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Measles
Measles is a serious, infectious virus characterised by fever, small red spots, and cold-like symptoms. It can be prevented by the MMR vaccine.

Meningitis
A serious infection and inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis may be caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include high fevers, low energy, a stiff neck, headache and possible rash.

Menstrual cycle
The cycle of a woman's period where tissue comes away from the lining of the uterus if an egg is not fertilised within the there.

Midwife
Midwife The word literally means "with woman". Midwives provide care to women during pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatally - usually for the first ten days, although this can be extended to 28 days if the new mother has particular needs.
A Health Visitor then takes over care of the mother and baby.

Miscarrage
The involuntary expulsion of a fetus before the 24th week. After that, the loss of a pregnancy is called a stillbirth.

Missed abortion
A situation that arises when the embryo or fetus dies in utero but the body fails to expel the contents of the uterus. It is typically diagnosed by ultrasound.

Morning sickness
In the first weeks of pregnancy, many women suffer food and smell aversions, nausea and occasional vomiting, especially in the morning. For many affected women, the discomfort lasts all day.

Morning after pill
A pill (or pills) to prevent pregnancy, taken within hours of a woman having had unprotected intercourse.

Muliple birth
A multiple birth occurs when more than one baby is delivered roughly at the same time.

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