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In anemia, there are too few red blood cells or the hemoglobin level in the blood is too low. Hemoglobin is the red blood pigment responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Depending on the laboratory result, additional iron may be given, or a transfusion with red blood cells may be necessary.

Antibiotics are medications that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth to treat an infection.

An apnea is a breathing pause. The baby then stops breathing.

The areola is the circular, pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple on the breast.

This is a person who teaches you how to carry a baby in a safe, comfortable, and ergonomic way. The consultant also provides information about the bond between parent and child.

This is a hearing test that examines how the brain responds to sounds. During the test, two electrodes are placed in each ear and one electrode is placed on the baby's head.

The baby breaths spontaneously but the breathing is supported during both inhalation and exhalation. During exhalation, possitive pressure is provided so that the alveoli do not collapse. 

Birth leave (or paternity leave) is the entitlement to take leave immediately after the partner’s childbirth.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic lung disease in premature infants. In this condition, the lungs are damaged as a result of being born too early, combined with injury caused by respiratory support treatments. The degree of respiratory support required at the corrected age of 36 weeks determines the severity of BPD.

The heart rate is too low.

Medication used to help the baby keep breathing regurlarly. 

The calendar age is the time the child has lived since birth.

A central venous catheter is an infusion line placed into a large vein located in the neck, under the collarbone, or in a deeper vein of a limb.

A cerclage is a procedure in which a strong band or stitch is placed around the cervix to keep it closed during pregnancy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a posture and movement disorder caused by damage to the brain. The damage occurs before or during birth, or in the first years of life. The condition causes the brain and the muscles to no longer work together properly.

A brain monitor that continuously tracks the activity of the brain. This is done using three small electrodes placed on the baby's head. It is a simplified form of continuous EEG recording.

Colostrum is the first milk you produce when you begin breastfeeding.
Colostrum is rich in proteins and nutrients and plays an important role in building the baby’s immune system.

The corrected age is the age your premature baby would have if they had been born after a full-term pregnancy of 40 weeks. More concretely: the current age minus the number of weeks the baby was born early.

Example:
A baby who is 17 weeks old but was born at 32 weeks of pregnancy has a corrected age of 9 weeks (17 weeks − 8 weeks premature).

Corticosteroids are medications given to the mother to accelerate the baby’s lung maturation and organ development.

The COS is the center for developmental disorders. This center examines babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who are suspected of having, or are at risk for, a developmental delay or disorder.

A value in the blood that indicates an inflammatory response. If this value is elevated, an infection may be present.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect people of all ages.
CMV is found in bodily fluids (urine, saliva, tears, breast milk, blood, semen, and vaginal fluids). Infection occurs through contact with these fluids.

When a mother becomes infected with CMV during pregnancy, there is a chance that the child may experience problems after birth with hearing, vision, or neurological development.

Developmental care aims to protect the baby from environmental stimuli that are unnatural or overwhelming for them. This way of caregiving has a positive effect on overall development, especially on the brain, which is still developing rapidly.

Children with a birth weight that is too low in relation to the gestational age are called dysmature.

An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of the heart muscle in order to detect possible heart abnormalities or cardiac arrythmias.

An examination in which brain activity is measured using electrodes placed on the baby's head. The test is a more extensive version of the CFM and lasts about 15 minutes.

A feeding tube is a small tube that is inserted through the nose or mouth and passed down into the stomach. Breast milk or formula can then be delivered directly into the stomach through this tube.

The baby lies next to the mother, with the body and feet positioned under the mother’s arm. The mother supports the baby’s head with her hand. In this position, the mother’s arm can also rest on a pillow.

The HELLP syndrome is a severe pregnancy complication in which problems occur with the breakdown of red blood cells, the functioning of the liver, and blood clotting.

The blood sugar level is too low.

ICSI is a method used to help people become pregnant when this does not happen naturally. In ICSI, a single sperm cell is injected directly into an egg cell to assist fertilization. If the egg becomes fertilized, the resulting embryo is then placed back into the uterus in an attempt to achieve a pregnancy.

This form of breastfeeding leave is granted on an individual basis and is unpaid.

It is a favor granted by the employer, or a right when it is included in the collective labor agreement (CLA).

Germs or microorganisms multiply in the body and cause damage.

Intra‑uterine transport refers to transferring a pregnant woman, before labor begins, to a hospital where more specialized care is available.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a condition that occurs during the third trimester, in which bile acids accumulate in the bloodstream, causing intense itching. It is harmless for the mother but increases the risk of preterm birth and fetal distress.

The insertion of a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) through the trachea.

This is a very thin tube, a catheter, that is placed into a vein. Through this tube, the baby receives medication, nutritiens, and so on.

IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) is a method used to help people become pregnant when this does not happen naturally. In IVF, an egg cell and a sperm cell are brought together outside the body, and the embryo is then placed back into the uterus to try to achieve a pregnancy.

Skin-to-skin contact between the baby and one of the parents. The baby is placed without clothing on the bare chest of the mother or father and covered with a warm cloth. Through kangaroo care, the baby’s temperature stays stable, the baby relaxes, and breathing becomes calmer.

A low‑flow bottle nipple is a feeding nipple with a very slow flow rate, allowing only a small amount of milk to come out at once. This helps babies drink more calmly, breathe and swallow more effectively, and reduces the risk of choking. Low‑flow nipples are often used for premature infants or babies with feeding difficulties to make feeding safer and more controlled. 

The administration of medication (corticosteroids) via an injection to the expectant mother in order to prepare the fetus more quickly for an unavoidable preterm birth. Thanks to lung maturation, the premature lungs will be less ill, and the baby will be better prepared for life outside the uterus.

