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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Complete Abortion - Any miscarriage or abortion in which the fetus, placenta and membranes are completely expelled from the uterus, leaving no remains behind. All pain and bleeding that were associated with the miscarriage or abortion will have stopped.
Complete Blood Count - A combination of laboratory tests including red blood cell count, white blood cell count, differential white cell count, hemoglobin concentration, platelet count and hematocrit. During pregnancy, a complete blood count is useful to determine if a woman is anemic or has an infection.
Complete Breech - A type of breech presentation in a fetus. This type of presentation occurs in 5% to 10% of infants that are breech. The fetus's hips are flexed and the knees are flexed as well.
Conception - The fertilization of an egg by a sperm cell that will result in pregnancy.
Conception Cap - A flexible cup-like receptacle that is placed over the cervix to aid in conception.The cap works by having the man ejaculate semen into the cap, then placing the cap at the woman's cervix opening, making it as close to the uterus as possible. Because the sperm are so close to the uterus, the chaces of the soerm getting lost or killed by hostile cervical mucus is decreased, which increases the chance of conception.
Conceptional Age - Determining the age of the fetus or embryo by measuring the crown to rump or crown to heel length. Because not every fetus will grow at the exact same rate, this method is not a guaranteed method of accuracy.
Conceptus - All of the tissue products of conception from the time that the egg becomes fertilzed by the sperm until birth. It includes the placenta, fetal membranes and the embryo/fetus.
Condom - A barrier method of birth control and protection from sexually-transmitted diseases that are highly effective if used properly. The condom is usually made of latex and is worn by the male before sexual intercourse begins and during intercourse. The condom is palced on an erect penis and prevents sperm from exiting at the time of ejaculation.
Condom Therapy - A type of therapy that is prescribed to reduce the number of sperm antibodies in the woman's cervix and vaginal area. This is carried out by using a condom during sexual intercourse for six months or more.
Condyloma Acuminatum - A soft, pointed warty growth that is generally found around the anus and external genitals of either sex. The growths can also be found on the uterine cervix of females. When there are numerous growths, they will resemble cauliflower. The condition is caused by the HPV virus and is transmitted through sexual contact.
Condyloma Latum - A characteristic of the secondary stage of syphilis. These eruptions takes the form of broad flat wartlike growths that can be found around the anus and genitals.
Cone Biopsy - The surgical removal of a cone-shaped piece of the cervix. The procedure can be used as a treatment for precancerous lesions and early cancers. Although the procedure may be necesary for some women, it can damage the cervix, disrupt normal mucus production or cause an incompetent cervix, which could lead to premature labor during pregnancy.
Congenital - A characteristic, condition or disease that is recognized at birth, or that is believed to have been present since birth, including conditions which are inherited or caused by an environmental factor.
Congenital achromatopsia - A rare disorder in which the affected individual is not able to see color, or is color blind. Other symptoms of the disorder include visual acuity loss and extreme sensitivity to light. The disorder is aparent at birth and affects 1 out of every 33000 births.
Congenital Amputation - Congenital amputation affects approximately 1 out every 2,000 babies. When a child is diagnosed with congenital amputation, they are expected to be missing a limb or part at birth.
Some babies are born with half of a finger missing, while others are born with no arms or legs. Although there is no exact cause of the birth defect, exposure to tetratogens during pregnancy can cause congenital amputation. Tight amniotic bands may squeeze the fetus in utero, which could prevent limbs from developing properly.
Although a prenatal ultrasound examination may show an absent limb, many cases are not discovered until birth. If a doctor sees a problem with a limb on ultrasound, other tests will be ordered.
Treatment for congenital amputation involves plastic surgery and prosthetics.
Congenital Cataract - A congenital defect that occurs during fetal development, in which the infant's eyes will be cloudy or opaque. The ability to see light is obstructed and vision is lost, either partially or fully. Congenital cataracts may be caused by a maternal infection during pregnancy or it may be associated with some form of chromosomal abnormality.
Congenital Cataracts - A birth defect of the eye that does not occur frequently. The lens of the eye will be cloudy and is present at birth.
Babies that are born with cataracts may also have other disorders such as, Down syndrome, Trisomy 13, Lowe syndrome, ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, rubella, Pierre Robin syndrome or others. An infant will generally have obviously cloudy lens with a whitish colored pupil that can be seen with the naked eye of a viewer.
Babies will generally have abnormal rapid eye movements, but will not show visual interest in their surroundings. An opthalmologist will do an eye exam to diagnose the condition and treatment will be decided based on the severity.
