Alveoli

These are tiny sacs in the lungs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the bloodstream.

Antibodies

These are proteins that help to fight harmful viruses or bacteria.

Aorta

This is the main artery leading from the heart. Oxygen-rich blood is supplied to the rest of the body this way.

Apnea

Where there is no breathing for longer than 20 seconds.

Arterial blood gas

This sample of blood is taken from an artery. It is used to measure the oxygen, carbon dioxide and acid levels in the blood.

Arterial catheter

This can measure blood pressure as well as being used to withdraw blood to be tested. A thin tube is placed in your baby's artery to do this.

Bagging

This temporary procedure helps your baby breathe. A small bag is squeezed and oxygen or air flows through the mask on your baby's face.

B.I.D.

An abbreviation derived from a Latin term, meaning twice daily.

Biliblanket

This performs the same function as phototherapy therapy lights by removing the bilirubin from your baby's blood. Your baby doesn't need to wear protective eye covers when lying on this blanket.

Bililights (phototherapy)

These lights remove bilirubin from your baby's blood. Your baby will need to wear protective eye covers when under these lights.

Bilirubin

This yellow substance occurs when red blood cells break down. Your baby's skin may take on a yellowish tint because of excess bilirubin. In large quantities, bilirubin may cause a certain form of brain damage.

Blood gas

This measures oxygen, carbon dioxide and acid content in a small blood sample taken from one of your baby's arteries.

Blood pressure

The top number of your baby's blood pressure is called the systolic pressure. This indicates the pressure that is exerted when your baby's heart contracts and sends blood to your baby's body. The lower number, the diastolic pressure indicates the pressure that is exerted between heartbeats.

BPD

This stands for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This condition may persist for years if your baby has underdeveloped lungs. The pressure from a ventilator may cause scarring or damage to your baby's delicate lungs. In some cases, if your baby is very premature, they may require extended ventilator support. Some babies do go home on oxygen. The condition is also called Chronic lung disease or CLD.

Bradycardia

This means your baby's heart rate is below 100 beats per minute.

Brain bleed

This indicates hemorrhaging into some part of your baby's brain.

Bronchial tubes

These are the larger tubes that go from your baby's trachea to their lungs.

Bronchioles

These smaller tubes branch off from your baby's bronchial tubes.

Bronchiolitis

This means the bronchioles are inflamed or infected.

Bronchitis

This means the bronchial tubes are inflamed or infected. A condition marked by respirator-induced lung and bronchiole damage.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

See BPD.

Capillaries

These very small blood vessels remove waste and provide oxygen and nutrients to the body.

Cardiac monitor

This monitor displays the heart rate of your baby. These monitors will sound an alarm I fyour baby's heart rate drops below 100 beats per minute or is above 200 beats per minute.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

This is a manual way for restarting breathing and a heartbeat, or for maintaining breathing and a heartbeat.

Catheter

This very thin tube is used to administer fluids, or drain fluids from your baby.

CAT scanner or CT scanner
(computerized axial tomography)

This stands for computerized axial tomography. This x-ray machine can capture cross sectional images of your baby's tissues.

Cerebral palsy (CP)

This can occur from brain damage and results in difficulties in coordinating body movements.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

This liquid is produced by the ventricles of the brain and circulates around the spinal column and brain of your baby.

Chronic lung disease (CLD)

See BPD, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Complete blood count

Also called a CBC. This test counts number and types of blood cells and can be used to check for infection in your baby.

Corrected age

The actual age your premature baby would be, if he was born on his due date. If he is five months old, but was two months premature, his corrected age would be 3 months.

CPAP

This means continuous positive airway pressure. Your baby's lungs are helped to stay expanded with the introduction of pressurized air. This helps her lungs while inhaling and exhaling. Sometimes your baby is given extra oxygen this was as well.

Dexamethasone

This steroid is sometimes used in the treatment of chronic lung disease.

Dilantin (phenytoin)

This drug can be used to control seizures.

DPT

The immunization your baby will receive against Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus.

Ductus arteriosus

This blood vessel joins the aorta with the pulmonary artery. In many premature babies, this vessel is not closed and must be closed by either drugs or surgery. The closing of this vessel enables proper blood and oxygen flow to the lungs.

Dyspnea

This term is used to describe difficulty breathing.

Echocardiogram

Ultrasound waves produce a picture of your baby's heart, in this non-invasive procedure.

Edema

Fluid retained by the body that causes swelling and puffiness.

EEG

This stands for electroencephalogram and tracks the electrical impulses in the brain.

EKG

This stands for electrocardiogram and tracks electrical impulses in the heart.

Endotracheal tube

The ventilator allows a breath to be delivered directly to your baby's lungs. The endotracheal tube is secured by tape and goes from your baby's mouth or nose into the windpipe. The tube passes through the vocal chords so you will not be able to hear the baby cry until it is removed.

Extubation

This procedure means the removing of your baby's endotracheal tube.

Fontanel

The soft spot on your baby's head, indicating the unjoined sections of the skull.

Gavage feedings

This is how your baby may be fed for the first while. A small tube is placed in her nose or mouth and leads right into the stomach.

Gentamicin

A powerful antibiotic used to fight infections.

Hemoglobin

This material in red blood cells actually carries the oxygen. It also contains iron.

Hernia

Your premature baby may have a hernia. They are not unusual in preemies. Umbilical hernias can appear at the naval. Inguinal hernias can appear in the groin area. Both are caused by a part of the intestine coming through a small opening in the abdominal wall.

Hyaline membrane disease

A lack of surfactant in the lungs causes this form of respiratory distress.

