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• Chronological Age - Actual age based on date of birth

• Adjusted Age/Corrected Age - subtracting how may weeks premature baby was born from their chronological age. For example, if baby's chronological age is 20 weeks, but s/he was born 6 weeks premature, you subtract the number of weeks premature (six ) from their chronological age of 20 weeks to get an adjusted age of 14 weeks, or 3.5 months adjusted

• Apnea - a pause in breathing  

• Apeneic - used to described a baby experiencing apnea

• Oral Aversions - negative association or response to anything placed in the mouth

• Aspiration - inhaling of meconium, food, medicine, or other foreign object

• Hand-bagging - pumping breaths into the preemies's lungs by using a resuscitation bag and mask

• Bag-Mask Ventilation - face mask placed over preemie's face and mouth used to breathe for baby

• Premature/Prematurity - a term for a baby born before 38 weeks of gestation also called preterm

•  BPD - Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia also known as Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) most common among preemie's who needed prolonged medical ventilation

• CBC - Complete Blood Count

• Developmental Care/Family-Centered Care - used in NICUs to decrease the stress experience of NICU on preemies 

• Culture - a lab test used to detect infections

• Developmental Delays - failure to meet certain developmental milestones like rolling over, crawling, pulling up, etc at the average age expected

• Developmental Pediatrician - assesses, keeps up with, and treat problems dealing with the development of preemies

• EI - Early Intervention Program

• ELBW - Extremely Low Birth Weight

• VLBW - Very Low Birth Weight

• LBW - Low Birth Weight

• Blood Gas - small amount of blood to determine oxygen level of preemies. 

• NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• Incubator/Isolette - warmer to stabilize body temperature

• Cardiorespiratory Monitor (also known as leads) used to track the baby's heart rate

• Pulse Oximeter - attached to foot of baby to tell how well baby is using available oxygen

• IV Line - Intravenous Line used to provide needed fluids and medication to baby

• PICC - Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

• Mechanical Ventilation also called a respirator

• ET Tube - Endotracheal Tube

• Failure to Thrive 

• Gavage Feeding - small tube placed in the nose or mouth to the stomach to feed baby

• HFV - High Frequency Ventilation

• IUGR - Intrauterine Growth Retardation

• Intubation - tube through the mouth down the throat into the windpipe for baby's having difficulty breathing

• Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin) - placing and holding a baby on your naked chest

• Late Preterm - baby born 3-6 weeks early or 34-36 weeks gestation

• LP - Lumbar Puncture

• Mircopreemie - baby born less than 27 weeks gestation

• Moderately Premature - baby born between start of 32 and end of 33 weeks gestation

• PDA - Patent Ductus Arteriosus

• RDS - Respiratory Distress Syndrome

• RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus

• ROP - Retinopathy of Prematurity

• Sepsis- blood infection

• SGA - Small for Gestational Age

• TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition

• Bradyacardia - decrease of heart rate less than 100

• IVH - Intraventricular Hemorrhage also known as a brain bleed ranging from Grade 1 (least severe) to Grade 4 (most severe)

• Cannula/Nasal Cannula - soft, plastic tubing around the baby's face that has openings that insert into baby's nostrils to deliver oxygen

• Preemie - a preterm or premature baby

• CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure