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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Clomid - A commonly prescribed fertility drug that is used to stimulate ovulation in women that are not be ovulating or that have a luteal phase defect. The medication stimulates ovulation by releasing gonadotropins from the pituitary gland. Women that use fertility drugs are more likely to experience multiples during the pregnancy.
Clomiphene - A fertility drug (often called Clomid) that is used to stimulate ovulation. The drug has been associated with multiple births.
Cloth Diaper - A garment that is made up of layers of fabric and can be washed and reused multiple times. Diaper pins can be used to secure the cloth together and some types now have velcro attachments. Plastic pants can be worn over the cloth diaper to prevent leaks. Diapers are worn by babies and young children that are unable or unwilling to control their bladder and bowels.
Cloth Nappy - A garment that is made up of layers of fabric and can be washed and reused multiple times. Diaper pins can be used to secure the cloth together and some types now have velcro attachments. Plastic pants can be worn over the cloth nappy to prevent leaks. Nappies are worn by babies and young children that are unable or unwilling to control their bladder and bowels.
Clubfoot - A birth deformity of the foot and affects approximately one out of every 1,000 live births. Because clubfoot begins to develop in a fetus during the first trimester and the foot is generally rigid and stiff at birth.
Usually, the foot that is deformed will be smaller than usual and the heel will appear to point downwards while the forefoot turns inward. It is not possible to place the foot flat. After the baby is delivered, a doctor can easily make a diagnosis based on a physical examination of the affected foot. Sometimes, diagnosis can be made on an ultrasound examination during a prenatal visit.
Clubfoot must be treated and if it is not properly treated, it will continue to get worse and become disabling. Most doctors suggest beginning treatment immediately. There are different treatment options available ranging from casting, stretching and manipulation to surgical treatment.
Cluster Feeding - A method of breastfeeding in which the mother allows the baby to nurse at closer intervals during the day and go longer between feedings throughout the night hours, in hopes of the baby sleeping for longer periods of time during the night.
CMV - An infection that can be passed to an unborn fetus during pregnancy. The infection is part of the herpes virus and can be found in saliva, urine, breastmilk, tears, sweat, blood, vaginal fluids, semen and other body fluids. Possible symptoms of the condition include small size at birth, seizures, jaundice, respiratory complications, liver abnormalities and complications with the spleen. More permanent disabilities from the condition include hearing loss, vision loss, a small head, mental disability and occasionally, death. Testing for the infection can be done during pregnancy, before pregnancy or after the baby has been delivered.
Coarctation Of Aorta - A congenital defect that is characterized by a localized narrowing of the aorta just beyond the point where the left subclavian artery branches off the vessel. Because the aorta is being piched, blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body is restricted. A baby may develop congestive heart failure or high blood pressure that can require surgery.
Coccydynia - Pain that can be felt around the tailbone area. Some pregnant women may experience pain at the tailbone from a previous fracture or break of the coccyx. Childbirth can also cause women to suffer from coccydynia. Pain is more likely while sitting down and a coccyx cushion may be necessary to relieve pain.
Cockayne Syndrome - An extremely rare condition that affects about 1 out of every 100,000 births. Children that suffer from this disorder are short, hunch backed and will generally be labeled as "failure to thrive" because they do not grow properly.
Patients usually have an appearance of premature aging and have small heads, a beaked nose, eye defects, tooth decay, hearing loss, and abnormal development of the nervous system and are usually extremely sensitive to sunlight. It is also common to experience tremors, complications when walking and varying degrees of mental retardation.
Although there is no cure for Cocakyne syndrome, treatment includes therapy, specialized medical care and sunlight protection.
Coffin Lowry Syndrome - A rare birth defect that is caused by a defective gene.
Those who suffer from Coffin-Lowry syndrome will have head, face and skeletal abnormalities with a short stature.