Hydrocephalus

A condition where cerebrospinal fluid has leaked into the brain.

Hyperbilirubinemia

This means there is too much bilirubin in the blood.

Hypercalcemia

This means there is too much calcium in the blood.

Hypercapnia

This means there is a higher amount of carbon dioxide in the blood than what is considered normal.

Hyperglycemia

This means there is a higher amount of sugar in the blood than what is considered normal.

Hyperkalemia

This means there is too much potassium in the blood.

Hypertension

This means high blood pressure.

Hyperthermia

This means a body temperature that is very high.

Hyperventiliation

This means very rapid breathing.

Hypocalcemia

This means there is too little calcium in the blood.

Hypoglycemia

This means there is too little sugar in the blood.

Hypokalemia

This means that potassium levels are too low in the blood.

Hyponatremia

Sodium levels in the blood that are too low.

Hypotension

This means low blood pressure.

Hypothermia

This means a body temperature that is very low.

Hypoxia

This means lack of oxygen.

Incubator or isolette

The incubator provides a warm and humidified environment for your baby. It will automatically warm up or cool down, according to your baby's temperature (if the baby has a skin temperature probe). The small probe on your baby's skin monitors her temperature.

Indomethiacin

This is a drug that is sometimes used to close the patent ductus arteriosus.

Infusion pump

This pump is used to provide exact, measured amounts of IV fluids to your baby.

Intensive Care Unit (ICN)

See Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)

This means bleeding that occurs in the brain.

Intravenous pumps & tubes

The IV provides nutrition and medication to your baby. The most common sites for IV's are your baby's head, hands or feet. The pump is set to administer the prescribed rate of fluid at an hourly rate.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)

This means bleeding into the ventricles of the brain.

Jaundice

A condition caused by an excess of bilirubin in the blood. It can cause your baby to have a yellow tint.

Lecithin

This is one of the ingredients used in the making of surfactant.

Low birthweight

This means a baby who weighs less than 2.5 kilograms at birth. (Approximately five and a half pounds).

Lumbar puncture

This procedure extracts spinal fluid for testing. A needle is carefully inserted in the lower back and between vertebrae.

Meningitis

This swelling affects the membranes found around the spinal cord and brain.

Nasal CPAP

This stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Your baby is helped to breathe by small amounts of air and oxygen. It also maintains a small amount of continuous pressure to your baby's lungs.

Nasal gastric tube (feeding tube)

This small tube is inserted through your baby's nose and into his stomach. Liquids for feeding are delivered through this tube.

Nasal prongs

These little prongs sit inside your baby's nostrils and provide very low amount of oxygen.

Neonate

This is how an infant is described for the first thirty days of their life.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

This specialized unit is where premature babies, or very sick babies are monitored and cared for. It can also be referred to as Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Intensive Care Nursery (ICN).

Oxygen saturation monitors

This machine monitors oxygen at the skin of your baby. The oxygen measurement is different from the pulse oximeter, that's why the number on the monitor are different. This machine can measure both oxygen and carbon dioxide. (Some babies do only Oxygen saturation, others do both).

Oxyhood

This small plast hood covers your baby's head and helps provide a stable, humidified oxygen environment for your baby.

Patent ductus arteriosus

This describes a condition where the fetal blood vessel linking the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close properly. This is not an uncommon condition in premature infants.

Phototherapy

The use of bililights to treat hyperbilirubinemia.

Premature infants

This is a baby born before 37 weeks gestation. These babies are often referred to as 'preemies'.

Pulmonary hypertension

This means that the blood vessels in the lungs are unable to relax and open.

Pulse oximeter

This measures your baby's blood oxygen. The tiny light measures the amount of oxygen that is being carried in your baby's red blood cells and displays it on the monitor.

Respirators

These machines help your baby breath. Many premature babies have trouble breathing due to underdeveloped lungs. The respirator/ventilator can do all of your baby's breathing for them, or just part of it.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

A lack of surfactant in underdeveloped lungs can result in this syndrome.

Respiratory monitor

This monitor displays your baby's breathing rate. It is quite common for premature babies to stop breathing for more than 20 seconds. The alarm on the monitor will sound during one of these spells.

Retinopathy of prematurity

This is seen in many premature infants. There is abnormal growth in the tiny blood vessels in the eye. The vessels have not fully developed when a baby is born prematurely.

Special Care Nursery (SCN)

See Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Spinal tap

The same as a lumbar puncture, this procedure extracts spinal fluid for testing. A needle is inserted in the lower back and between the vertebrae.

Surfactant

This soapy-like substance keeps air sacs in the lungs from collapsing and sticking together. Very premature babies are unable to make this substance in their lungs and are given a man-made surfactant.

Tachycardia

This means a very fast heart rate.

Tachypnea

This means a very fast breathing rate.

Temperature probe

This coated wire is attached to your baby's skin and measures his temperature. This helps to regulate the required temperature of the incubator or isolette.

Umbilical artery catheter (UAC)

This small plastic tube is inserted into the blood vessel in your baby's umbilicus. This allows fluid to be given and blood to be taken without extra needle pricks for your baby.

Umbilical venous catheter (UVC)

This small plastic tube is inserted into the blood vessel in your baby's umbilicus. It allows blood and fluid to be taken easily.

Ultrasound (head)

This standard test takes as ultrasound image of your baby's head to check for areas of bleeding from weakened or broken blood vessels in the brain.

Ventilators

These machines are also known as respirators. Both help your baby breath. The ventilator/respirator can do all of your baby's breathing for them, or just part of it.

This information is not a substitute for medical expertise provided by your doctor.
We urge you, as always, to consult with your physician before making decisions about your child's health or a specific situation.