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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Facial Paralysis - A type of birth injury in which the facial nerve is injured, leaving the muscles in the face impaired. Pressure on a baby's face may cause the facial nerve to be injured during labor or childbirth. Forceps can also cause nerve damage during a difficult delivery. Facial paralysis can often be seen when the baby cries because there will be no movement on the side of the face with the injury and the eye cannot be closed. A bruised nerve will usually resolve on its own, with no medical attention. A torn nerve will need to be surgically repaired.
Faciogenital Dysplasia - An inherited disorder that is characterized by wide spaced eyes, front-facing nostrils, a broad upper lip, a malformed scrotum, flat feet, short stature, joint laxity and overly extensible fingers. The disorder is passed to offspring as an X-linked recessive trait. Other common symptoms include slight to moderate mental deficiency, droopy eyelids, delayed eruption of teeth, undescended testicles and broad thumbs and big toes. Surgery may be necessary to correct facial abnormalities.
Factor V Leiden - A genetic abnormality that increases risk of blood clots, which will lead to an increased risk of miscarriage. Research shows that Caucasian women are more likely to have the condition.
Failed Forceps Delivery - An unsuccesful attempt at a forceps delivery in a woman attempting a vaginal birth. If forceps are not proving successful, a cesaren section is recommended for the laboring woman.
Failure To Progress - Occurs when labor has significantly slowed down or stopped because of inadequate contractions that do not allow the cervix to properly dilate or a baby that is too large to fit through the woman's pelvis.
Fallopian Tube - Responsbile for transporting the egg from the ovary to the uterus. There are two fallopian tubes, one on each side of the body. One connects to the right ovary, the other to the left ovary. Fertilization normally occurs within the fallopian tubes. Blocked, damaged or scarred fallopian tubes are a common cause of infertility in women.
Falope Ring - A nonreactive rubber band that is used for closing each fallopian tube as a procedure for female sterilization. The ring is placed around a 2-3 cm segment of fallopian tube, after being drawn inside a narrow cone-shaped applicator. Because the closed segment is deprived of blood, it will eventually turn into scar tissue.
False labor - A regular or irregular tightening of the uterus during pregnancy that occurs before true labor begins. Many women think they are actually in labor, but the contractions do not get stronger and the cervix does not progress. False labor contractions may stop or decrease if you walk around, change positions or eat/drink something.
False Negative - Denoting a test result that wrongly indicates that a persn does not have the attribute or disease for which the test was conducted. Often times, pregnancy tests will show a negative result when, in fact, the woman is actually pregnant. Some results of prenatal tests will reveal a false negative result.
False Positive - Denoting a test result that wrongly indicates that a person has the attribute or disease for which the test is conducted. Often times, during prenatal testing, a woman is given a positive result and the infant shows no sign of the condition that was being tested for.
False Pregnancy - Development of pregnancy symptoms in a nonpregnant woman, including morning sickness, tender breasts, exhaustion and a missed period. The abdomen is also tender and swollen. Symptoms are clinically present, but no fetus is found during examination. Most often, the condition is psychological and is related to either wanting to be pregnant or an intense fear of becoming pregnant.
Family Medical Leave Act - Passed in 1993, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that requires up to 12 weeks unpaid medical leave for employees to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.
Family Planning - The conscious use of natural or artificial birth control methods in order to regulate the number and spacing of children in a family.
Fasting Blood Sugar - A method of testing the level of glucose present in a blood sample after going for atleast 8 hours with no food or drink.
Fatigue - Extreme tiredness and/or weakness. It is common to feel fatigued during pregnancy as the body works overtime to provide a nourishing environment for the fetus. Feeling fatigued is your body's way of telling you to slow down. This can be hard while on the job. Take short, frequent breaks and accept help from others when it is offered. Get on a schedule and prioritize. Be active when you can and get as much rest as possible.
Fecal Incontinence - The accidental and involuntary loss of bowel control from the anus. While loss of bowel control is a common symptom of aging, it can also occur as a result of childbirth. If the nerves and muscles of the rectum and/or anus are injured during a vaginal birth, it can cause a woman to lose control of bowel movements.
Fecundability - The probability of becoming pregnant within one menstrual cycle. Fecundability can refer to an indiviudal or a group of individuals.
Female Condom - Any protective sheath that is worn by a woman during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive device and as a protection against STD transmission.
Female Factor Infertility - The condition when a couple's infertility is attributed to the woman.
Female Kallman's Syndrome - An inherited condition that is characterized by infantile sexual development and an absence of sense of smell. The pituitary gland is not able to produce LH and FSH, therefore a hormone supplement is necessary to achieve puberty, to maintain secondary sex characteristics, and to become fertile so that conception is possible.
Female Reproductive System - The part of a woman's body that is responsible for producing offspring. Females have a reproductive system that is located completely in the pelvis. A woman's internal reproductive organs include the vagina, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Female Sterilization - A surgery in which a woman's fallopian tubes are cut, burned or clamped to prevent pregnancy. The procedure can be done through the vagina or abdominal wall. Although a tubal ligation is a form of permanent birth control, some candidates do have the procedure reversed.
Femur Length - A measurement that is used to monitor the growth of a developing fetus. The femur bone is measured by using ultrasound technology during pregnancy. Tee measurement can also be used to determine the point of gestation and provide an accurate due date.
Fentanyl - Narcotic opioid pain reliever usually used in combination with other drugs for surgery patients. Fentanyl is 80 times as strong as morphine and may become addictive.
Ferguson Reflex - During pregnancy, uterine contractions are induced by mechanical stretching of the cervix.