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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Congenital Megacolon - An abnormally large colon in a newborn resulting from an absence of nerve cells at the junction of the rectum and the colon. Symptoms include a distended abdomen, failure to pass meconium, and vomiting of bile. Eventually the entire colon will become dilated.
Congenital Muscular Torticollis - A disorder that occurs when a newborn's neck is twisted because of a shortened muscle.
Muscular torticollis is also referred to as wryneck. A newborn can be born with muscular torticollis after a difficult delivery. Most of the time this happens when the baby is born breech or has a high birth weight.
During delivery, the baby's sternocleidomastoid (the muscle that runs from the jawbone to the collarbone and breastbone) gets pulled and will tear. This will cause bleeding and bruising on the muscle, which will lead to scar tissue build up. The scar tissue will then cause the baby's muscles to become shorter and tighter, causing the baby's head to pull to one particular side.
Parents and caregivers will notice that the child keeps their head tilted to one side and they usually also have a small, hard lump in their neck. A doctor can usually diagnose muscular torticollis during a physical examination, but x-rays and ultrasounds can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Torticollis does not go away on its own and if it is not treated, the condition will only become worse. When muscular torticollis is not treated properly, it will cause the muscles to permanently tighten and the neck and face will become uneven in appearance.
Treatments options include stretching exercises, therapy and surgery.
Congenital Rubella - A syndrome present at birth that includes one or more of the following symptoms: abnormalities of the eye (glaucoma, cataracts, etc), cardiac anomalies, small head, deafness and growth retardation. The disorder is caused by transplacental fetal infection with the rubella virus during the first trimester of gestation as a result of maternal infection.
Congenital Syphilis - A severe and infectious disease of the fetus that is acquired in utero through maternal transmission. The infection is spread during fetal development or at birth. Approximately half of all infants that acquire the infection will die before birth or shortly after. Common symptoms of the disease in newborn infants include fever, rash of the mouth, genitals and anus, pneumonia, failure to gain weight and irritability. The placenta will be examined for signs of syphilis.
Congenital Uterine Malformation - A condition that occurs during a woman's own prental development, in which the uterus takes on an abnormal shape or structure. This type of malformation increases the risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery in an affected female.
Conization - 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.
Conjoined Twin - A rare phenomenon in which a pair of identical twins are born with their bodies joined at some point. Many conjoined twins are born stillborn because their particular condition was incompatible with life. Common joining parts include the head, buttocks, hips or back. Surgery to separate conjoined twins can be relatively simple or extremely complex, depending on the point of attachment.
Consanguinity - A partnership or marriage between two individuals that have a common ancestor, thus making these two individuals blood related. Additional testing may be recommended during pregnancy to test for possible genetic disorders.
Consent - Voluntary aggreement to medical care or treatment by one with the capacity to do so. All women must give consent for medical care during pregnancy and at the time of delivery.
Constipation - A condition in which the stool becomes hard, dry and difficult to pass, and bowel movements do not occur as frequently as they should. More than half of all pregnant women will suffer from constipation at some time during their pregnancy. Symptoms of constipation usually include painful bowel movements, a bloated feeling, a sense of being full and abdominal pain. The condition is usually caused by lack of fiber in the diet, inadequate fluid consumption, an excessive amount of iron in the body and an increase of progesterone during pregnancy.
Consultand - The person seeking or being referred for genetic counseling.
Contact Bleeding - Bleeding occurring after sexual intercourse. The bleeding may be caused by cervical cancer, polyps, increased blood flow during pregnancy or infection.
Contagious - Transferrable. A disease or infection that is easily spread from one person to another by contact with the infectious agent that causes the disease. The agent may be in droplets of liquid particles made by coughing or sneezing, contaminated food utensils, water or food.
Contraception - Methods that are used to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in sexually active individuals. A variety of options are available to appeal to the needs of the person. While most forms of contraception are generally highly effective if used properly, no form of contraception (other than abstinence) provides 100% protection.
Contraceptive Jelly - A spermicidal jelly used alone or with a barrier contraceptive device to prevent contraception.
Contraceptive Sheath - 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.
Contraction - A forceful, rhythmic and often painful tightening of the uterine muscles during labor. Contractions occur during childbirth and help to push the baby through the cervix and out of the vagina. True labor contractions will become closer, stronger and will help dilate the cervix. False labor contractions do not become closer or stronger and are known as Braxton-Hicks contractions.
Contraction Stress Test - A non-invasive test that is provided to determine how well the baby will handle the stress of contractions that accompany labor. During the test, the heart rate of the fetus will be measured and monitored to determie if the baby can get adequate amounts of oxygen from the placenta during contractions. Contractions are stimulated with oxytocin and are measured until there have been three contractions within a ten minute time period. If the baby's heart beat remains consistent throughout the contractions, the baby is likely healthy and able to handle the contractions throughout labor. If the baby's heart beat decreases with the majority of the contractions, it may signal fetal distress. Depending on the severity, labor may be induced or an emergency cesarean may be necessary.
Cord Accident - A non-specific term that refers to any problem with the umbilical cord. Cord accidents could include cord prolapse, a knot in the cord or an umbilical cord that is not functioning properly and providing the necessary nutrients and oxygen that the fetus needs to survive.
Cord Blood Banking - A process in which the blood from the umbilical cord is extracted, sent to the lab for processing and cryogenically stored to treat certain disorders. Cord blood can be collected in-utero or ex-utero. If the process is done in-utero, the cord blood will be collected while the placenta is being delivered. The doctor will simply draw the cord blood from the umbilical cord. If the cord blood collected after both the baby and placenta have been delivered, the placenta will be placed in a sterile supporting structure with the umbilical cord hanging for support. There has to be atleast 75mL of cord blood collected to get a useful amount. All cord blood samples are tested for HIV, hepatitis, tissue typing and other diseases.
If the baby were to become sick and need a bone marrow transplant, the cord blood that has been stored is readily available. Stem cells from the umbilical cord can treat leukemia, lymphoma, certain cancers, sickle cell disease and other metabolic disorders. Another child or family member that is suffering from a disease in which a stem cell transplant can help treat, can use the stored cord blood as well.
Cord Blood Harvesting - Collection of umbiical cord blood from the umbilical cord of the baby after the baby’s birth. Harvesting of umbilical cord blood is performed after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut and does not cause pain to the baby. The blood from the cord can then be used for a variety of medical conditions, including stem cell transplants.
Cord Compression - A condition in which the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby's neck or squished between the baby's head and mother's pelvis, that leads to stretching and compressing of the cord. Because of the compression, blood within the cord is decreased, which causes the fetal heart rate to drop periodically. Usually, the condition is not a threat for the baby and a vaginal delivery is successful. Occasionally, the fetus will show additional signs of distress and a cesarean section will be necessary. Cord compression affects approximately one in 10 deliveries.
Cord Knot - A knot in the umbilical cord. Umbilical cord knots can develop in the womb as the fetus tuns and flips. or they can also occur during delivery as the baby makes their way down the birth canal. The knot can be life threatening if it is a true knot. A fetus with an abnormally large umbilical cord or a fetus that is abnormally large is at greater risk of developing a knot in the cord. Decreased fetal movement after the 37th week of pregnancy is the main symptom of the condition.
Cord pH - The acid-base status of fetal blood as determined by umbilical cord blood sampling.
Cord Presentation - A type of fetal presentation in which the umbilical cord has prolapsed below the presenting part of the baby before the membranes have ruptured. During a pelvic examination, the doctor or midwife is able to feel loops of the umbilical cord that have palpated through the membranes. Because of the severity of the condition, death is likely in the fetus and the mother usually experiences complications.