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A

Abortion
The process of expulsion of a foetus weighing less than 500g.

Afterbirth
The placenta and membranes that are expelled from a woman's uterus following the birth of a child.

Anaemia
A condition in which the number of red blood cells is less than normal, resulting in less oxygen being carried to the body's cells.

Anaesthesia
Drugs for pain relief that deaden sensation.

Apnea of prematurity
This is by far the most common cause of apnea (a pause in breathing for 15 -20 seconds) in an infant born at 34 weeks, and is due to the immature respiratory centres in the premature infants brain. If an infant stops breathing this results in lower oxygen levels and the baby becoming blue in colour. Bradycardia slowing of the heart) will then happen.

Antenatal care
The care that you receive before your baby is born.

Antibiotics
Drugs which are used to treat diseases and infections caused by bacteria.

Apgar score
A measurement of a baby's condition taken at one and five minutes after birth. The Apgar score assesses the baby's heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflexes and colour. An Apgar score of ten means that the baby is in excellent condition.

Apnea
Once a baby is born, he needs to breathe continuously to get oxygen. In a premature baby, the part of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that controls breathing is not yet mature enough to allow nonstop breathing. This causes large bursts of breath followed by periods of shallow breathing or stopped breathing. For this reason, apnea of prematurity is also known as central apnea.

Areola
The darker skin around the nipple of the breast.