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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
C-Section - A method of childbirth in which the doctor makes an incision into the mother's uterus to deliver the baby instead of delivering the baby through the birth canal. An incision can be made vertically or horizontally, which is more common. Because a c-section is a major abdominal surgery, recovery time is typically longer than that of a vaginal birth.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots - Flat, brown birthmarks that are usually oval in shape. These birthmarks are almost always present at birth and continue to grow in both size and number as the child gets older.
Caffeine - An alkaloid that can be found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, medications and a variety of other foods. Consuming large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to birth defects in the fetus. A nursing mother should avoid or limit the amount of caffeine she consumes while breastfeeding because caffeine does pass through the breastmilk. Decaffeinated beverages are a better choice for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Caked Breasts - A condition of the breasts that occurs during the first week after childbirth, in which the breasts become firm, warm and nodular. The condition is also characterized by pain and slight fever when severe. This is caused by an increased amount of blood within the breast.
Calcaneovalgus - A foot defect that occurs in approximately 5% of all newborn babies.
The defect can happen on one foot or both and seems to be more frequent in females. The defect is in the tibiotalar joint of the foot.
A newborn will have an overstretched Achilles tendon, tight leg muscles and external rotation of the calcaneus. The foot will look as if it is being flexed outwards and upwards. Fortunately, calcaneovalgus is treatable early on.
Treatment should be done from the start of the diagnosis to avoid future complications. Stretching the foot at every diaper change should be done in the newborn. If the case is more severe, splinting and firm high-top shoes may be needed to correct the complication. In the most severe cases, casting will be required
Calcification - Small areas of calcification in the brain and its covering memranes of a fetus or infant that is born to a mother that was infected with cytomegalovirus or Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy.
Calcium - A mineral that is essential for healthy bones and teeth. A developing fetus needs calcium to grow strong bones and teeth, a healthy heart, nerves, and muscles. Mothers that do not consume enough calcium during pregnancy may have sore bones and teeth because the fetus will take what it needs from the mother's supply. The recommeded amount of calcium before, during and after pregnancy is 1,000 mg a day. Cacium can be found in prenatal vitamins, cheese, milk, yogurt, orange juice, tofu and other foods.
Calendar Rhythm Method - A contraceptive method of periodic abstinence determined by recording the menstrual pattern for several months to establish the time of ovulation.
Calkin's Sign - The change in the shape of the uterus at the time of delivery, from disc-shaped to oval shaped, which indicates that the placenta has separated from the uterus.
Campomelic Dwarfism - A form of dwarfism that is characterized by short limbs, affecting mainly the lower limbs. The femur and tibia will bow and other characteristics include an enlargement of the skull, a small face with wideset eyes, depressed nasal bridge lowset ears and cleft palate. The disorder occurs most often in females and most will die during the first four weeks of life.
Campomelic Dysplasia - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 live births and can be found in the fetus. It is a birth disorder in which there is abnormal curvature of the long bones-usually the femur and tibia.
The exact cause of the disorder is not known. Signs of the disorder are bowing of the long bones, growth restriction, a narrow bell-shaped chest, eleven pairs of ribs, scoliosis, short limbs, small flattened face, high forehead, low nasal bridge, cleft palate, low-set and underdeveloped ears, ambiguous genitalia and hydrocephalus.
It is very common for an infant to suffer from respiratory distress and have trouble breathing. In some cases there will be other fetal complications, such as, polyhdramnios and complications with the heart, kidneys and central nervous system.
Because of the respiratory complications, most infants will not survive this condition.
Canalicular Abscess - An abscess that is connected to a milk duct within a breast, which will cause a whitish-yellow or yellow discharge from the nipple. For proper treatment, the abscess will need to be surgically cut and drained.
Cancelled Cycle - The discontinuation of an ART cycle that is usually prompted by the doctor because of poor response to hormone therapy, no egg recovery, or failed fertilization.
