Term	Definition	Example
Labour (US: labor)	The process of giving birth, from the start of regular contractions until the baby is delivered. Patients and clinicians use the same word.	"Call the maternity unit if you think you're in labour."
Pain relief / analgesia	Two words, one meaning. "Pain relief" is what you say to the patient; "analgesia" is the word you'll usually see written in the notes.	"Have you thought about what pain relief you might like?"
Epidural	A regional anaesthetic, given in the lower back, that numbs pain below the waist during labour. In a birth plan conversation the midwife names it; a specialist anaesthetist explains it.	"If you'd like an epidural, the anaesthetist will talk you through it."
Gas and air / Entonox	A mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen, breathed in through a mouthpiece during contractions. "Gas and air" is the UK patient term; "Entonox" is the name on the equipment and in the notes.	"Gas and air is there whenever you want it."
Water birth	Labouring, and sometimes giving birth, in a pool of warm water. Something a unit can offer when a pool is available — a preference, never a guarantee.	"We'll note that you'd like a water birth if the pool's available."
Contractions	The regular tightening and relaxing of the womb that moves labour forward. Collocations: regular, strong, closer together, every few minutes.	"Are your contractions coming regularly yet?"
Cervical dilatation (US: dilation)	How far the cervix (the neck of the womb) has opened during labour, measured in centimetres. British clinicians say "dilatation", with the extra syllable.	"We'll check your cervical dilatation to see how far along things are."
Skin-to-skin	Placing the newborn directly on the mother's bare chest straight after the birth. The same phrase in clinical and everyday English. Asked about as a preference, never assumed.	"Would you like skin-to-skin as soon as the baby's born?"
Breastfeeding intention	What a patient plans to do about feeding once the baby arrives. "Intention", not "decision": the word leaves room for a change of mind.	"Can I note down your breastfeeding intention for now?"
Postnatal ward (US: postpartum unit)	The hospital ward where mother and baby stay after the birth. "Postnatal" (after the birth) is the partner of "antenatal" (before the birth), from Episode 16.	"After the birth, you'll go up to the postnatal ward."

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