Birth Definition, Prefix, Suffix, Ologies and Isms, Birth Information and Meaning


See also MOTHER; PREGNANCY

amniomancy
a form of divination by examining the embryonic sac or amniotic fluid.
autogeny, autogony
the spontaneous generation of an organism in an inorganic fluid medium. —autogenous, autogenic, autogonic, autogonous, adj. —autogenously, autogonously, adv.
digoneutism
the ability to produce two broods in a year. —digoneutic, adj.
epigenesis
the theory that embryonic development is totally controlled by the cell’s environment. Cf. syngenesis. —epigenesist, n. —epigenetic, adj.
epimorphosis
development of an organism or form of animal life in which body segmentation is complete before hatching. —epimorphic, adj.
fetation, foetation
the development of a fetus; gestation.
geniture
Obsolete, birth; the process of generation.
gestation
1. the process of carrying in the womb.
2. fetation; the process of development of the fetus in the womb.
gravidity
pregnancy. —gravid, adj.
hysterology
scientific study of the uterus.
Lamaze technique
psychoprophylaxis.
maieusiophobia
tocophobia.
midwifery
the prineiples and practice of a midwife. Cf. tocology.
multiparity
the condition or process of producing more than one offspring at one birth. —multiparous, adj.
nativity
1. the time, place, and circumstances of a person’s birth.
2. the configuration of the planets at the time of a person’s birth and a representation, as a chart, of that configuration.
nulliparity
the condition in a woman of never having given birth. —nullipara, n. —nulliparous, adj.
obstetrics
the branch of medicine that deals with prenatal and postnatal care and with the delivery of a child. —obstetrician, n. —obstetric, obstetrical, adj.
omphalomancy
a form of divination in which the number of knots in a newborn’s umbilical cord are counted to foretell the number of children the mother will have later.
omphalotomy
the surgical process of dividing the umbilical cord.
oviparism
the bearing of offspring by laying eggs that mature outside of the body. —oviparity, n. —oviparous, adj.
ovoviviparism
the bearing of offspring by producing eggs that mature within the body, with the young born alive. —ovoviviparity, n. —ovoviviparous, adj.
oxytocic
a substance or drug that induces or stimulates childbirth. —oxytocic, adj.
palingenesis
1. partial or complete regeneration.
2. the doctrine that a soul passes through several bodies in a series of rebirths. Also palingenesia, palingenesy. —palingenetic, adj.
parity
the state, quality, or fact of having given birth to or having borne offspring.
parturiency
the state or condition of bringing forth young or being about to begin parturition. —parturient, adj.
parturition
childbirth; the act or process of giving birth. —parturient, adj.
primigravida
a woman who is pregnant for the first time.
primipara
a woman who has given birth to one child or who is giving birth for the first time. —primiparity, n. —primiparous, adj.
psychoprophylaxis
a method of preparing women for childbirth without anesthetic, by means of education, psychological and physical conditioning, and breathing exercises. Also called Lamaze technique. —psychoprophylactic, adj.
puerperium
the state or condition of a woman during and immediately following childbirth. —puerperal, adj.
recrudescence
the process of renewal or rebirth. —recrudescent, adj.
regeneracy
the act or quality of being renewed, reformed, or reborn, especially in a spiritual rebirth. —regenerate, adj.
regenesis
the act or process of renewal or rebirth.
secundigravida
a woman who is pregnant for the second time.
spermicide
a substance or preparation used for killing sperm, used in contraception. —spermicidal, adj.
superfetation
a conception occurring after the onset of a pregnancy from an earlier conception.
syngenesis
the theory that the form and development of the embryo are the result of the combined influence of sperm and egg. Cf. epigenesis. —syngenetic, adj.
thoracopagus
a fetal abnormality, consisting of twins joined at the thorax.
tocology, tokology
the science of obstetrics or midwifery. —tocologist, tokologist, n. —tocological, tokological, adj.
tocophobia, tokophobia
an abnormal fear of childbirth. Also called maieusiophobia.
unigravida
primigravida.
uterogestation
the process of gestation taking place in the womb from conception to birth.
vasectomy
surgical excision of part of the vas deferens, the duet which carries sperm from the testes, performed as a form of male contraception.
viviparism
the bearing of living offspring, characteristic of almost all mammals, many reptiles, and some fishes. —viviparity, n. —viviparous, adj.