The inner of two membranes that surrounds your baby in utero making up the amniotic sac. It makes up the outer most layer of the umbilical cord (definition link), it covers the foetal side of the placenta (definition link) and surrounds the foetus. The outer membrane is called the chorion (link to definition). Together these [...]

The clear, yellowy fluid that commonly smells like hay and surrounds your baby in utero. It varies in quantity and constitution throughout pregnancy. Initially, it is mainly made up of water and electrolytes changing in the second trimester to contain more dissolved nutrients including fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. As your baby starts to pass urine [...]

A body of cells in the early stages of foetal development that is usually formed by around 4 days post fertilisation. It is made up of two distinct layers, or cell masses. The outer layer is called the trophoblast (definition link), and the inner layer is called the embryoblast (definition link).

The machine that is used to measure contractions and baby’s heart rate when continuous monitoring is deemed necessary. You wear two transducers, secured in place by two belts, one towards the top of your bump, and one towards the bottom. The one at the top measures frequency of contractions (not strength), and the one at [...]

Changes in the cervix (definition link) that occur in the later stages of pregnancy and the latent phase of labour. The cervix begins as firm (similar to that of your fingernails), between 2-3 cm long, and posterior. During cervical ripening, the cervix softens (it becomes similar to the firmness of the end of your nose), [...]

The lowest portion of the uterus that connects it to the vagina. It is hollow and cylindrical in shape, made up of fibromuscular tissue, 2-3cm long, with the cervical canal running through the centre. Throughout labour, it shortens and dilates as the longitudinal uterine muscles above contract.

The outer of the two membranes that surround baby in utero, making up the amniotic sac. The inner layer is called the amnion (link to definition). The chorion encloses the foetus and the placenta as it becomes the chorionic plate which forms the base of the placenta (definition link) and adheres to the uterine wall. [...]

One of the layers of the trophoblast (definition link) that goes on to form the chorionic villi; the finger like protrusions that extend into the syncytiotrophoblast (definition link) and pass nutrients and oxygen from the maternal blood stream into the foetal blood stream.