Candida Infection - An infection of the vagina that is caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans. Candida infections are more common during the second trimester of pregnancy. A candida infection occurs when the normal levels of acid and yeast in the vagina are out of balance, which allows yeast to overgrow. Symptoms of a candida infection include itching, burning, redness and a white, lumpy discharge that resembles cottage cheese and smells like bread. Creams and suppositories are safe for the treatment of a candida infection during pregnancy. If a candida infection is not treated during pregnancy, it can be passed to the baby during delivery in a condition known as thrush.
Candidiasis - An infection of the vagina that is caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans. Candidiasis is more common during the second trimester of pregnancy. Candidiasis occurs when the normal levels of acid and yeast in the vagina are out of balance, which allows yeast to overgrow. Symptoms of candidiasis include itching, burning, redness and a white, lumpy discharge that resembles cottage cheese and smells like bread. Creams and suppositories are safe for the treatment of candidiasis during pregnancy. If candidiasis is not treated during pregnancy, it can be passed to the baby during delivery in a condition known as thrush.
Capacitation - A change in sperm that occurs as they travel through the female reproductive tract that enables the sperm to penetrate and fertilize an egg. Sperm that have not have been capacitated in the female reproductive tract cannot fertilize the egg.
Capsular Decidua - The part of the endometriumthat envelopes and seals the implanted contents of conception from the uterine cavity. As the blastocyst grows, it stretches and around the fourth month of pregnancy, it will undergo rapid regression.
Caput Succedaneum - A severe swelling of the soft tissues of the baby's scalp that develops as the baby travels through the birth canal. The head will have swelling and brusing, with the worst showing on the part of the head that presented first. No treatment is necessary because the area will heal on its own within a few days of birth.
Carbamazepine - An anticonvulsant drug used in the treatment of epilepsy. Prenatal exposure may cause craniofacial defects, underdevelopment of fingernails and developmental delays. There is also a small chance of spina bifida in the fetus and infant when the drug is taken during pregnancy.
Carneous Mole - A uterine mass that occurs after fetal death and is comprised of blood clots, fetal membranes, and the placenta.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A condition in which pressure on the median nerve in the wrist causes soreness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb and index and middle fingers. Approximately 25%-30% all all pregnant women will experience carpal tunnel syndrome. Most pregnant women notice the symptoms during the night because gravity enables the fluid that has accumulated in the legs during the day to redistribute to the rest of the body. Symtpoms include tingling, numbness and stiffness in the hand, thumb and fingers, inability to grasp objects, shooting pains in the wrist and arm and pain that wakes you up during the night.
Carpenter Syndrome - An extremely rare birth defect that affects approximately 1 in 1,000,000 live births. Carpenter syndrome is very close to Apert syndrome and affects the skull, face, fingers, toes and heart.
Carpenter syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder and a person must get two copies of a defective gene (one from each parent) to develop the syndrome. Because there is early fusion in the sutures of the skull, a person will usually have an abnormally shaped head.
A person with Carpenter syndrome will likely have low set ears or malformed ears, a wide nose with a flat bridge, downlanted eyelids and a small jaw. Stubby fingers/toes and webbed fingers/toes are a common symptom of Carpenter syndrome and some people with the disorder will have extra digits.
One half of sufferers will experience congenital heart defects and others will have an abdominal hernia, undescended testicles and a short stature. Most cases will involve some degree of mental retardation. A doctor will be able to diagnose the condition at birth based on the baby's physical appearance and there is no actual treatment for the condition.
Therapy and surgery for fused fingers/toes are usually the best methods of treating symptoms.
Carrier - A person that shows no signs of a particular disease but harbors the infective microorganisms that cause the disease. The gene will remain recessive and the indiviudal can pass the trait to their offspring. If both parents pass along the same defective gene, the child will likely be affected with the genetic defect.
Cartilage - A firm, slightly elastic connective tissue that constitutes the major portion of the fetal skeleton and is present in specialized areas of the adult body. Cartilage does not have any nerves or blood supply of its own.
Case Manager - A healthcare professional, usually a nurse or social worker, that helps to coordinate the services needed for a patient, regardless of age. Premature infants, sick infants and pregnant women needing homecare or extended hospital care during pregnancy may receive assistance from a case manager.