ESL Podcast 207 - Giving Birth in a Hospital

pregnant - a woman (or female animal), when she will be having a baby

After having her second child, Lin decided to wait at least two years before she got pregnant again.

to have (one's) water break - to have the "membrane," or thin skin where the baby is located inside of a woman's stomach break and for the fluid inside to come out

Now that I'm in my eighth month of pregnancy, I'm starting to worry that my water will break while I'm at work.

contraction - a painful feeling when a woman's muscles tighten, usually before a baby is born, that becomes more frequent the closer it is to the birth of the baby

The contractions started while she was eating dinner and her husband took her to the hospital.

in labor - in the act of giving birth to a baby

After being in labor for seven hours, she told her family that she will never have another baby!

to page - to send an electronic message to a pager

We tried paging Dora for this important phone call, but she must not be carrying her pager right now.

maternity ward - a part of the hospital where babies are born

Do you want to go with me to the maternity ward when it's time for the baby to be born?

reception desk - an area where guests stop first in a public place or place of business

Since Elias wasn't in his office in the morning, I left a message for him at the reception desk.

to admit - at a hospital, to be received as a patient, usually to stay overnight

The doctor told me that he wanted to admit me into the hospital so that they could run some tests.

insurance card - a card provided by the insurance company showing that you have coverage, or that the company will help pay

When I arrived at my dentist's office, I realized that I had forgotten my dental insurance card at home.

birthing suite - a room where a woman gives birth to a baby, usually in a hospital

The birthing suite has everything the doctor needs to deliver a healthy baby.

false labor - a feeling when a woman's muscles tighten while she is pregnant, but that is not actually a sign that the baby will be born soon

After two false labors, the doctor told her to stay in bed as much as possible.

far along - the amount of time, usually in months or weeks, a woman has been pregnant already

When she told us that she was pregnant, we asked her how far along she was.

head first/breech - when a baby is born, the part of the baby that appears first: the head (head first) or feet (breech)

My son was born breech but my daughter came out head first.

to be relieved - to stop being in pain or difficulty; to stop worrying

We were all so relieved when the police rescued her son from the top of the building.

janitor - a person who takes cares of and cleans a building

The janitors in this building usually start work after 6 p.m., when nearly all of the employees have gone home.