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DICTIONARY
Definition
A
Ambu bag
A piece of respiratory equipment used with a face mask and
placed over the baby’s nose and mouth or attached to the ET or
trach tube. It is squeezed to give the baby oxygen and inflate
the lungs.
Anomaly
Abnormality, Defect. Malformed body part.
Anoxia
Lack of oxygen.
Antibiotics
Medications (drugs) that fight germs, kill or interfere with the
growth of bacteria, and help cure or prevent infections.
Apnea
Stop breathing for more than 20 seconds.
Areola
Dark area of the breast around the nipple.
Arterial Catheter
A thin plastic tube placed in an artery used to give your baby
nutrients, blood and medications. It is also used to draw blood
for lab tests. Arterial catheters are most commonly placed in the
baby’s umbilical artery and are called Umbilical Artery Catheters
or UAC.
Asphyxia
Lack of oxygen and blood flow to the body.
Aspiration
Breathing fluid (formula, stomach contents, meconium) or objects
into the lung.
B
Bacteria
Germs that make you sick. Treated with antibiotics.
“Bagging”
Squeezing the ambu bag to give him oxygen and inflate his lungs.
Biliblanket
A special lighted “blanket” placed under the baby to treat
jaundice.
Bililight
A special light placed above the baby’s bed that shines on the
baby to treat jaundice
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Bilirubin
Product of red blood cell breakdown; too much in the blood causes
jaundice, a yellowish color of the skin.
Blood gas
Blood test to determine how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in
the baby’s blood. The baby is “stuck” for the blood if he does not
have a special IV, the UAC.
Blood Transfusion
Giving blood from a donor to a baby. The donor’s blood is tested
and blood types are matched between the baby and the donor
before we give the blood to a baby.
BPD (Bronchopulmonary
Dysplasia)
A lung condition caused by having immature lungs and being on
oxygen and the ventilator (breathing machine) for a long time.
Some babies with BPD need oxygen after discharge from the
hospital.
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate. Usually less than 100 beats per minute in a
newborn or premature baby.
Breech delivery
Babies born bottom, feet, or arm first.
C
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Gas breathed out when the baby exhales.
Case Manager
A Registered Nurse or Social Worker who will help you with the
everyday events that goes with having a premature or critically ill
baby and perhaps being a distance from your family and friends.
They can help with things like: finding a place to stay, dealing
with insurance or financial concerns, parking and/or meals. They
provide spiritual and emotional support during this trying and
tiring time.
CAT Scan or CT Scan
Computerized axial tomography. Computerized x-ray that takes
special pictures of the baby’s brain.
CBC
Complete blood count. Blood test that looks at the types and
number of cells in the blood. Used to see if the baby has anemia
(low blood) or an infection.
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Chest PT
Chest Physiotherapy. May also include Postural Drainage.
Clapping on the baby’s chest with a hand or using a cup to loosen
mucus in the lungs. Postural drainage is a method of positioning
the baby to help mucus drain from the lungs.
Circumcision
Removal of the foreskin from the penis.
Colostomy
Surgical opening made in the large intestine that is connected to
the outside of the belly to permit elimination of stool (BM).
Colostrum
Thin yellow or clear breastmilk that is present before true
breastmilk comes in.
Congenital abnormality
A malformation or abnormality present at birth. A Birth defect.
Congestive Heart Failure
CHF. Heart is not able to pump blood well to the body because of
a malformed heart, an illness or an infection.
Corrected Age
Length of a pregnancy (gestational age) plus the baby’s calendar
age.
CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Room air, and sometimes
oxygen, given under pressure to a baby through small, soft prongs
inserted in their nose. It helps to keep the baby’s lungs expanded
(open) while they inhale & exhale (breathe).
CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid. Fluid made and stored in the ventricles of
the brain. Same as spinal fluid.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Method used to revive a person
whose heartbeat and breathing have stopped.
Cyanosis
Blue color of baby’s skin, fingernails or inside of mouth and
tongue. Caused by a lack of oxygen.
D
Diuretic
Medicine (drug) used to get rid of extra water in the body.
Down Syndrome
Chromosome abnormality (Trisomy 21) where the baby has a
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DICTIONARY
variety of physical problems and varying degrees of mental
retardation.
Dyspnea
E
Echocardiogram
Difficult breathing.
ECHO. An ultrasound of the heart that uses high-frequency
sound waves instead of x-rays to produce a picture of the heart.
It is safe and poses no risk to the baby. The ECHO can tell us
about the movement of the valves and chambers of the heart, as
well as blood flow within the heart
ECMO
Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Process used to
circulate a baby’s blood in a special machine outside the body
while his lungs rest. It’s a type of heart pump like the one used on
adults having heart surgery.