Some cases do not require any treatment, while others require eye patching or surgery to place an artificial lens
Congenital Glaucoma - A birth defect that occurs when the optic nerve is damaged and pressure builds up inside of the eye. Congenital glaucoma can be seen in a newborn at birth and affects approximately 1 out every 10,000 births.
The drainage channel in the eye does not develop properly during fetal development and the aqueous humor is not able to drain out of the eye. Research shows that most babies born with glaucoma inherited the condition from one of their parents. Babies that are born with congenital glaucoma will have large eyes because of the pressure inside of the eye.
Congenital glaucoma makes a baby very sensitive to light and the eyes will appear cloudy and watery. Jerky eye movements, poor vision and squinting are also common. Treatment options include eye drops, tablets, laser therapy and surgery.
Congenital Heart Defect - Congenital heart defects are the most common kind of fatal birth defect in newborns and affect 1 out of every 120 live births.
Approximately 35,000 babies are born with some form of a heart defect every year and more babies will die during their first year of life from a heart defect than any other reason. The heart begins forming and developing very early in fetal development, usually before a woman realizes that she has conceived.
A congenital heart defect is a problem within the heart that is present at birth. Congenital heart defects occur early on in pregnancy when the heart is forming. A heart defect can sometimes be diagnosed on a prenatal ultrasound. However, some children are not diagnosed with it until other symptoms arise.
Treatment involves medication and surgery.
Congenital Hip Dislocation - A disorder that affects approximately 1.5 out of every 1,000 babies will be affected with congenital hip dislocation, which is commonly referred to as hip dysplasia. This usually happens when the ball joint at the top of the leg is not in the correct location in the hip joint. Research shows that the left hip is more likely to be dislocated than the right hip, but some children will be affected on both sides. A doctor will diagnose congenital hip dislocation after birth through physical examinations and x-rays, if necessary. If the condition is not noticed at birth, it should be detected during one of the many well-checks that a baby receives in their first year of life. Although there is no known cause, low amniotic fluid and a breech delivery can increase the chances for developing hip dislocation. While there may be no symptoms present, some babies that are affected have one leg that is shorter than the other, which will cause a limited amount of movement on the affected side. Other symptoms may include leg positions that do not appear to be even, uneven folds of fat on the thighs and an outward appearance in the affected leg. Treatment options include a device that helps to keep the legs apart (which will hold in the hip joint steady), casts, braces or surgery. It is important to get early treatment so that arthritis and hip deterioration do not occur.
Congenital Hip Dysplasia - An infant that is born with abnormal development of the hip will be diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball at the top of the thighbone is not in the socket properly because the femur has been displaced. Occasionally, the ligaments are stretched or loose, which can become worse as the child becomes more active. Hip dysplasia is generally found during a routine newborn check-up. Some children will not be diagnosed with the condition until they are older. Common signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia include legs that are different lengths, less mobility on one side of the hip, limping and difficulty walking. Because untreated hip dysplasia can cause osteoporosis, dreadful pain and difficulty walking, it is crucial to get treatment for the child. Treatment options include physical therapy, harnesses, splints, casts and surgical procedures.
Congenital Hypoplastic Anemia - Anemia occurring in infants as a result of underdeveloped bone marrow. The syndrome is characterized by deficiency of red blood cells at birth, slow growth, fatigue, pale skin, characteristic facial abnormalities, hand deformities and/or congenital heart defects.
Congenital Hypothyroidism - A birth disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 3,500 babies. Research shows that congenital hypothyroidism affects more girls than boys. The disorder causes a loss or complete absence of thyroid function, which helps with physical growth, brain development and metabolism. The condition occurs when the thyroid gland does not develop or is not able to function. Although most infants do not show any distinct symptoms, some infants with severe cases will have a puffy face, thick tongue, dry hair, jaundice, low hairline, constipation, short stature, excessive sleepiness and decreased muscle tone. To diagnose hypothyroidism a doctor will order blood tests, thyroid scans and x-rays. Treatment includes replacement therapy.
Congenital Limb Defect - A baby that is born with a limb defect will have an upper or lower limb that did not properly form while in utero.
There are a variety of types of congenital limb defects that your child could experience. The baby could be born missing a limb, with an underdeveloped or very small limb, an overgrown or large limb, extra arms, legs, fingers and toes or webbing of the fingers and toes.
Although there is no known cause for the defects, risk factors include medications that were taken during pregnancy, infections or viruses that the mother was exposed to during pregnancy or other environmental factors. There is no cure for a congenital limb defect.
Treatment involves prosthetics, splints, braces, surgery, therapy and adaptation to the birth defect.