article “Phototherapy”.
Placenta (afterbirth).
Post IC-HC stands for the admission that follows after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive care is then no longer needed, but your baby still needs High Care (HC). Your baby still needs some extra care and monitoring. Also look for the article “Hospital and Departments” link
A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
ROP is short for Retinopathy Of Prematurity or premature retinopathy. This is an abnormality in the retina of the eye that occurs in premature babies. In ROP abnormal blood vessels are formed mainly on the edge of the retina. See also the article “Eye test (ROP)” (link geven)
Sepsis is blood poisoning or an infection, then there are bacteria present in the blood. See also article “Infection”.
Also called the kangaroo method. Your baby (wearing only a nappy), will lie on your bare chest. This promotes skin to skin contact. Also see the article “Kangaroo care “.
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Nutrition or fluid that remains in the stomach.
A sugar drink that is given in the mouth before a treatment that will hurt. The drink helps to ease the pain.
Surfactant is a substance that normally is present in the alveoli, and that makes sure that the alveoli do not close completely when exhaling. If they close it is more difficult to take a next breath. You can compare this to blowing up a balloon.
When children are born prematurely, there was not enough time to make sufficient surfactant. These children have problems breathing because of the closing of the alveoli, and oxygen is less well absorbed. As a result, these children need extra oxygen. This is called the Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
A part of the treatment of this syndrome is giving extra surfactant. This is administered directly into the lungs. When your child is ventilated with a tube in the windpipe, the surfactant can often be administered through this tube. If this is not already the case, the doctor inserts a small tube through the windpipe into the lungs to be able to give surfactant. This is called a MIST procedure. Sometimes this procedure is not successful and then it is still necessary to first insert a ventilation tube so that the surfactant can be given.
The heart rate is too fast.
Breathing too fast.
A tube made of plastic that is used to ventilate patients.
An intravenous line (a thin plastic tube) that is inserted via de navel. Fluid, nutrients and medicines are given through it. It is also called an umbilical line.
An injection to protect against serious infectious diseases. Also look at the article “Vaccinations”.
Breathing is partially supported or completely or partially taken over by a ventilator.
Brain chambers or heart chambers. These are cavities in the brain or heart.
Vitamin D is a vitamin that is given to help absorb calcium (a mineral found in food and drink) in the body. It is important for the normal growth and development of the bones and teeth. Vitamin D is given to all babies from day eight to the age of four years. We advise giving oil-based vitamin D up to the age of four months. After that water-based vitamin D can be given. Put the Vitamin D drops in the (loose) teat of a bottle and let your child drink from it. In this way he easily swallows the drops. Preferably do not mix the vitamins with the milk: the milk might have a different taste and if your child does not drink the whole bottle, you will not know exactly how much medicine he has had.
