Glossary
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AAP |
American Academy of Pediatrics |
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allergen |
Any substance causing an allergic response. |
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amenorrhoea |
The absence of a menstrual cycle. |
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atopy |
A clinical hypersensitivity state that is subject
to hereditary influences, such as hay fever, asthma and
eczema. |
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attached |
When this word is used in relation to the baby at
the breast it is interchangeable with the word 'latched.' |
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axilla |
underarm |
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bioavailability |
The degree of absorption of a substance and
ability of the body to use it. |
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birth canal |
The vagina and perineum. |
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boycott |
Refuse all dealings with, for the purpose of
coercion or punishment. |
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casein |
The principal protein in milk for all mammals. The
whey-to-casein ratio of human milk is 65:35. |
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colostrum |
The fluid in the breast from mid-pregnancy
onwards, and in early post-partum. Thicker and yellower than mature
milk, reflecting a higher content of proteins, many of which are
immunoglobulins. Also higher in fat-soluble vitamins and some
minerals. |
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complicity |
To comply, to be in accordance. |
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conception |
To conceive a baby; to become pregnant. |
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diabetes |
A disorder of carbohydrate metabolism as a result
of disturbances in the normal insulin mechanism. The normal insulin
mechanism may be inadequate due to insufficient production of
insulin in the pancreas, an increase in the insulin requirement of
the tissue cells, or a decrease in the effectiveness of insulin due
to insulin antagonists. |
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dyspareunia |
Painful coitus; painful sexual intercourse. |
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embryological |
From conception till prior to birth. |
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endogenous |
Produced by the body. |
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enteral |
Within the intestine. When referring to feeds it
could refer to oral feeding, naso-gastric tube feeding, or any way
that the feed enters the intestine. |
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epidermal |
Layer of the skin. |
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epithelial |
A cell layer which is present in every system in
the body. |
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ethical |
Having moral principles. |
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exogenous |
Produced by an external agent. |
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fat-soluble vitamins |
Vitamins A, D, E and K. |
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foremilk |
The milk obtained at the beginning of a
breastfeed. The major difference between foremilk and milk obtained
at any other stage of the breastfeed is that it starts with a
relatively low fat concentration. |
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galactagogue |
A substance that increases the production of
breastmilk. |
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gestational diabetes |
A type of diabetes which develops during
pregnancy. It usually resolves after the pregnancy is ended, but a
significant number of affected women do develop diabetes later in
life. |
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gestational surrogacy |
This is a third party arrangement whereby a
surrogate mother carries a pregnancy that is biologically unrelated
to her. Essentially, the intended mother’s egg and intended
father’s sperm are united in a laboratory forming the embryo(s) and
then transferred to the surrogate who than carries the resulting
pregnancy. This can be achieved with donor eggs or donor sperm as
well. |
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half life |
The period of time it takes a substance to reach
half its original intensity. |
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half-life |
The period of time it takes a substance to reach
half its original intensity. |
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hindmilk |
The milk obtained at the end of a breastfeed.