Edema
Swelling or puffiness.
EEG
Electroencephalogram. Tracing of the electrical impulses of the
brain.
EKG or ECG
Electrocardiogram. Tracing of the electrical impulses of the
heart.
Electrodes
Small adhesive pads placed on the baby’s body—chest, tummy,
arms, or legs—that pick up and send the electrical impulses of the
heart and movement of the chest with breathing to a monitor.
Electrolytes
Chemicals in the body that make it function well. We draw some
of the baby’s blood and send it to the lab to check them.
Endotracheal Tube
ET Tube. Small plastic tube placed in the throat and connected to
a ventilator or breathing machine. The tube is in the baby’s
breath passage (trachea) and delivers oxygen and pressure to the
lungs.
Exchange Transfusion
Removing most of the baby’s blood in small amounts and replacing
it with fresh blood in small amounts. Most often used for a very
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DICTIONARY
high bilirubin level.
Extubation
F
Fontanel
Take out the endotracheal (ET) tube (breathing tube).
Soft spot on the top of the baby’ head. Another soft spot is
toward the back of the baby’s head.
Fraternal Twins
Twins formed from two fertilized eggs. They do not look alike.
There can be a boy and a girl or two girls or two boys.
Full Term
Baby born between the 37th and 41st week of pregnancy or
gestation.
G
Gastrostomy
Surgical opening made on the tummy into the stomach. A tube is
placed through the opening into the stomach to feed babies
unable to eat by mouth.
Gavage Feeding
Feeding by a tube placed through the baby’s nose or mouth into
the stomach. It may be removed after each feeding or left in the
stomach for longer periods of time.
Gestation
Length of time from 1st day of mother’s last menstrual period to
the time of birth. Full-term is 40 weeks’ gestation.
Gram (gm, G, GM)
Unit of weight in the metric system. 1 ounce=28 grams.
H
Heel Stick
Method of pricking (sticking) the baby’s heel to get blood for lab
tests.
Hematocrit
Hct or “crit”. Percent of red blood cells in the blood. Your baby
may receive a transfusion based on the hematocrit.
Hernia
Inguinal hernia—lump under the skin in the groin or scrotum
caused by the intestines pushing through a weak place in the belly
wall. A common preemie problem. May be fixed by surgery
before the baby leaves the hospital. May occur at home after
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DICTIONARY
discharge—notify the baby’s doctor.
Umbilical hernia—a pushing out of the navel or belly button caused
by the intestines pushing through a weak place in the belly wall.
Usually goes away by the age of two. Fixed by surgery after 2-3
years of age if still there.
Hydrocephalus
Extra spinal fluid in the spaces of the brain due to a blockage in
circulation or absorption of spinal fluid. Baby’s head may become
large.
Hyperbilirubinemia
High bilirubin level (yellow jaundice). Happens commonly in
newborns. Some babies are placed under a special light (bili light)
to help the body break down the bilirubin. The baby gets rid of
the bilirubin in his stools (bowel movements) or urine.
Hyperglycemia
Elevated (high) levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypoglycemia
Decreased (low) levels of sugar in the blood.
Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen in the body tissues.
I
Identical Twins
Twins that occur from the division of a single fertilized egg.
They are the same sex and look alike.
IDM
Infant of a Diabetic mother.
Infusion Pump
A machine that delivers (gives) IV fluids, blood, medication,
and/or feedings in tiny, precise measured amounts through the
baby’s IV line.
Ileostomy
A surgical opening made in the belly and the small intestine is
brought to the outside to allow elimination of stool (BM).
Immunization
Medicine (drug) given to protect the child against harmful
childhood diseases. Given by shot. For example DPT (Diphtheria,
Pertussis, Tetanus).
Intermediate Care Nursery
A step-down nursery. The care is less intensive than the NICU
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(INT)
but still more specialized than a standard or normal newborn
nursery. Babies are moved to INT as they begin to grow and get
bigger.
Intravenous
IV. Tube or needle placed in the vein to give fluids, medications,
or blood.
Intraventricular
Hemorrhage
IVH. Bleeding into the ventricles in the brain.
Intubation
Placing a small tube in the baby’s windpipe (trachea) to give
oxygen and pressure by an ambu bag or breathing machine.
“In Utero”
Inside the womb or uterus.
Isolette
An incubator (plastic box) the baby is placed in to keep him warm
while he grows and gets well.
J
Jaundice
K
Kilogram, “kilo”
L
Lactation
Skin and whites of the eyes become yellow. Caused by a high
bilirubin.
Kg, KG, kg. Unit of weight in the metric system. 1 kg=2.2 pounds.
1 kg=1000 grams.
Making milk in the breast.