Mental retardation is a symptom of the disorder as well. Typical facial features include a broad nose, protruding nostrils, poorly developed upper jaw bone, down slanting eyelid folds, wide-set eyes, large ears and very thick eyebrows. Sometimes there are other symptoms present such as feeding or breathing trouble, hearing loss, flat feet, heart or kidney complications.
Although the defect does appear to affect males worse, both females and males experience the disorder. There is no cure for the condition and treatment includes various forms of therapy.
Coitus - Sexual activity in which the erect penis of a male is inserted into the vagina of a female where climax or orgasm occurs in atleast one participating individual.
Coitus Interruptus - Withdrawal of the penis from the vagina just prior to ejaculation which is used as a method of contraception.
Colic - A prolonged period of unexplained crying in infants. Colicy babies tend to be fussy for 3-4 hours at a time around the same time each day. For some babies, colic lasts a few days or weeks and for other babies, colic can last months. The first episode of colic can be a particularly disturbing experience. Out of nowhere, the baby will start crying and there is nothing that can be done to soothe them.
Collodion Baby - A newborn infant that is born with a thick, shiny memranous skin that cracks and peels. The baby is at risk because of increased water loss through the skin, which may result in kidney failure and/ or permanent brain damage if fluid replacement is neglected. The condition may resolve entirely, or it may lead to congenital ichthyosis, or cause death of the infant.
Coloboma - A rare birth defect in which there is a gap in one of the eye's structures. Approximately one out of every 10,000 people will be affected with coloboma.
The gap can be in the eyelid, iris, lens, retina, optic disc or any other part of the eye. Often times, the eye itself will appear as if there is a split in it. During fetal eye development, there is a gap in the eye called the optic fissure. It will close when the eye is developed and if it does not, the child will be born with coloboma.
Varying degrees of vision impairment will occur from no impairment to complete blindness. There is no cure, but contact lenses will make the eye look normal. Because the eyes are sensitive to light, sunglasses should be worn.
Colostrorrhea - An abnormally abundant discharge of colostrum from the breasts.
Colostrum - The first thick yellow milk that is secreted by the breasts in the last few weeks of pregnancy and the first two to three days after childbirth. Colostrum will give way to true breast milk within a few days of delivery. Colostrum provides less fat and sugar, but is rich in white blood cells. This important first milk provides immunity properties and antibodies for the newborn infant.
Colpectomy - Surgical removal of the vagina. The surgeon may remove part of the vagina or all of the vagina, depending on the severity of the abnormality. The procedure is commonly performed to treat cancer of the vagina.
Colpocephaly - A brain defect that belongs to a group known as cephalic disorders.
A baby born with colpocephaly has a brain in which the rear portion of the brain is larger than normal due to abnormal development and thickening of the white matter in the posterior cerebrum.
A child with colpocephaly will suffer from an unusually small head and mental retardation. Other symptoms of the brain disorder include movement complications, muscle spasms and seizures. It is possible to diagnose colpocephaly in pregnancy although it can be most accurately diagnosed after the child is born and symptoms begin to appear.
There is no cure for colpocephaly. Medications to control seizures, therapy and special education can help most children.
Colpomicroscope - A high-powered microscope that is specially designed for insertion into the vagina. The scope is used to directly examine cells and tissues of the cervix, without having to remove them through a biopsy.
Colposcopy - Visualization of the cervical and vaginal tissues under magnification by means of a colposcope, which is a low-powered microscope with a built-in light. This procedure is performed after a positive Pap test has been obtained or to evaluate suspicious lesions that could potenitally be cancerous.
Combined Pelvimetry - Measurement of the diameter of the female pelvis during pregnancy that is achieved by the examiner placing their hands inside of the body as well as outside of the body with a pelvimeter.
Combined Version - A version in which one hand is introduced into the uterus and the other is placed on the patient's abdomen, in hopes of maneuvering the fetus to a more appropriate position for vaginal birth.
Complete - A term used to describe a laboring woman when the cervix has reached 10 centimeters. At 10 cm, the cervix is completely dilated and the woman can begin the pushing phase.