Hindmilk differs from milk obtained at any other time during the
breastfeed only in its relatively high concentration of fat. |
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hyaline membrane disease |
A disorder, occurring primarily in infants born
preterm, in which the alveoli and respiratory passages of the lungs
fail to expand adequately. The infant suffers from respiratory
distress and poor gas exchange. Respiratory assistance is required
until the condition improves. |
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hypertension |
High blood pressure. |
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informed consent |
Entitlement of a concerned party undergoing
treatment to know as far as possible what is involved and what can
go wrong, so that informed decisions can be made. Anyone who
carries out treatment (ie giving formula to a breastfed baby)
without informed consent is breaking the law and may be sued for
damages. |
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internal os |
The constricted upper part of the cervix at the
point where the cervix and lower section of the uterus join. The
external os is the lower part of the cervix where it opens into the
vagina. |
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intrapartum |
During the birthing process. |
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involution |
The return to a normal state after a period of
increased functionality. Uterine involution occurs as the uterus
returns to its pre-pregnant state; alveolar involution occurs as
the alveolar cease producing breastmilk. |
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ion trapping |
Breastmilk has a low pH; medications that are weak
bases can become trapped in breastmilk preventing their movement
back into maternal blood. |
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lactational amenorrhoea |
The absence of a menstrual cycle as a result of
the hormones of lactation. |
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lactation suppression |
Inhibiting the onset and/or establishment of
lactogenesis II. |
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lactocyte |
The secretory cells which form the alveoli. |
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lactoferrin |
A protein component of human milk which binds iron
in the intestinal tract, thus denying it to bacteria which require
iron to survive. |
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lactose |
A disaccharide. The principal carbohydrate in
human milk; it metabolises to glucose and galactose. |
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legitimacy |
authenticity, genuineness. |
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let-down reflex |
A neurohormonal reflex resulting in release of
milk from the breast. It occurs when the nerves surrounding the
nipple are stimulated. A message is sent to the hypothalamus in the
brain; the posterior pituitary gland then releases the hormone
oxytocin into the blood stream causing the myoepithelial cells
surrounding the alveoli to contract, and forcing the milk to move
into the ductal system. Usually referred to as the milk ejection
reflex. |
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leucocytes |
White blood cells which are present in breastmilk
and fight infection. |
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libido |
Instinctual energy or drive Ð usually used
with special reference to the motive power of the sex life. |
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lipid |
Pertaining to fat. |
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lochia |
The discharge from the uterus after the delivery
of the placenta and membranes until the end of the puerperium
(about 6 weeks). Initially the lochia is red (lochia rubra), then
yellowish or pinkish (lochia serosa), and finally white (lochia
alba). |
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lochial |
Bleeding arising from the placental site in the
uterus after the delivery of baby and placenta. |
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lymphatic drainage |
Fluid and waste products are drained by the
lymphatic system into the blood circulatory system. |
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lysozyme |
An enzyme in breastmilk which is active against
E.coli and salmonella. |
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malocclusion |
Malposition of the teeth resulting in the faulty
meeting of the teeth or jaws. |
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mastitis |
Inflammation of the breast. This may be an
infective or a non-infective process. |
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menopause |
The hormonal cessation of the ability to
reproduce. |
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menses |
Periodic bleeding as a result of the menstrual
cycle. |
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milk ejection reflex |
The neurohormonal reflex resulting in release of
milk from the breast. It occurs when the nerves surrounding the
nipple are stimulated. A message is sent to the hypothalamus in the
brain; the posterior pituitary gland then releases the hormone
oxytocin into the blood stream causing the myoepithelial cells
surrounding the alveoli to contract, and forcing the milk to move
into the ductal system. Sometimes referred to as the 'let-down'
reflex. |
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morbidity |
Illness or disease. |
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mores |
Customs, accepted group behaviours. |
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mortality |
death |
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myelinization |
The process by which conducting nerve fibers
develop a protective fatty sheath. The long-chain fatty acids
necessary for this process are abundant in human milk, but much
less abundant in cow’s milk and cow-milk-based infant formula. |
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necrotising enterocolitis |
Death (necrosis) of sections of the bowel. Occurs
most commonly in infants born preterm, particularly if they don't
receive breastmilk. |
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negligent |
Failing in your duty of care to the mother and
baby which results in damage or injury to the mother or baby. |
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nulliparous |
Never having given birth to a viable infant (20
weeks gestation or more). |
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nursing supplementer |
A device whereby a thin tubing is taped to the
mother’s breast while the other end sits in a container of milk.