Late Preterm Infant
AKA: Near Term Infant. These are babies born between 34 &
0/7th weeks and 36 & 6/7th weeks’ gestation—or—having a
birthweight between 2.0—2.5 kilograms.
Let-down Reflex
Flow of milk from the breasts into the nipples.
Low Birthweight Infant
LBW infant. A baby who weighs less than 5 ½ pounds at birth.
The baby can be premature or full-term.
LP
Lumbar puncture. Spinal tap. Procedure where a hollow needle is
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DICTIONARY
inserted between the bones in the back (spine) to withdraw spinal
fluid.
M
Meconium
Meconium Aspiration
Meningitis
Baby’s 1st bowel movement (stool). Green-black in color and sticky.
Breathing meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs. Sometimes
babies have this stool while in the uterus before birth.
Infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningocele
Birth defect where the tissue lining the brain and spinal cord
comes out through an opening in the skull or spinal column.
Milliliter
Ml, ml. Unit of volume in the metric system. The same as a cc.
5 ml=1 teaspoon. 30 ml=1 ounce
Monitor
A machine that records the baby’s heart rate, breathing, blood
pressure and other information
Mucus
Sticky material made in the nose and throat.
Murmur
Sound made by blood flowing through the heart.
N
Navel
Belly button, umbilicus.
NEC
Necrotizing Enterocolitis. An infection of the intestines that
sometimes results in part of the intestines dying. The dying part
is removed by surgery.
Neonatal Nurse
A Registered Nurse with specialized training to provide nursing
care to critically ill babies.
Neonatal Nurse
Practitioner
NNP. A Registered Nurse with advanced or specialized education
in the care of critically ill babies and their families. The NNP may
give medical care, perform special procedures and/or other types
of care under the supervision of the neonatologist (doctor).
The NNPs make up the Neonatal Advance Practice Service or
NAPS
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Neonate
Baby during the 1st month of life.
Neonatologist
Baby doctor (pediatrician) with specialized training in the care of
premature or critically ill newborns. Your baby will be cared for
by our Neonatologists while in the NICU.
NG/OG Tube
Nasogastric/orogastric tube. Small plastic tube placed in the
baby’s nose (naso) or mouth (oro) into his stomach used for
feeding. Sometimes the tube is placed in the stomach to keep it
empty when the baby is sick and not feeding.
NICU
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
NICU Nurse Manager
A Registered Nurse with administrative and clinical skills, the
Nurse Manager is responsible for the overall functioning of the
NICU. The Nurse Manager is available to discuss any questions or
concerns you have regarding the care of your baby while in the
NICU.
Nippling
Sucking on a bottle filled with formula or breastmilk.
O
Occupational Therapist
P
PDA
OT. A person who treats problems involving the use of muscles.
They may also work with babies who have trouble eating.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Small vessel outside of the heart that
sometimes fails to close after birth and causes the baby to have
breathing and heart problems. Sometimes it is closed with
medicine or by surgery.
Periodic Breathing
A type of breathing pattern. The baby will stop breathing for a
few seconds then quickly begin breathing again.
Persistent Fetal Circulation
-orPersistent Pulmonary
Hypertension
PFC, PPHN. At birth, blood flow (circulation) and breathing
change. In PPHN (PFC) the baby’s blood flow does not change and
continues to bypass the lungs. When this happens, the body and
brain do not get enough oxygen.
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DICTIONARY
Phototherapy
Treatment of jaundice or high bilirubin by placing the baby under
a special bright light called “bili lights.”
Physical Therapist
PT. A person who treats feeding problems and problems of the
muscles.
Pneumonia
An infection of the lungs that causes fluid to collect and makes it
harder for the baby to breathe. An antibiotic is given to treat
the infection; we may also give the baby oxygen or put them on a
ventilator (breathing machine).
Postpartum
The 6 weeks after mom delivers a baby.
Premature baby
-orPreterm baby
A baby born before the end of the 36th week of pregnancy.
Premature Formula
Special formulas used to meet the nutritional needs of premature
babies.
Premature Rupture of the
Membranes
PROM. The body of water (amniotic fluid) the baby floats in
while in the uterus (womb) leaks or breaks before labor.
Prenatal
Before birth.
Pulse Oximeter
A machine that reads the oxygen saturation (level) of blood. The
pulse oximeter is taped to baby’s hand, foot, finger, or toe.
R
Radiant Warmer
An open, heated table or bed that helps keep your baby’s
temperature in normal range.
RDS
Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Also called Hyaline Membrane
Disease. A breathing problem of premature babies caused by a
lack of a fluid called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the
lungs open.
