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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Baart de la Faille's Sign - A finding associated with an ectopic pregnancy that is characterized by a softening of the uterus, which is compatible with an early pregnancy.
Babinski Reflex - A reflex that is present in children from birth until approximately age 2. When the sole of the foot is firmly stroked, the big toe bends back toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out.
Baby Blues - A temporary state of heightened emotions that happens in about half of women who have recently given birth. This usually begins 3-5 days after delivery and will last for several days to 2 weeks. If you experience the blues, you may cry more easily than usual, have trouble sleeping or feel irritable and sad. Baby blues are very common and it is not considered an illness. Postpartum baby blues do not interfere with your ability to care for the baby. The likelyhood of developing postpartum blues is not related to a previous mental illness and is not caused by stress. However, stress and a history of depression may influence whether the baby blues go on to become major depression.
Baby Shower - A celebration party in which expectant parents are given gifts for their baby. Most baby showers are thrown by friends and family members before the baby is born. Games are played at most baby showers.
Babybird Ventilator - A ventilator that is used for infants and requires a monitor and alarm system to alert caregivers of potential problems.
Babygram - An x-ray film that visualizes developmental anomalies of the entire skeletal system, including the chest and abdomen of a newborn infant.
Back Labor - A moderately common condition in which labor pains are felt in the lower back during childbirth, making a vaginal delivery more painful. The excrutiating pain occurs when the fetus is in a posterior presentation, with the back of its head pressing against the cervix of the laboring woman.
Backache - Pain that can be felt anywhere on the back. Backache can be a common symptom during pregnancy.
Bacteria - Microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be helpful or harmful. Bacterial infections include bacterial vaginosis, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, UTI's, meningitis, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and E. coli. Bacterial infections are treated with antibacterial antibiotics.
Bacterial Infection - Any infection that is caused by bacteria entering the body. Specific bacterial infections that can affect the pregnancy outcome include Chlamydia, Listeria, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.
Bacterial Vaginosis - The most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age, caused by a decrease in good bacteria and an inrease in harmful bacteria. During pregnancy, the infection can cause complications such as premature rupture of the membranes or infection of the amniotic fluid. The most common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include a grayish vaginal discharge and fishy odor. Antibiotics are necessary to treat the infection.
Bag of waters - The sac that surrounds the developing baby inside of a pregnant woman's uterus. The sac contains the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid.
Balanitis - Inflammation of the penis or clitoris that is often caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Baller Gerold Syndrome - An extremely rare birth defect that affects approximately one out of every one million births.
This congenital birth disorder causes deformations in the skull, face, forearms and hands. Infants that are born with Baller-Gerold syndrome will have premature fusion between bones in their skull which will make their head look short, wide and possibly pointy.
Babies generally have a prominent forehead, cleft palate, slanted eyelid folds and malformed low-set ears. The defect causes abnormalities in the bones of the limbs, which will lead to missing fingers and toes. Hydrocephalus (water on the brain) is common and a baby may have problems with their kidneys and heart.
There is no cure for this syndrome and infant death is common.
Banana Sign - An abnormal curvatue of the back portion of the fetal brain (cerebellum). The condition is observed during an ultrasound and is a sign of spina bifida.
Bardet Biedl Syndrome - A rare birth defect that causes trouble with the way some body parts function.
A child that is diagnosed with this disorder will usually have vision loss, obesity, extra fingers and/or toes, underdeveloped secondary sex characteristics, kidney problems and a delay in development.
Most people that suffer the disease will have severe vision loss by their teenage years. The birth disorder is inherited and is an autosomal recessive condition. This means that both parents are carriers of the genes that cause Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Genetic testing can diagnose this condition.
Because this syndrome affects a variety of the body, a person will need a variety of treatments. A cardiologist, deietican, nephrologist, opthalmologist and physical therapist may be needed.
Barrier Method - A method of contraception that relies on the employment of any device for preventing the entrance of sperm into the cervical canal and uterine cavity. Examples include: male and female condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, and spermicidal agents.
Barth Syndrome - A rare birth disorder known to affect at least 50 individuals worldwide at this time. However, the disease is believed to be underdiagnosed so many more could be affected by the birth disorder.
Barth syndrome affects boys and is passed on by the mother through the X chromosome. It is a metabolic and neuromuscular disorder that will affect different systems in the body.
Motor delays, decreased muscle tone, delayed growth, cardiomyopathy, a weakened immune system, fatigue, low blood sugar, mouth ulcers, diarrhea and learning disabilities are common symptoms of this disorder. Although there is no treatment for Barth syndrome, individual symptoms can be treated with medications and therapy.
Most boys that suffer Barth syndrome will die from infections and cardiac failure.
Bartholin's Glands - The small glands between the vulva and the vagina that produce lubrication in response to sexual stimulation or arousal.
Basal Body Temperature - Body temperature that is usually measured early in the morning, before any type of activity, to determine if ovulation is occurring, signaled by a rise in temperature of 0.5 F to 1.0 F after ovulation. Charting your basal body temperature can be an effective means of conceiving a child or preventing pregnancy. Most women find that charting their basal body temperature (BBT) is very easy to do. You will need an accurate thermometer and a chart to track your temperature on.
Basal Body Temperature Charting - A method of detecting the time of ovulation in the menstrual cycle by recording body temperature daily. The temperature should be taken at the same time each morning, before any activity is done.
Basal Decidua - The area of the decidua that is located directly beneath the site of blastocyst implantation. This will develop into the maternal part of the placenta.
Basal Plate - Placental tissues on the maternal side of the placenta.
Battledore Placenta - A placenta that has the umbilical cord attached to the edge of the placenta. Most often, this condition is found at the time of delivery.
Beare Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome - A very rare birth defect with an abnormality on chromosome #10.
Researchers believe that advanced paternal age could be linked to this condition. The disorder affects the skin, skull, head and face. A child that is born with this condition will experience premature fusing of the skill bones which will cause the head to grow abnormally.
Because the head will not grow properly, the skill will be misshapen and the child will have wide-set bulging eyes, ear abnormalities and a misshapen upper jaw. The child's skin will be furrowed and will look corrugated. The hands and feet will often have thick, dark, velvety patches of skin on them as well. In a newborn baby, it is common to see a large umbilical stump.
Most doctors will diagnose the birth defect during an appearance examination at birth. There is no treatment for the birth disorder and most patients will usually die in infancy or early childhood.