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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Fetal Distress - An evident change in fetal activity or heartbeat, which could mean that the fetus is in danger. Signs of fetal distress include a rapid change in the baby's movement or heartbeat and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Although the condition can occur at any point of pregnancy, it is most common during labor.
Fetal Doppler - A special instrument that uses a probe to detect high frequency sound waves that are produced by the fetal heart. By the 12th week of gestation, the heartbeat can generally be heard consistently, using the fetal doppler. A special gel is squirted on the abdomen and the probe is moved over the abdomen until a heartbeat is detected. Once the sound waves are found, they are sent from the probe to the fetal doppler monitor, which amplifies the sound so that it can be heard.
Fetal Dystocia - Difficult labor due to an abnormally large fetus, abnormal fetal position or multiple babies in the womb.
Fetal Face Syndrome - A rare birth defect that causes dwarfism and abnormalities in the head, face and genitalia. In more severe cases, skeletal abnormalities may be present. This is called fetal face syndrome because the facial anomalies often resemble those of a developing fetus at approximately 8 weeks gestation. The baby will be born with wide spaced eyes, a small face, short nose, prominent forehead, flat nasal bridge and abnormalities in the lower eyelid. Other common symptoms include short lower arms, small feet and hands, short fingers and toes and possible misplacement of the thumb. A major characterisitic of the disorder that all patients suffer to some degree is verterbral segmentation abnormalities. Genital abnormalities include a very small penis, undescended testicles, hypospadias, small clitoris and underdeveloped labia.
Fetal Goiter - A condition in which the fetus's thyroid is enlarged, which can be associated with hyperthyroidism pr hypothyroidism. Women with Grave's disease are at an increased risk of passing the condition to their developing offspring.
Fetal Growth Retardation - Inadequate fetal growth during pregnancy. When a baby is diagnosed with IUGR (intrauterine growth reatardation) , they may be described as small for gestational age as well. A fetus that has been diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction normally weighs less than 90% of all other fetuses that are the same gestational age.
Fetal growth restriction occurs when the cells and tissue can not grow. This usually happens when the baby does not receive the proper amount of nutrients or oxygen that is needed for growth and development. IUGR can be diagnosed at any point during the pregnancy. Doctors diagnose IUGR in a variety of ways. During prenatal visits, caregivers measure the height of the fundus. The measurement usually corresponds with the week of pregnancy after the 20th week. If the measurement is low, fetal growth retardation may be suspected. Ultrasound examinations are often used to accurately estimate a baby's size.
A baby with IUGR will be thin and is often born with pale, loose skin that may be dry. Many babies with IUGR will look malnourished at birth, but not all will appear that way. Usually the babies umbilical cord is thin and dull in color rather than thick and shiny. It is not uncommon for babies to be born with low oxygen levels and low Apgar scores. Babies that have IUGR may also suffer from low blood sugar and have a hard time regulating their body temperature. Babies that experience severe degrees of IUGR may be born stillborn or have long-term problems as life progresses.
Fetal Heart Rate - From the date of the last menstrual period, the fetal heart will begin to beat on the 22nd day of development. This means that by the 5th week of pregnancy, the heart is beating. Until week 9, the fetal heart rate will increase 3.3 beats per day. In the early stages, the fetal heart rate is approximately 80-85 beats per minute (bpm). By the 9th week your baby's heart beat will be in the range of 155 to 195 beats per minute. Most expectant parents say that the fetal heart rate sounds like the galloping of a horse.
Fetal Hemoglobin - The pigmented protein found in fetal red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen. This type of hemoglobin is only found in the fetus and newborns for a short time after birth.
Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome - A disorder that is caused by maternal ingestion of hydantoin analogs during pregnancy. The baby will be born with a broad low nasal bridge, epicanthal folds, prominent ears, a high incidence of fifth finger or toe, mental retardation and growth retardation.