Referral Physicians
Doctors or “specialists” we ask to come and see your baby to
evaluate a special concern or problem. Some on these “specialists”
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may include a:
a. Pediatric Cardiologist: a doctor specializing in problems of the
heart and circulation of blood
b. Pediatric Neurologist: a doctor specializing in problems of the
brain and nerves
c. Ophthalmologist: a doctor specializing in problems of the eyes
d. Orthopedist: a doctor specializing in problems with the bones
Sometimes babies need to see a “specialist” that is not available
at CFVMC. If so, we will make arrangements to transfer your
baby to the hospital where the “specialist” is available to see your
baby. Some on these “specialists” may include a:
a. Hematologist
b. Pulmonologist
Resident
A doctor who is finishing his training after medical school.
He/she may spend some clinical time (rotation) in the NICU under
the supervision of the Neonatologist and NNP.
Residual
Feeding (formula or breastmilk) still in the stomach before the
next feeding.
Respiratory Therapist
A health-care professional who is trained to care for babies with
respiratory (breathing) difficulties and needs. The Respiratory
Therapist also attends deliveries of high-risk babies.
Retina
The back of the eye.
ROP
Retinopathy of Prematurity. An eye disease in babies. Many
things including oxygen, ventilators, or prematurity may cause it.
The mild form of the disease may heal on its own, but severe ROP
may lead to the retina becoming detached (loose) and/or
blindness.
S
Seizure
Sepsis
An abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes unusual
muscle twitches.
An infection in the blood that may affect the baby’s whole body.
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It is usually treated with antibiotics. If the sepsis is severe (very
bad), the baby may need a blood transfusion.
Shunt (VP)
A tube that drains spinal fluid from a ventricle in the brain to the
belly.
Surfactant
A substance produced by the lungs that helps keep the small air
sacs or alveoli from collapsing and sticking together and causing
breathing problems for the baby. Many premature babies are
given surfactant at birth to prevent or minimize breathing
problems.
Surgeon
A doctor who specializes in surgery. Surgeons specialize in
surgery of different areas (parts) of the body. Some surgeons
your baby may see are:
a. Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon: a surgeon specializing in surgery of
the heart and blood vessels.
b. General Surgeon: a surgeon specializing in surgery of abdomen
(belly).
c. Pediatric Neurosurgeon: a surgeon specializing in surgery of
the brain and nerves.
d. Plastic Surgeon: a surgeon specializing in repair and
reconstruction surgery.
T
Tachycardia
A rapid heart rate (above 160 beats per minute) in a newborn or
premature.
Tachypnea
Rapid breathing (above 60 breaths per minute) in a newborn or
premature baby.
Term Baby
A baby born between the 37th and 41st week of pregnancy or
gestation.
TORCH Titer
A group of infections a baby may acquire (get) while in the uterus
and that may cause the baby health problems after birth. We
identify these infections with a lab test. The infections include:
a. Toxoplasmosis: a protozoa that may cause birth defects, visual
problems and/or mental retardation
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b. Other: syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia, gonorrhea
c. Rubella (German Measles): a virus that may cause congenital
heart defects, cataracts, and/or mental retardation
d. Cytomegalovirus (CMV): a virus that may cause birth defects,
hearing problems and/or mental retardation
e. Herpes: also a virus that may cause low birthweight,
irritability and/or brain damage.
Trachea
Windpipe or breathing tube.
Tracheostomy
A surgical opening made through the skin and into the trachea
(breathing tube) so air can get to the lungs when there is a
blockage. Also done for babies who require long-term ventilation
management.
U
Ultrasound
A method of taking pictures inside the body using sound waves.
Umbilicus
Belly button, navel.
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection. Infection of the bladder.
V
Ventilator
A machine used to breathe for the baby. Also called a respirator.
Ventricle
Chamber in the heart.
Also the name of a sack in the brain where spinal fluid is made and
stored.
Vital signs
The baby’s Temperature, Pulse (heart) Rate, Rate of Respirations
(breathing) and Blood Pressure.
W
Wheeze
Y
Yeast infection
Whistling, humming, raspy sound made during breathing.
An infection caused by a fungus, Candida Albicans. Common after
antibiotic therapy. Also called Thrush or Monilia. Seen most
often in the baby’s mouth and diaper area.
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Thrush: when the infection is in the mouth. Baby has white
patches on the tongue and the insides of the mouth. Usually
treated with Mycostatin oral suspension.
Monilia: when the infection is in the diaper area. Usually treated
with Mycostatin cream.
It takes many people to care for a critically ill baby. Each team member is needed to provide
total care, 24 hours a day. Additional team member you may see participating in the care of
your baby are:
Pharmacist
X-ray Technician
Speech Therapist
EEG Technician
Audiologist
EKG Technician
Unit Secretary
ECHO Technician
Reviewed/Revised: 07/01…..06/13
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