Page 79 - What to Expect

Glossary

Chromosomes: Each human body cell has 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs.
Chromosomes are the genetic blueprint containing all the information that
makes each human unique.
Colostomy: An opening, created through surgery, to allow the colon
(lower part of the large intestine) to empty its contents directly through
the wall of the abdomen.

Colostrum: The first breast milk produced after the birth of the baby. It is
thick and yellowish in colour, and high in protein and antibodies.

Complementary feed (Comp): An additional feed of either expressed
breast milk or formula milk, after the baby has had a feed from the breast.

Congestive heart failure (CHF): Failure of the heart to act and perform
efficiently because of circulatory imbalance.

Culture: A biological term for a specially prepared substance to grow
microbes (germs) on, in order to identify which disease-producing
organism is responsible for an illness.

D
Dehydration: Loss of body fluids. Due to vomiting and/or sweating caused
by overheating or diarrhoea.
Dextrose: A solution of sugar given intravenously (through an IV) to
maintain or raise the level of sugar in the blood.
Drip: A common name for an intravenous infusion. The fluid from the IV
bag travels through tubing and through a pump which measures and
gives the exact volume required to the baby.

CPAP (continuous positive airways pressure): Keeps the air sacs in the
lungs inflated when baby breathes out, this eases the work of breathing.

E
EBM: Expressed breast milk.
Echo cardiograph or echo (ECG): The use of ultrasound to examine the
structure of the heart. The ultrasound waves are directed at the heart
through the chest, with the findings recorded graphically on an echo
cardiogram.

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