Synonyms and antonyms of Pregnancy and having a baby in British Thesaurus

the afterbirth (noun)

the tissues (=substances that cells are made of), including the placenta, that come out of a woman’s body after her baby is born

amniocentesis (noun)

a test carried out on liquid taken from a pregnant woman’s womb in order to find out if the baby has any medical problems

amniotic fluid (noun)

the liquid that a baby lives in inside its mother’s womb

antenatal (adjective)

British relating to the medical care of pregnant women, or to the time before a baby is born

anti-choice (adjective)

mainly American believing that pregnant women should not be allowed to decide whether or not to have an abortion

arrive (verb)

if a baby arrives, it is born

a woman’s right to choose ()

used for saying that pregnant women should be legally allowed to decide whether to have the baby or have an abortion

baby blues (noun)

informal a feeling of sadness that some women have for a short period after they have had a baby

babymoon (noun)

a special holiday taken by parents-to-be before their first baby is born

babymoon (noun)

a period following the birth of a baby when parents spend time together with their new baby

baby shower (noun)

mainly American a party for a woman who is going to have a baby. Her friends give her presents for the baby.

bear (verb)

formal to give birth to a child

birth (noun)

the occasion of a baby being born

birth (noun)

the process of being born or of giving birth to a baby

birth certificate (noun)

an official document that shows your name, details of when and where you were born, and who your parents are

birthing (adjective)

relating to or used in the process of giving birth

born (adjective)

when a baby is born, it comes out of its mother’s body and starts its life. The time when you are born is your birth, and a mother gives birth to a baby

breech birth (noun)

a birth in which the baby’s head does not come out first

broody (adjective)

British wanting to have a baby

caesarean (noun)

a medical operation in which a baby is born by being removed from a woman’s body through a cut made in her abdomen, because the baby cannot be born in the normal way.

cesarean (noun)

mainly American a caesarean

childbearing (noun)

the process of being pregnant and giving birth to children

childbirth (noun)

the process of giving birth to a baby

clucky (adjective)

Australianinformal keen to have children

confinement (noun)

old-fashioned the time during which a pregnant woman gives birth

contraction (noun)

medical a movement of a muscle in which it becomes tighter, especially the strong painful movement of the muscles of a woman’s womb that help to push a baby out during birth

C-section (noun)

mainly American a caesarean

cut the cord ()

to cut the umbilical cord that joins a baby to its mother

deliver (verb)

to help a woman to give birth to a baby

delivery (noun)

the process of giving birth to a baby

doula (noun)

a woman who gives help and support to another woman before, during, and after the birth of her baby

due (adjective)

if a baby is due, it is expected to be born. You can also say that the mother is due

eclampsia (noun)

a medical condition in which a pregnant woman with high blood pressure has convulsions (=violent uncontrolled movements)

ectopic (adjective)

an ectopic pregnancy is one in which a baby starts to grow outside its mother’s womb

egg (noun)

biology a cell produced inside a woman or female animal that develops into a baby if it is fertilized by a sperm (=a male cell)

embryo (noun)

biology an animal or human before it is born, when it is beginning to develop and grow

embryonic (adjective)

biology relating to an animal or human embryo

epidural (noun)

a medical treatment in which an anaesthetic (=drug that stops you feeling pain) is put into the lower back, especially of a woman who is giving birth to a baby

the facts of life ()

the facts about sex and how babies are made

fetal ()

the American spelling of foetal

fetus ()

the American spelling of foetus

foetal (adjective)

relating to a foetus

foetus (noun)

a developing baby human or animal, before it is born

forceps (noun)

a large medical tool used for helping to pull a baby out of its mother’s womb when it is being born

gestation (noun)

biology the time during which a human or animal baby develops inside its mother, or the process by which this happens

give birth (to someone) ()

if a woman gives birth to a baby, she produces it from inside her body

the happy event ()

