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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Bearing Down - The strenuous effort that is made by laboring woman during the second stage of labor as the baby is moving through the birth canal.
Bearing Down Pain - Pain that is caused by uterine contractions during the second stage of labor accompanied by spontaneous expulsive forces as the baby is making its way down the birth canal.
Beats Per Minute - The number of times the heart beats within one minute. It is recommended that pregnant women keep their heart rate lower than 140 beats per minute while exercising to ensure that the baby is receiving enough oxygenated blood.
Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome - A rare and affects approximately 200,000 people in the United States.
The disorder is present from birth and causes large body size, large organs and a variety of other complications.
Although the exact cause of the disorder is not known, the majority of the cases are found to have a defect in chromosome #11.
Infants with Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome are usually large at birth and have large eyes, soft spots and tongues. A child that suffers with the disorder often has ear abnormalities, undescended testicles, low blood sugar, and seizures and may be lethargic and hard to feed.
Doctors can diagnose this disorder after birth by doing x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds and chromosome studies.
Bedrest - Confinement to bed, per doctors orders, to help control or prevent certain pregnancy complications. Depending on the severity of the complication, bedrest may be strict or partial and may be short-term or long-term. If you are on strict bedrest, you should stay in bed all day. Partial bedrest would allow you to get out of bed occasionally throught the day, as long as activities are limited. Some doctors feel it is best for a woman to be on hospital bedrest to prevent severe complications during pregnancy.
Bell's Palsy - Temporary paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of the face. In newborn infants, the condition usually is caused by pressure on the facial nerves during delivery.
Belly Button - The indentation in the middle of the stomach or abdomen, that leaves the small hole, which can be classified as an inny or outty. This is the point of attachment to the umbilical cord while in utero.
Belly Sling - A sling that is used during pregnancy to support a woman's growing abdomen. The sling can relieve back pain during pregnancy, decrease varicose veins and hemorrhoids, minimize stretch marks, ease sciatic pain and reduce groin pain.
Benedictin - A prescribed medication that is used to treat the effects of nausea. The medication includes vitamin B6, a sleep aid and an antihistamine. It was once removed from the market due to potentially causing birth defects among pregnanct users. However, the claims were not valid.
Benign - Any medical condition or anatomical malformation that if untreated will not become life-threatening. Most often benign is used to describe a tumor that is not cancerous. Benign tumors do not spread to tissues around them or to other parts of the body.
Benzthiazide - A diuretic drug that is administered orally for the treatment of high blood pressure. It may hae negative effects on a pregnant woman and the developing fetus, including birth defects and prolonged labor.
Beta Blocker - A medicication that is used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions. Beta blockers are considered moderately safe during pregnancy, meaning you must outweigh the risks of taking the medication vs. the need for the medicine.
Beta hCG Test - A blood test that is usedto determine pregnancy. The test is performed in a doctor's office, laboratory or clinic and it gives a positive reading if human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present in the blood.
Beta Thalassemias - Inherited anemias that are most commonly found mainly in people from Mediterranean countries. The abnormality is a result of an abnormality located on chromosome 11. The most common affects of the condition are anemia and iron overload.
Beta-Adrenergics - Substances that interfere with transmission of stimuli and affect the autonomic nervous system. During pregnancy, these may be used to stop premature labor.
Betamethasone - A common drug that is used to help develop the baby's lungs when it appears the woman will deliver prematurely, between the 24th and 34th week of pregnancy. Betamethasone is given in 2 injections, 24 hours apart. The drug causes the baby's lungs to produce surfactant, which would normally be produced later in fetal development.
Bicornuate Uterus - A congenital abnormality in which the two ducts that form the uterus do not fuse and form a single open area. Instead, they remain two separate uterine cavities that may be fused at the bottom or half way. Miscarriage and infertility are likely with this condition. Depending on the severity, the uterus may be surgically repaired so that an increased chance of conception and full-term pregnancy can be achieved.
Bifid Uvula - An abnormality in which the uvula (the small mass that hangs at the back of the soft palate of the mouth) is split in two parts. Newborns that are born with cleft palates will generally also have a cleft uvula.
Bikini Condom - A device that resembles a G-string panty with a rolled-up condom within the panty crotch. The condom is made of latex with a water-based lubricant and unrolls upon penetration to prevent pregnancy and STD transmission.
Bikini Incision - A horizontal skin incision that is made near the pubic hairline in order to gain access to the uterus. This type of cut is generally made in order to perform a cesarean section or hysterectomy.
Bilateral Renal Agenesis - Congenital absence of the kidneys. Prenatal symptoms include decreased amniotic fluid and enlargement of the fetal adrenal glands. Babies with this severe abnormality will usually die during fetal development or shortly after birth.
Biliary Atresia - An uncommon condition in which the bile duct between the liver and small intestine is obstructed or missing. Biliary atresia is a common cause of neonatal jaundice and if left untreated, the condition can lead to liver failure. Common symptoms include unresponsive jaundice, pale stools, dark urine, a swollen abdomen and a large hardened liver. Treatments include surgical reconstruction of the biliary tract or a liver transplant.
Bilirubin - An orange-red bile pigment that is formed from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin. Excessive amounts of bilirubin in an infant leads to jaundice.
Billings Method - A contraceptive method of periodic abstinence in which the time of ovulation is determined by observing changes in the amount, consistency, and elasticity of cervical mucus secretions during the intervals between two menstrual periods.
Bilobate Placenta - A placental abnormality that occurs in a single fetus. In this condition, the placenta is divided into two lobes, which are connected by major fetal blood vessels before they untie to enter the umbilical cord.