Quickening

Rubella

Relaxin

Retroverted
(“tipped”) uterus

Fetal movement felt by the mother that may resemble the feeling of gas bubbles, or feel like a light tapping or butterfly movement coming from within. Quickening is usually recognizable around week 20, but may be felt sooner.

Also called 'German measles', it is caused by an infectious virus and is characterized by general rashes and swollen glands. If infection occurs during the first few months of pregnancy it may cause severe congenital abnormalities.

A hormone released by the placenta that serves to loosen ligaments and joints throughout the body. The purpose is to relax the pelvis, increasing the size of the pelvic diameters to allow passage of the baby at birth.

A uterus that is tilted, either up toward the bladder or toward the small of the back. Retroversion occurs in 15%-20% of women, and this condition should not cause problems in achieving a pregnancy or in carrying a baby to term. It may, however, be more difficult to hear fetal heart tones via Doppler early in pregnancy due to the fact that the uterus is deeper in the abdomen (and further away from the listening device).