The baby takes the distal end of the tube into his mouth when he
latches onto the breast and obtains milk from the breast as well as
the ’supplement' from the container. The propriety brands available
include the Supply Line from NMAA, the SNS from Medela and the
Lactaid. Many people also make up their own form of
supplementer. |
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oligosaccharides |
A carbohydrate comprised of a few monosaccharides
present in human milk, with an important role in the prevention of
infection in the baby. |
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open-pause-close type of suck |
When a baby is getting milk (he is not getting
milk just because he has the breast in his mouth and is sucking),
you will see a pause in the chin after he opens to the maximum and
before he closes, so that one suck is: open mouth
wide-->pause-->close mouth. If you wish to demonstrate this
to yourself, put a finger in your mouth and suck as if you are
sucking on a straw. As you draw in, your chin drops and stays
down as long as you are drawing. When you stop drawing, your
chin comes back up. This pause in the chin represents a mouthful of
milk when the baby does it at the breast. The longer the pause, the
more the baby got. Once you know that, you know also when he is
not getting milk. And once you know that, you know that 20
minutes on each side, for example, is nonsense. A baby who does
this type of sucking (open mouth wide-->pause--close mouth),
steadily for 20 minutes won't take the second side. A baby who
nibbles for 20 hours will come off the breast hungry. |
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osmotic |
The passage of water through a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of low concentration to one of high
concentration. In this case, from the blood stream with a low
concentration of lactose through the lactocyte into the alveolus
which has a high concentration of lactose. |
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passive diffusion |
Passive (or simple) diffusion is the equalization
of drug concentration in breastmilk and blood plasma by simple
passage of the drug through the cell membranes. |
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perceived |
Understood to be, but not necessarily factual. As
in 'perceived low milk supply' - some things may lead one to
believe this, but other factors may in fact prove it to not be the
case. |
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percentile |
When applied to growth charts, referring to the
very large sample of children that was ranked in size from the
smallest to the largest, to offer a measurement standard for
children’s growth. The median is the 50th percentile. A percentile
of 90% indicates that 90% of the children are below this level;
likewise the 3rd percentile indicates that only 3% of children will
fall on or below this line. |
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permeable |
Allowing passage through. |
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postnatal depression |
A depressive illness which occurs in 10 - 15% of
women, usually within 3, but up to 6 months after the birth of the
baby. |
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post-partum |
The period of time from the delivery of the baby
and third stage to approximately 6 weeks during which the mother’s
body recovers from the pregnancy and birth. |
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postpartum |
The period of time from the delivery of the baby
and third stage to approximately 6 weeks during which the mother’s
body recovers from the pregnancy and birth. |
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permeable |
Allowing passage through. |
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premature labor |
Commencement of labor before full maturity of the
fetus. Usually labor commencing before 37 completed weeks of
gestation. |
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preterm |
Born before term (estimated date of delivery).
Generally used as being 4 weeks or more before due date. |
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proliferation |
Growth and spread. |
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puberty |
The stage of development during which the child
develops adult sexual characteristics. |
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safe alternative |
A debatable and not easily defined term. In
countries where morbidity and mortality are high because of unclean
water or hygiene practices, the risks of infection/illness arising
from this need to be compared to the risks of breastfeeding.
Likewise, in developed countries, the ability (both financially and
practically) of the primary care giver to provide alternative
feedings must be considered. |
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secretory IgA |
An immunoglobulin abundant in human milk. It
blocks adhesion of pathogens to the intestinal mucosa. |
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seIgA |
An immunoglobulin abundant in human milk. It
blocks adhesion of pathogens to the intestinal mucosa. |
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septicaemia |
The presence of bacteria or their toxins in the
bloodstream. |
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side-stream |
The smoke inhaled from the general environment
(usually refers to cigarette or marijuana smoke). |
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species specific |
The composition of, in this case, mammalian milk,
is unique for the type of mammal for which it is produced. |
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synthesis |
production |
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tachycardia |
Rapid heart rate. |
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tachypnoea |
Rapid respiratory rate (alternative spelling:
tachypnea). |
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unethical |
Lacking moral principles. |
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vertical transmission |
Transmission of a 'condition' from mother to baby,
either in utero or via breastfeeding. |
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water-soluble vitamins |
The B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. |
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whey |
The liquid left after curds are separated from
milk. Alphalactalbumin and lactoferrin are the principal whey
proteins. |
Thank you to Breast Ed Online, www.health-e-learning.com,
for use of this glossary.
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