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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Eagle-Barrett Syndrome - A birth disorder that mainly affects males and approximately one out of every 35,000 births. Typical symptoms of the disorder include undescended testicles, wrinkling folds of skin on the abdomen, lack of abdominal muscles and a large, abnormal bladder. Because of the expanded bladder, it is common to see a mass in the abdominal area. Urinary tract abnormalities are also common and can affect the bladder, ureters and/or kidneys. Recurring urinary tract infections can occur. Some babies will also have skeletal, intestinal and heart defects. Many babies with this birth defect will be stillborn or die within months of being born.
Early Deceleration - Deceleration of the fetal heart rate in the second stage of labor, at the beginning of a contraction and returning to baseline levels at the end of the contraction. Medical professionals believe that the deceleration is caused by compression of the fetal head.
Early Intervention - Programs that are designed to assist children with developmental delays. Often times, children that were born prematurely need early intervention programs to facilitate learning.
Early Menopause - A condition in which the ovaries stop producing eggs before the age of 40. The condition is often associated with autoimmune abnormalities in the woman and a history of infertility, IVF failures, exposure to harsh chemicals, chemotherapy, radiation for cancer treatment. or recurrent pregnancy losses.
Early Miscarriage - A spontaneous miscarriage that takes place before the 12th week of pregnancy has been completed. The miscarriage is usually a result of a chromosomal abnormality in the developing embryo.
Eating Disorder - An extreme, harmful eating behavior that can cause serious illness or even death. An individual becomes overly worried about weight gain and goes to extreme measures to control their daily caloric intake. Eatiang disorders can have negative effects in a woman that is trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ebstein's Malformation - Malformation of the tricuspid vlave of the heart. The valve is distorted and displaced downwards into the right ventricle. If the condition is severe, obstruction of blood flow out of the right ventricle is possible.
Echinacea - An herb that is commonly used to reduce cold and flu symptoms. Echinacea is not recommended during pregnancy because it can stimulate your uterus and cause premature labor. Because your immune system changes when you're pregnant to give you extra protection against illness, you don't want to take anything that could interfere with that process.
Echocardiogram - A non-invasive medical procedure that uses sound waves to produce pictures of the heart. The monitor will show the structure of the heart in addition to the pumping function. Many premature infants need the procedure done so that the doctor can examine the size of the heart, functionality of the heart and evaluate any heart abnormalities.
Echogenic Intracardiac Focus - A small bright spot that can be seen in the baby’s heart on an ultrasound exam. This condition occurs in approximately 3-5% of all pregnancies. The condition has been linked to the presence of Trisomy 18 or Trisomy 21 in children. If the condition is not linked to any chromosomal abnormalities, it does not pose any threat to the baby or the mother and will often go away on its own during the third trimester.
Eclampsia - A complication occuring in pregnant women, usually after the 20th week, that is characterized by pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling (edema) due to fluid retention. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to a more serious condition, known as eclampsia. The condition is fairly common and affects up to one in seven pregnant women around the world.
Ectoderm - One of three basic tissue types in the early embryo that forms from the outermost of the germ layers. As the ectoderm continues to develop, it will produce the skin, spinal cord, brain and nerves.
Ectopia Cordis - A serious congenital birth defect that affects approximately 8 in 1 million births. The defect occurs during fetal development and a person with etopia cordis will have a misplaced heart.
The heart is generally in the chest cavity, but in an individual with ectopia cordis it can be found outside of the chest, in the neck or in the abdomen. The baby may have other disorders of defects such as a cleft palate, septal defect, and other organs on the outside of the skin, Trisomy 18 and Turner syndrome.
Generally the heart is underdeveloped and most babies that are born alive with this condition will die during their first few days. Stillbirth is common. Surgery is available for an infant that is thriving at birth, but will be very complicated and risky.
Ectopic Kidney - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 births. A kidney that is not in the correct location is considered ectopic.
Some patients that have an ectopic kidney will not experience any complications, but others will experience kidney failure, urinary stones, urine blockage or infections of the urinary tract. An ectopic kidney is caused when one or both of the kidneys fails to move upwards during fetal development, is stuck in the pelvis or is found in the chest cavity.
