GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Anesthetist (Anesthesiologist) – A medical doctor who specializes in anesthesia or pain control. This type of doctor can place epidural catheters and give general anesthetics (put people to sleep).

BCWH – British Columbia Women’s Hospital, also called Children’s and Women’s Health Centre of British Columbia, is the largest maternity hospital in Western Canada. It is a teaching site for the University of British Columbia School of Medicine, and a referral centre for the province.

Caesarean Section -- An operation in which the baby is born through a cut in the mother’s abdomen.

Dietician – A person who counsels people how to eat well and what diet to follow for certain conditions.

Doula – A woman helper who provides physical and emotional support during childbirth. She may be a volunteer, friend, relative, or a trained professional.

Family Physician – A medical doctor with a broad spectrum of knowledge including women’s health, baby care, general medical problems, mental health issues, and links to community resources.

FPMS – Family Practice Maternity Service (Birthdocs) -- A group of family doctors at BC Women’s Hospital who provide maternity care. See who we are....

Medical Student – A student doctor with training in medicine but who has not completed all their training to be a doctor. They are always supervised by licensed doctors. Read Medical Students and Resident Doctors PDF...

Midwife – A professional who provides complete maternity care for women during pregnancy, labour, and birth, in hospital or at home.

Obstetrics –The medical term for the care of women during pregnancy labour, and childbirth.

Obstetrician – A medical doctor with extra training in maternity care, including special surgical skills and interventions. Obstetricians usually care for women with complex pregnancies (for example, twins). They may be consulted at the request of the family doctor and added onto the care team to help decide on and perform certain interventions, such as Caesarian section.

Pediatrician – A medical doctor who specializes in caring for babies and children.

Prenatal – Pregnancy.

Postnatal or Postpartum – A period of six weeks after the baby is born.

Resident – A medical doctor who has completed medical school and is continuing their training in a particular specialty. BCWH has resident doctors in Anesthesia, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine. Residents have more experience than medical students but are always working under the direction of a fully licensed doctor in their field of study.

VBAC – Vaginal Birth After Caesarean section. Most women who have had one Caesarean section will have a safe labour and vaginal birth in the next pregnancy. Labour after a Caesarian birth is called VBAC.