the birth of a baby

have a baby/child/twins etc ()

to give birth

have a child ()

to be or become a parent

have a child/baby/son/daughter by someone ()

used for saying who the other parent of someone’s child is

induce (verb)

medical to make a woman start giving birth to a baby rather than waiting for her to start having it naturally

induction (noun)

medical the process of helping a woman to start giving birth to a baby rather than waiting for her to start having it naturally

in embryo ()

in the early stage of life, before birth

labour (noun)

the process by which a baby is pushed from its mother’s body when she is giving birth to it

labour (noun)

relating to a woman’s labour when she is giving birth to a baby

lose a baby ()

if a woman loses a baby, the baby dies before it is born

maternity (adjective)

designed or provided for women who are pregnant or who have just had a baby

maternity leave (noun)

time before and after the birth of a baby when a woman is allowed to be away from her job

midwife (noun)

a nurse whose job is to look after women when they are giving birth to a baby

midwifery (noun)

the job that a midwife does

miscarriage (noun)

the process of giving birth to a baby before it has developed enough to live

miscarry (verb)

to give birth to a baby before it has developed enough to live

miscegenation (noun)

formal the process by which children are born to parents who are of different races

morning sickness (noun)

a feeling of wanting to vomit that affects some women when they are pregnant

mother-to-be (noun)

a pregnant woman

mum-to-be (noun)

Britishinformal a pregnant woman, especially one expecting her first child

natural childbirth (noun)

a method of having a baby without using drugs to deal with the pain and without having a caesarian (=an operation to get the baby out)

the NCT ()

the National Childbirth Trust: a British organization that encourages pregnant women to choose a natural birth and to breastfeed

overdue (adjective)

a baby that is overdue has not been born by the date on which it was expected

perinatal (adjective)

relating to the time just before and just after the birth of a baby

placenta (noun)

the organ through which a baby is connected to its mother’s blood supply in her womb before birth

postnatal depression (noun)

British a mental illness in which a woman feels very sad after her baby is born

pre-eclampsia (noun)

a medical condition that affects pregnant women and quickly becomes dangerous if it is not treated

pregnancy (noun)

the condition of being pregnant, or the period of time that a woman is pregnant

pregnancy test (noun)

a test that can be used for finding out if a woman is pregnant or not

prenatal (adjective)

relating to the period of time when a woman is pregnant

pro-choice (adjective)

believing that pregnant women should be allowed to decide whether or not to have an abortion

procreate (verb)

formal to produce babies or young animals

produce (verb)

formal to have a baby or young animal

pro-life (adjective)

believing that pregnant women should not be allowed to have an abortion

reproduce (verb)

biology to have babies, or to produce young animals or plants

scan (verb)

to use a piece of equipment to see the developing baby in a pregnant woman

shower (noun)

American a party arranged for a woman by her friends, in which they give her presents because she will soon have a baby or get married

sip and see party (noun)

mainly American a party given by new parents so that friends and family can see their newborn baby

someone’s waters break ()

if a pregnant woman’s waters break, liquid from around her baby flows out of her body because the baby is ready to be born

stillbirth (noun)

a birth in which the baby is born dead

stretch mark (noun)

a white line that can appear on someone’s skin after they have lost a lot of weight or have had a baby

surrogacy (noun)

an arrangement in which a woman gives birth to a baby for another woman who cannot have children

surrogate mother (noun)

a woman who gives birth to a baby for another woman who cannot have children

term (noun)

medical the end of the period of time that a woman is pregnant

trimester (noun)

a period of three months, especially during the time when a woman is pregnant or during a university year

ultrasound (noun)

a process in which a part of someone’s body is examined using ultrasound, especially a baby inside its mother’s body

umbilical cord (noun)

a long tube that connects a baby to its mother before it is born and through which it receives food and oxygen. It is cut immediately after birth.

unborn (adjective)

an unborn child is still inside its mother’s womb