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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Episiotomy - A small incision of the perineum made to enlarge the vaginal opening during childbirth. An episiotomy is done in your labor/delivery room and is performed by your doctor. The doctor takes a sterile pair of scissors and makes an incision in the tissue between the vagina and anus (the perineum). An episiotomy may be needed if your baby needs to be delivered quickly. Doing so could prevent your baby from being stuck in the birth canal and suffering from oxygen deprivation. Your doctor may also perform an episiotomy if he feels that your vaginal tissues will tear extensively. A large vaginal tear may be more painful and take longer to heal than a simple episiotomy in this case.
Epispadias - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 out of every 115,000 boys and 1 out of every 485,000 girls.
An epispadia occurs when the urethra opening is abnormally placed. In a male infant with epispadias, the urethra will be generally open on the top or side of the penis.
Boys will suffer from a short, wide penis and widened pubic bone. In a female infant with epispadias, the urethra will generally be located between the clitoris and the labia or in the abdominal area. Girls will suffer from a widened pubic bone and an abnormal clitoris and labia. In both males and females, urine will flow into the kidney and urinary tract infections are common. It is also common for the child to have urinary incontinence, kidney damage and often infertility issues as an adult.
A doctor will perform a series of tests to diagnose epispadias, which may include blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds. Treatment involves surgery to help with urine control and appearance.
Epulis of Pregnancy - Benign tumor of the gums that typically occurs during the first or second trimester of pregnancy and goes away after the baby has been delivered. A pregnancy epulis may bleed easily and appears red and inflamed. They are generally not painful. They are not cancerous and do not have the potential to become cancerous.
Erb-Duchenne Paralysis - Paralysis of the upper arm in an infant that is caused by trauma to the brachial plexus or to the roots of the cervical nerves during childbirth.
Erectile Dysfunction - An abnormal physical or psychological state in a male characterized by inability to have or maintain an erection of the penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Erectile Tissue - Tissue containing an abundance of vascular spaces which become firm when filled with blood. The penis and the clitoris are both erectile tissues and become hard when filled with blood during sexual excitement.
Ergotamine - A medication that is prescribed for the treatment of migraine headaches. Because of the possible effects on a developing fetus and infant, the medication is not recommended for women that are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Erogeneous Zone - Any area of the body that, when appropriately stimulated, produces sexual sensations. The penis, scrotum, nipples, labia, neck and clitoris are all considered erogenous zones.
Erythroblastosis Fetalis - Hemolytic anemia that results from the incompatibility of a fetus with an Rh-positive blood factor and a mother who is Rh negative. The mother's body produces antibodies that attack the developing baby's red blood cells, which could be life threatening. The condition can be diagnosed before birth by amniocentesis. Infants may experience anemia, an enlarged spleen or liver, swelling and jaundice.
Erythromycin - A broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be used for many different infections. It is in the form of an ointment that is placed into the eyes within the first hour or so following the birth. The ointment is primarily used to prevent blindness in infants who are born to mothers with the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. The medication does cause the eyelids to become red and puffy for about 12-24 hours, but it does not sting the baby's eyes.
Esophageal Atresia - A disorder of the digestive system in which the esophagus does not develop properly during fetal development. The upper esophagus ends and does not connect with the lower esophagus and stomach. The top end of the lower esophagus connects to the windpipe. Prenatal signs of the disorder include excessive amounts of amniotic fluid. Common symptoms include poor feeding, coughing, gagging, bluish discoloring of the skin while feeding, heart complications and drooling. Surgery to repair the esophagus should be done promptly after the baby is stabilized so that the lungs are not damaged.
Estimated Date Of Confinement - 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.
Estimated Due Date - 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.
Estradiol - The most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen that is secreted by the ovaries.
Estriol - A type of estrogen that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Estriol levels are evaluated and measured during the triple screening test that is offered during the second trimester to determine the risk of birth defects and other congenital anomalies.
Estrogen - A hormone that is secreted mainly by the ovaries in females. Estrogen is responsible for the healthy development of the reproductive system, including the maintenance of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen also plays a key role in keeping bones strong and brain cells healthy.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy - The use of the female hormone, estrogen, to replace the hormone that the body no longer produces naturally after medical or surgical menopause. It is given in pill or patch form to relieve symptoms of menopause and to help protect women against osteoporosis and heart disease.
Evaporation Line - A faint and usually colorless line that is caused due to evaporation of the urine in then test area. These are lines that show in the result window of the test, where a positive sign would be revealed. An evaporation line develops when the urine on the test area begins to dry.
Excessive Size Infant - An infant that weighs over 9.9 pounds (4500 grams) at the time of birth.
Exchange Transfusion - A procedure in which blood tjat contains a toxic substance is removed and replaced with donor blood. The procedure is performed on newborn infants with Rh-incompatibility.
Excisional Biopsy - The surgical removal of an entire lump and a portion of surrounding unaffected tissue for examination. The tissue is studied under the microscope to see if cancer cells are present and without a microscope by a pathologist. This procedure is most commonly performed in cases of suspected breast cancer.
Excitement Phase - During sexual excitement, early sexual arousal in both male and female in response to stimulation. In the female, common characteristics of sexual excittement include vaginal lubrication, enlargement of the clitoris, labial engorgement, darkening of the vaginal wall, erection of the breasts and nipples, flsuhing of the skin and elevated blood pressure.
Exclusive Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding an infant or baby with no formula being used as a nutritional supplement. Many healthcare professionals suggest exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life.
Exomphalos - A birth disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 5,000 live births. During fetal development, the abdominal wall does not develop properly and the contents of the abdomen will protrude into a sac through the umbilical cord. The sac can vary in size, ranging from small to very large. Exomphalos has been linked to other complications such as abnormalities of the heart, lungs, kidneys and Trisomy 18.
Prenatal diagnosis is possible through an ultrasound examination; however, not all cases are confirmed before birth. If a confirmation was made prior to birth, a cesarean section may be necessary for a safe delivery. If the exomphalos was not diagnosed prenatally, it will be easily confirmed after birth and the doctors will place a wrap around the exomphalos to protect it.
Treatment options include surgery to remove the sac and place the abdominal contents where they belong as well as medications to encourage skin growth.
Expectant Management - A decision that is made, either by the woman or physician, to wait for a miscarriage to occur naturally instead of depending on medical or surgical intervention to speed up the process.