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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
AAP - A professional organization of pediatricians that are specially trained to deal with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. Their motto is, "Dedicated to the Health of All Children." The majority of American pediatricians are members of this organization
Aarskog-Scott Syndrome - An inherited disorder that is characterized by wide spaced eyes, front-facing nostrils, a broad upper lip, a malformed scrotum, flat feet, short stature, joint laxity and overly extensible fingers. The disorder is passed to offspring as an X-linked recessive trait. Other common symptoms include slight to moderate mental deficiency, droopy eyelids, delayed eruption of teeth, undescended testicles and broad thumbs and big toes. Surgery may be necessary to correct facial abnormalities.
Aase-Smith Syndrome I - An inherited disorder that affects both males and females. The disorder is characterized by a decreased amount of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Other symptoms of the disorder include water on the brain (hydrocephalus), joint anomalies and cleft palate. Affected individuals may have deformed ears, droopy eyelids, heart abnormalities and club foot. Diagnosis methods may inlcude x-rays, bone marrow biopsy, blood counts and heart evaluations. Treatment options include blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants.
Aase-Smith Syndrome II - An inherited disorder that affects both males and females. The disorder is may be characterized by the presence of three bones within the thumbs instead of the normal two and a decreased amount of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Other symptoms of the disorder include narrow and sloping shoulders, growth retardation , cleft lip or palate, ventricular septal defects and pale skin. Diagnosis methods may inlcude x-rays, bone marrow biopsy, blood counts and heart evaluations. Treatment options include blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants.
Abdomen - The part of the body between the chest and the pelvis that contains the largest cavity in the body. Contents of the abdomen include nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, stomach, gallbladder, liver, intestines, pancreas, spleen and the body of the espohagus.
Abdominal Binder - A broad bandage that is placed around a loose or hanging abdomen to support and maintain the enlarging pregnant uterus in an approximately normal position. The accesory may help to relieve backache, pelvic pressure, hip pain, pre-term contractions and bladder complications.
Abdominal Circumference - The distance around the outer edge of a fetus's abdomen. When measured accurately, the measurement is an important tool for assessing the growth of the fetus and estimating the weight of a baby.
Abdominal Guarding - Tensing of the muscles in the abdomen in order to protect inflamed organs within the abdomen from pain and pressure. This is usually seen during a physical examination in a patient that presents with symptoms of appendicitis or diverticulitis. Women that are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy may also notice abdominal guarding.
Abdominal Hysterectomy - A medical procedure in which the uterus is surgically removed through an incision in the abdominal wall.
Abdominal Itching - A common condition of pregnancy in which the abdomen itches because of the skin expanding. When the abdomen expands, it gets dry. The dryer the abdomen gets, the itchier it will become. It is best to not scratch the area and apply moisturizer liberally to keep the skin from becoming excessively dry.
Abdominal Pain - Pain that can be felt in the abdominal region. Organs that are located within the abdomen include the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Pain can caused by a variety of factors including gas, irritation or inflammation of an organ, stretching of an organ, blockage or backup within an organ, swelling of an organ or for other reasons that are not always recognizable. Slight abdominal pain during pregnancy is normal, but extreme pain or consistent pain is not and should be reported. Common reasons for abdominal pain during pregnancy include round ligament pain, gas, heartburn, constipation, false labor contractions and implantation cramping.
Abdominal Sac - THe part of the embryonic sac that develops into the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen.
Ablation - Eradication or removal of tissues by surgery, laser, or freezing radiotherapy.
Abnormal - Something that is outside the normal range or different than average.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding - Any unusual bleeding from the uterus. The bleeding may be caused by endocrine disturbances, pregnancy, cancer or another abnormality. Any bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to a healthcare professional immediately, as it can be a sign of a more serious complication.
ABO Blood Group - A blood group in which the most common types of blood fall. The four types of blood in the ABO blood group are A, B, AB, and O.
ABO Incompatibility - The potential for isoimmunization occuring in approximately 5% of pregnancies when the mother's blood group is type O, with anti-A and anti-B, while the fetus's blood group is A, B or AB.
Abortifacient - A medication or other agent that produces an abortion.
Abortion - The premature termination of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. The fetus and placenta are removed from the uterus during an abortion. The abortion may be induced for medical or personal choices. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which it would be called a miscarriage. Approximately 45 million medically induced abortions are performed every year worldwide. The procedure is generally done by a licensed physician or another healthcare professional working under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. There are a variety of methods used for an abortion, including surgery, saline, abdominal pressure, vacuum aspiration and prescription medications.
Abortionist - A person that performs abortions to end a pregnancy. The person that performs the procedure should be a licensed medical doctor. Most abortionists work in abortion clinics.
Abortus - A human fetus whose weight is less than 0.5 kilograms or is less than 12 weeks gestation when removed or expelled from the mother's body, either spontaneously or electively.
Abrachia - A newborn infant that is born with no arms. The condition may affect one of the arms or both of the arms. The bones in the shoulder may be absent or reduced in size.
Abruptio Placenta - Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the wall of uterus after the 20th week of pregnancy, but before the baby is born. Normally, the placenta seprates from the uterus and is expelled after the baby is delivered. Placental abruption is the most common cause of bleeding in the third trimester. Luckily, placental abruption is rare and only occurs in about 1% of all pregnancies. However, there is a fetal mortality rate of 20-40% percent when the condition occurs. The most common symptoms of placental abruption are continuous contractions, uterine pain, abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.
Abruption - A detachment or tearing away. In obstetrics, it is most commonly referred to as placental abruption.
Abscess - A localized accumulation of pus that is usually associated with an infection. There may be pain and swelling at the site of the abscess. An abscess can spread to nearby tissues, lead to a more serious infection or even death if not treated properly. An abscess will need to be surgically cut open and drained. Antibiotics may be necessary.