Sometimes, one of the kidneys will cross over to the opposite side of the body and fuse with the other kidney. Prenatal ultrasound may diagnose an ectopic pregnancy before the child is born. After birth, a doctor can diagnose an ectopic kidney through ultrasound examinations, x-rays, nuclear scans, CT scans and MRI's.
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and what symptoms are present. If there is no blockage and the child is not developing stones or infections, no treatment is generally necessary. Surgery is necessary if there is an obstruction present or if kidney damage is severe.
Ectopic Pregnancy - A fertilized egg that has implanted outside of the uterus, is an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are often called tubal pregnancies because 95% of the time the egg settles in the fallopian tube. The egg can also implant in the ovary, abdomen, or the cervix, so you may see these referred to as cervical or abdominal pregnancies. None of these areas have as much space or nurturing tissue as a uterus for a pregnancy to develop. As the fetus grows, it will eventually burst the organ that contains it. This can cause severe bleeding and threaten the mother's life. A classical ectopic pregnancy never develops into a live birth. An ectopic pregnancy must be terminated.
Eczema - A form of dermatitis that occurs in infants and is characterized by heavy yellow crusted lesions on the scalp. It is usually not itchy, and does not bother the baby. Cradle cap occurs when the oil glands in the skin have been stimulated by adult hormones which leads to oiliness and flaking of the scalp. Infants get cradle cap because they are exposed to adult hormones from their mother. Infants may have thick, adherent, oily, yellowish, scaling or crusting patches on their heads with mild redness in involved areas.
EDC - A very old term that was once used as the due date. The estimated date the woman would give birth was based on the first day of a woman's last menstruation. The term has since been replaced with due date.
EDD - The approximate date for when the baby is due to be born. The due date is calculated based on the last menstrual period. To calculate the estimated due date based on the last menstrual period, take your last menstrual period and add nine months plus one week. To calculate the estimated due date based on ovulation, add nine months and subtract one week.
Edema - An excessive accumulation of fluid within the tissue spaces. Edema is common during pregnancy because of extra blood production and pressure on the vena cava from the growing uterus. Swelling seems to be at its worst during the second and third trimesters. Some swelling is normal during pregnancy and should not be alarming. However, if sudden swelling in the hands and face becomes evident, it could be a sign of preeclampsia.
Edward's Syndrome - A birth defect that occurs when the child receives duplicated information from chromosome #18. This disorder affects approximately 1 in every 3,000 babies and is more common in girls. Common symptoms of the disorder include mental retardation, kidney complications, low birth weight, coloboma, heart abnormalities, clenched hands, crossed legs, undescended testicles, small head and jaw and a malformed chest.
Effacement - The thinning and shortening of the cervix that is necessary to prepare for a vaginal delivery. Effacement occurs during the first stage of labor . Effacement is measured in percentages from 0 - 100%, with 100% being fully effaced.
Effleurage - A French word that means light massage. The massage consists of light, continuous stroking movement that is applied with the fingers or the palms in a slow, rhythmic manner. Effleurage of the abdomen is used in the Lamaze method of childbirth to help ease labor pains and make the laboring woman more comfortable.
Egg - A female reproductive cell that is produced by the ovaries and released during ovulation. The egg is about the size of a grain of sand and is the largest cell in the human body. During conception, the egg will become fertilized by sperm cells. The egg is responsible for supplying the maternal genetic material to the zygote at the point of fertilization. A woman is born with only a certain amount of eggs and one is released each month during the menstrual cycle.
Egg Aspiration - Removal of the follicles from the ovary before ovulation occurs. Generally, an injection of hCG is given and the follicles are removed 34 hours later. The procedure can be performed with the assistance of an ultrasound or through laparascopic examination.
Egg Donation - An infertility procedure in which a woman provides healthy eggs to assist an infertile woman in conceiving a baby. Medications are given to the egg donorTso that she produces extra eggs. The eggs are then surgically removed, fertilized, and implanted into the recipient's uterus.