placenta – the placenta is a temporary organ that develops in pregnancy and joins the mother and foetus. The placenta acts as a filter. It transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the foetus, and takes away carbon dioxide and waste products. The placenta is full of blood vessels.
The placenta is expelled from the mother’s body after the baby is born and it is no longer needed. It is sometimes called the afterbirth.
RNA – an abbreviation for the scientific word for genetic material found in some types of viruses. It is the abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. It is very similar to DNA but is single-strand rather than the double-strand in DNA. See DNA.
mixed feeding – combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
organogenesis – the process of development of baby’s main organs. This period is the first 12 weeks in the womb.
acute infection – early infection (first few months with HIV).