Maternity leave consists of two periods: the leave taken before the birth (called prenatal leave) and the leave that begins on the day of the birth (called postnatal leave).

On the Maternal Intensive Care unit, pregnant patients with a serious condition, as well as pregnant or postpartum patients who have been referred from other hospitals, are monitored.

Milk fortifiers are additives to breast milk that contain extra nutrients such as calories, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes.

The milk-ejection reflex is the release of breast milk from the milk glands. When the baby is at the breast and stimulates the nipple and areola through sucking, the brain sends a signal that triggers the milk to flow.

The heart rate, breathing, temperature, and blood pressure (the vital signs) are monitored 24 hours a day. Three electrodes are placed on the chest and abdomen and connected to the monitor. A sensor with a red light is also placed around one of the baby’s hands or feet. This oxygen saturation monitor measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.

During an MRI scan, the baby is placed in a semi-enclosed machine in which a magnetic field is generated. This allows detailed images to be made of the brain and other tissues and organs.

Through two soft prongs placed in the nose, a continuous flow of air is delivered. This can be with or without extra oxygen, depending on what the baby needs at that moment.

The baby breathes spontaneously. The breathing is supported during exhalation, which means less effort is needed to breathe. During exhalation, a positive pressure is provided so that the alveoli do not collapse.

NEC stands for necrotizing enterocolitis. This is a severe inflammatory reaction in the intestines.

During the newborn blood spot screening, a blood sample is taken and the blood is collected on a small card. In the laboratory, this card is examined for a congenital metabolic disorder.

A Neonatale Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a hospital department where intensive care is provided to premature infants and critically ill newborns.

Pacing means temporarily removing the baby from the breast or tilting the bottle to allow a breathing pause.

Pasteurized breast milk is breast milk that is heated to a specific temperature to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, while preserving most of its nutrients and antibodies.

A small amount of blood is taken to examine the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This shows whether the breathing is good and efficient.

During phototherapy or light therapy, bilirubin in the skin is broken down. Bilirubin is a yellow-colored substance released into the blood when red blood cells are broken down. The lamp with bright blue or white light ensures that the bilirubin is broken down.

The placenta is the temporary organ that, during pregnancy, enables the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the pregnant person and the baby.

Placenta previa means that the placenta is positioned low in the uterus and is (partially) covering the opening of the uterus.

A placental abruption is a serious pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches completely or partially from the uterine wall before the baby is born. This leads to bleeding and a shortage of oxygen and nutrients for the baby.

The lung collapses because air is trapped next to the lung. This makes breathing more difficult. The air must escape from the chest cavity through a drain.

Regularly changing the baby’s position to prevent flattening of the head.

Postnatal leave is the leave taken during the period following childbirth. It begins on the day of delivery, or the following day if work was performed on the day of birth.

Postnatal transport is the transfer of a newborn baby to a hospital where more specialized care is available.

PPROM (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes), means that the membranes break before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. This condition is caused by reduced functioning of the placenta. The severity of pre-eclampsia can vary greatly. If left untreated, the disease can pose a danger to both the mother and the unborn baby.

Children who are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are called premature.

Prenatal leave is the leave taken during the period before the expected due date.

= preventive breastfeeding leave

Mothers who breastfeed and are exposed to an occupational risk can make use of paid breastfeeding leave.

When pumping, the baby does not drink directly from the breast. Instead, the milk is expressed from the breasts with the help of a breast pump. The device imitates the baby’s sucking motion in order to trigger the milk-ejection reflex.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition in premature infants in which the lungs do not expand adequately because of a shortage of the substance surfactant.

The parents stay together with the baby in a hospital room and are responsible for the care and feeding of their baby.

During this examination, the doctor checks whether the eyes are developing properly. When a baby is born prematurely, part of the retina does not yet have blood vessels. To see whether the growth of these blood vessels is progressing normally, the eyes are regularly examined by an ophthalmologist.

RSV is a virus that is a very common cause of respiratory infections in children. It is a highly contagious virus that is transmitted through saliva droplets when sneezing or coughing, as well as through hands and contaminated objects.

Surfactant is a substance that improves the elasticity of the lungs and reduces the surface tension in the alveoli. As a result, the alveoli remain open during exhalation. Premature babies often have a shortage of surfactant.

The heart rate is too high.

A chest drain, a small plastic tube, is placed into the chest cavity. This drain will remove fluid and/or air and direct it to a collection container outside the body.

The administration of a medication that suppresses contractions (a tocolytic), to prevent an impending preterm birth.

Tocolysis (contraction inhibitors) is the administration of medication that slows down contractions in order to temporarily delay a preterm birth.

A toxoplasmosis infection is an infection caused by a parasite. The infection can be transmitted to a developing baby if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. Contamination occurs through eating infected meat and through contact with cat feces.

TPN is total parenteral nutrition. The baby receives the necessary nutrients (sugars, proteins, fats, and vitamins) through an IV directly into the bloodstream.

The baby receives milk directly into the stomach through a feeding tube. A feeding tube is a small tube that is inserted through the nose or mouth and guided down into the stomach.

During an ultrasound, conductive gel is applied to the area that needs to be examined. Then a small device is moved over that area. The ultrasound machine emits sound waves that are reflected back (echo) and converted into a detailed image on a screen.

The Van Wiechen assessment is a tool used to systematically map the development of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

The breathing is taken over by a machine. This is done through a tube that goes through the trachea into the lungs, also called an endotracheal tube. The machine provides pressure during both inhalation and exhalation.

For an X-ray, a sensitive plate is placed under the baby. Using a minimal dose of radiation, an image or photograph is taken. The radiation is not dangerous. The bones, abdomen, heart, and lungs are clearly visible on the image.