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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Absent Eye Syndrome - A rare disorder that affects an unknown exact number of people. It is believed to affect approximately 1 in every 10,000 live births.
A baby can be born with this disorder or it can be diagnosed later in life. Anophthalmia means that the globe and eye tissue of the orbit are missing. It can affect one eye or both, which would result in blindness for the individual.
The disorder can occur from a genetic disorder or mutation, chromosome abnormality or prenatal factor. Because eye sockets are important for proper development of the face, a prosthetic device may be needed if an eye is missing or is too small.
All children that are affected by this condition should see an eye specialist for further treatments and recommendations regarding surgery and prosthetic fittings.
Abstinence - A voluntary decision, usually made in individuals that are not married or in a committed relationship, in which one chooses not to engage in sexual relations of any kind, including oral sex, vaginal sex and anal sex. Reasons for abstinence include prevention of obtaining or spreading a venereal disease, pregnancy prevention and religious purposes.
Abuse - Improper use or treatment of someone or something that is generally considered harmful and/or dangerous.
Abusive Head Trauma - A form of child abuse in which a baby is violently shaken, dropped, thrown or otherwise inflicting trauma to the head, causing the brain to bounce against the skull. This is generally the effect of a frustrated parent of caregiver. Because of the extreme damage that can occur, the condition is often fatal or can cause ifelong disability from neurological damage. Symptoms of the condition include retinal hemorrhage, skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, swelling of the brain, lethargy, difficulty breathing, irritability, rigidity and the inability to focus.
Acanthamoeba - A type of free-living protozoa found in soil, dust, springs, hot tubs and fresh water. The infection can enter the body through a cut and has also been associated with contact lens use because the protozoa can survive in the eyes. The protozoa can cause disease and infection in humans, such as encephalitis. More serious conditions can occur and death is likely in severe cases.
Acardiac Twin Syndrome - A very rare condition that occurs in 1 out of every 35,000 twin pregnancies. One of the twins is normal (also known as the pump twin) and the other twin is only body-like tissue with legs and a lower body (known as the acardiac twin). The upper body and heart are not present. However, abnormal blood vessels on the placenta allow the normal twin to pump blood through the tissue of the abnormal twin. There is an extremely high risk that the normal baby will suffer heart failure because it is pumping for two. Unless the baby is mature enough to be delivered, the condition can be fatal. The harder the normal baby's heart has to work, the greater the risk of fatal heart failure is. Ultrasound tests can detect this condition. If heart failure is identified and the pregnancy is far enough long, the baby will be delivered. If the acardiac twin is large enough and your doctor is concerned about the healthy baby being at risk for heart failure, your doctor can stop the blood flow to the acardiac twin. This is done through fetal image-guided surgery. A thin needle is guided into place, via ultrasound, where the blood vessels feed into the acardiac twin. A tool called a radio-frequency ablation produces extreme local heat and burns the tissue of the acardiac twin to burn and destroy the blood vessels, which will stop blood flow. No incision is necessary and the pain and recovery time is generally minimal.
Accessory Nipple - An extra nipple that develops anywhere on the sides of the thoracoabdominal wall along the mamillary lines. Accessory nipples are present from birth. Both men and women have them and can sometimes have them on both sides
Accessory Placenta - Occurs when a piece of the placenta is connected to a blood vessel and is left behind after the afterbirth has been delivered, which will lead to postpartum bleeding. A succenturiate, or accesory, lobe is a second or third placental lobe that is much smaller than the main portion of the placenta. Common risk factors associated with the condition are advanced maternal age, a woman experiencing her first pregnancy, proteinuria in the first trimester of pregnancy and deformities in the developing fetus.
Accidental Abortion - The unintentional and unexpected loss of a pregnancy as the result of an injury or trauma.
Accredidation - A certificate of credentials or achievement that a facility or indiviudal receives. To receive the best care possible, do interviews with your caregiver and make sure that the doctor, healthcare practice and hospital are accredited.
ACE Inhibitors - An oral drug that is used to lower blood pressure. Pregnant women should not take the medication during any trimester due to the increased risk of fetal birth defects. Fetal effects of the medication include heart abnormalities, central nervous system complications, kidney disorders, growth retardation and other birth defects.
Acephaly - Congenital absence of the head, which is not compatible with life and can be detected during prenatal ultrasound examinations. The condition is very rare, more so than anencephaly.
Acetaminophen - An over-the-counter medication that is used to relieve pain, body aches and fever. Tylenol is one common medication with acetaminophen. No prescription is necessary for acetaminophen. Pregnant women are able to safely take the recommended dosage if necessary. Acetaminophen is excreted in breast milk in small quantities, but appears to be safe to use while breastfeeding.
Acetone - A chemical that is often found in fingernail polish, polish removers, astringents and other cleaners/stripping solutions. Because acetone can cause low levels of oxygen, it is important to use the chemical in a well ventilated area during pregnancy.
Acetylcholinesterase - A chemical that is found only inside the neural tissue. Noteable presence in the amniotic fluid indicates an opening in the neural tube.
Acheilia - A birth defect in which the baby is born with one or both of the lips missing.
Acheiria - A congenital anomaly in which one or both of the hands are missing at birth.
Acheiropodia - A congenital anomaly in which one or both of the feet are missing at birth.
Achondrogenesis Syndrome - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 out of every 50,000 births. Bone and cartilage development is affected by this severe genetic disorder.
A child that is born with achondrogenesis will usually have a small body with short arms and legs. They may also suffer with a small chest, enlarged abdomen and breathing difficulties from immature lungs.
Children with this condition may have a distinct forehead, small chin and cleft palate. Although some children have survived for a short amount of time with medical care, it is common for most infants to die from the condition. It can cause premature birth or stillbirth.
Achondroplasia - A genetic disorder that is a common cause of dwarfism.
Most achondroplastic dwarfs do not grow beyond 52 inches tall and will not be proportional. It is common for a achondroplastic dwarf to have short arms, legs, fingers and toes.
Usually they will have a large head with deformities in the spine. It is not uncommon for a achondroplastic dwarf to be bow-legged.
Most expectant mothers will be notifed of the condition during a prenatal ultrasound.
Children with this condtion are often overweight, have chronic ear infections, crowded teeth and are often double-jointed.
Achoo Syndrome - A genetically inherited condition that stands for autosomal dominant compelling heliopthalmic outburst. Indiviudals with this disorder sneeze uncontrollably as a result of hypersensitivity to light or brightness. There is no treatment for the condition, but most individuals will wear sunglasses to prevent the sneezing attacks.
Achromatopsia - A hereditary condition in which an individual is nearly or completely colorblind. The condition is rare and affects only one person in about 33,000.
Acid Indigestion - A painful burning sensation in the chest that is caused by food and stomach juices backing up into the esophagus. Acid indigestion is a common complaint among pregnant women. This common condiiton is generally not dangerous and will go away after the baby is born. More than half of all pregnant women will experience some form of acid indigestion during their pregnancy. Changing hormone levels, an enlarged uterus and a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter all make pregnant women prone to acid indigestion.
Acne - An inflammatory skin disease that effects the pores. Excessive production of oil from the sebaceous glands cause the hair follicles to become clogged, which leads to pimples, white heads, back heads, cysts and abcesses. Pregnancy tends to make acne worse because high levels of hormones in the body increase the size of the sebaceous glands, which increase oil production. The extra oil clogs the pores, which leads to bacteria growth and causes blemishes.