Birth Injury Glossary - O
Understanding Birth Injury Terms and Definitions
The material contained in medical records and research materials usually contains words that are unfamiliar and new. The Cerebral Palsy Glossary contains definitions of terms and acronyms that are commonly associated with cerebral palsy.
Obesity (See also Morbid Obesity)
- An abnormal accumulation of body fat; usually 20% or more for men and 25% or more for women.
Oxytocin Challenge Test
- (See also Contraction Stress Test) A stress test performed in the third trimester to see how a baby deals with stress of contractions. During the test, contractions are simulated by an intravenous infusion of oxytocin. (Source: Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary).
- A deficiency in the amount of amniotic fluid, usually caused by an fetus swallowing more than usual.
Oximeter
- A device used to measure oxygen levels in the blood.
Oximetry
- Measurement of oxygen in the blood using an oximeter.
Oxytocin
- A hormone that stimulates both contractions, and the production of breast milk - also called alpha-hypophamine.