Learning English

Bun in the oven!

expecting
(here) pregnant

anticipation
an excited feeling that something good is about to happen

characteristics
particular features and behaviour that someone has

outcomes
likely results of something

pregnant
having a baby growing inside her

due date
date the baby is expected to be born

maternity leave
a period of time in which a woman is legally allowed to be away from her job in the weeks before and after she gives birth

morning sickness
the feeling of wanting to be sick, usually felt by some women during the first months of pregnancy

broody
feeling like you want to have a baby

Idioms about expecting a baby:

• hearing the patter of tiny feet
• expecting (our first baby)
• had a bun in the oven
• eating for two
• carrying a child
• in the family way
• the happy event

6 Minute Vocabulary

Silent letter/ words
k/ know, knee, knife
w/ wrist, write, wrong
b/ thumb, climb, lamb

Advice for new mums

in the family way
(informal) pregnant

due
(here) expected to give birth

headaches
pains in the head

circulation
movement of blood through the body

bump
(here) large belly containing baby

bilingual
able to speak two languages fluently

go into labour
start giving birth

nap
little sleep

Sue's ready for anything

away on business
staying away from home for work reasons

yoga
a type of exercise

trimester
a period of three months – pregnancy has three trimesters

waters break
the first sign you are giving birth

breastfeeding
feed a baby with milk from the breast

It runs in the family

in the family way
(informal) pregnant

fantastic
very good

runs in my family
a quality that many people in the family share

takes after
is similar to an older relative

natural skills
things he quickly becomes good at

call him… after
give him the same name as someone in honour of them

ginger
red-haired

Childbirth around the world

developed countries
those with advanced economies e.g. Singapore, France, the US

labour
the process of giving birth

epidural
an injection that reduces pain

delivery
the act of giving birth

prenatal
before birth; during pregnancy

check-ups
medical examinations to find any problems

allowance
an amount of money given for a specific reason

covered
provided for; protected

taxpayer-funded
paid for by people who pay tax

citizen
(here) someone who legally belongs to a country

subsidies
money paid by the government towards certain costs

expatriates
people living in a country that is not their own

medical insurance
a system where people pay a regular fee to an organisation that then pays their medical bills

universal health coverage
a system that gives medical care to everyone

contributions
(here) regular payments towards the cost of something

employers
people or organisations that pay people wages to do work

employees
people who are paid wages to do work

uniform
(here) not changing; the same for all people

distinctions
(here) differences for different people

Childbirth traditions around the world

reputation
a common opinion that people have about something that may or may not be true

coal
black rock that burns

craved
(here) had a very strong desire to eat

minerals
natural substances not formed from vegetable or animal matter; some are found in food e.g. salt, iron

stout
a type of black beer

barley
a plant grown for its grain - used for making food and drinks

nutrients
substances people need to eat to be healthy and grow

a full English breakfast
includes fried eggs and bacon - also sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, toast and more

from News Report: Dads attending births

not their place
not the right thing for them to be there

maternity unit
the department in a hospital where babies are born

the delivery
the process of giving birth

National Health Service
system of health care in the UK which provides free medical treatment for all

established
started

moral support
help and encouragement

to play an increasing role
to become more involved

midwives
nurses who specialise in looking after women who are having babies

a big impact
an important influence

bond
strong connection

squeamish
unhappy and uncomfortable when seeing blood

Session 5

from Alice in Wonderland, episode 3

shore
the place where the water of a lake, sea or river meets the land

creatures (singular: creature)
animals

dodo
a large bird that lived in the past and could not fly.

prizes (singular: prize)
something you get as a reward for winning a race or competition

destroy
to break something completely so it can't be used at all