Fetal Hypoxia - Decreased levels of oxygen in the fetal blood stream. Maternal complications such as HELLP syndrome, pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, placental abruption, poorly controlled diabetes and low levels of amniotic fluid all contribute to fetal hypoxia. Severe hypoxia can lead to irreversible damage to the brain and other organs.
Fetal Kick Count - A simple monitoring technique that you can use at home to assess the general condition of the developing fetus by counting the amount of movements you feel within a period of time. The first thing you want to do is pick your babies most active time of the day to begin. On a sheet of paper, write down the time you begin monitoring the movement. Each time you feel movement from the baby, put a check mark. Movements include kicking, twisting, punching and turning. Do not count hiccups. Once you have felt ten movements, stop and write the time down. Your baby should move atleast ten times in four hours. If this does not happen call your health care provider for advice on what to do next.
Fetal Membranes - The structure that protects the developing fetus and provides nutrition, respirtaion, excretions and hormonal secretions during fetal development. The membranes include the amnion, chorion, yolk sac, decidua and placenta.
Fetal Period - The period of time referring to the developing fetus from the eighth week after conception until delivery has occured.
Fetal Pole - The earliest signs of an embryo or fetusthat can be seen during an early pregnancy ultrasound. The fetal pole can usually be seen on a transvaginal ultrasound at 6 weeks of gestation.
Fetal Posture - The characteristic posture of the fetus within the uterus during the later months of pregnancy. Typically, the fetus will be lying with its head flexed and the chin almost touching the chest. The thighs are usually flexed towards the abdomen and the legs are bent at the knees.
Fetal Scalp Blood Sampling - A sampling of capillary blood from the fetal scalp that is obtained during the course of labor to determine if the fetus is in distress. After the amniotic sac has ruptured, the doctor will insert a lit-up endoscope into the dilated cervix and make a small incision on the fetus's head. Blood is collected in a tube and the pH levels are measured to determine if the baby is in distress.
Fetal Scalp Electrode - A small electrode that is placed under the skin of the fetus's scalp to monitor the baby's heartbeat during labor. The electrode is inserted into the vagina, through the cervix and directly under the fetal scalp. This is used during internal montioring because it provides a more accurate and consistent measurement of the fetal heart rate.
Fetal Scalp Stimulation - A prenatal test that is used to determine the well-being of the developing fetus while in the uterus. When pressure or pnching is applied to the scalp, the healthcare provider is looking to see how the baby responds.
Fetal Souffle - A blowing, whistling sound synchronous with the fetal heartbeat, heard during late pregnancy. The condition is caused by blood flowing through the umbilical vessels when the cord is subject to torsion, tension or pressure.
Fetal Tachycardia - An abnormally fast heartbeat that is seen in the fetus. High fetal heart rate is above 160 beats per minute. Common causes of fetal tachycardia include maternal or fetal infection, oxygen deficiency in the fetus or maternal drug use.
Fetal Warfarin Syndrome - A group of birth defects that is caused by administration of warfarin to a pregnant woman. Researchers believe that the most critical period for warfarin effects on the fetus is between 6 and 9 weeks of gestation. and resulting in fetal bleeding, nasal hypoplasia, optic atrophy, seizures, mental retrardation and fetal death.
Fetal Weight - The weight of a developing fetus from the ages of 16 to 40 gestational weeks. Fetal weight is approximately 110 grams at 16 weeks, 1100 grams at 28 weeks and 3400 grams at 40 weeks.
Feticide - Intentional destruction of the embryo or fetus in the uterus. Feticide typically refers to an incident in which an individual pushes or kicks a pregnant woman in the abdomen, pushes the pregnant female down the stairs or otherwise harms her while she is carrying a fetus. Feticide can also refer to an abortion.
Fetology - The branch of medicine that involves the study of the fetus and the diseases or infections that can be associated with a developing fetus.
Fetometry - Estimation of the size of the fetus before delivery is attempted, usually the fetal head. An ultrasound technician or doctor will use an ultrasound machine to calculate the size of the fetus.