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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Large For Gestational Age - An infant whose weight is greater than the 90th percentile when compared with other infants of the same gestational age. The majority of newborn infants in this category are born to mothers that had gestational diabetes.
Laryngotracheobronchitis - A usually mild and temporary infection in which swelling is present around the vocal cords. Croup can be caused by a virus, bacteria, allergy, inhaled irritant and other conditions such as measles, RSV, acid reflux and influenza. The child usually experiences a barking cough, difficult breathing and other cold symptoms.
Lash Cerclage - A transabdominal surgical procedure used for the treatment of an incompetent cervix in which a suture, usually of permanent material, is placed around the lower portion of the uterus at the level of the internal os in an effort to prevent midtrimester pregnancy loss.
Last Menstrual Period - The calendar date of a woman's last menstrual period before fertilization occured. This is the point in time from which the pregnancy is measured and the due date is calculated.
Latching On - The movement of the baby taking the nipple and areola into the mouth to begin breastfeeding. It is important for the baby to open the mouth wide to ensure a proper latch on the breast. Improper latch will lead to sore or cracked nipples.
Late Deceleration - Decrease in fetal heart rate beginning at, or after, the peak of a uterine contraction and returning to baseline levels after the contraction has ended. Medical professionals believe that the cause of the deceleration is any factor that compromises gas exchange between the uterus and placenta.
Late Miscarriage - A spontaneous miscarriage that occurs between the 12th and 20th week of pregnancy.
Latent Phase of Labor - A phase of childbirth that begins when the laboring mother feels the onset of regular uterine contractions. The phase ends when the active phase of labor begins. In women that have never experienced childbirth before, a normal time frame is considered 20 hours or less. Women that have gone through previous childbirth can expect this phase of labor to last 14 hours or less.
Laughing Gas - A colorless, sweet-tasting gas that exhibits a pleasing smell when inhaled. The gas is often used as an anesthetic to help individuals remain calm and reduce pain during medical procedures or childbirth.
Laurence Moon Syndrome - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 out every 100,000 live births. The main symptoms of the inherited birth disorder include obesity, visual complications, extra fingers and toes and mental retardation of varying degrees. Other common symptoms include diabetes, developmental delays, glaucoma, cataracts, webbing of the fingers and toes, speech delays, kidney complications, short stature and deep set eyes. Males with the syndrome may have undescended testicles, a small penis and fertility complications. While there is no cure for Laurence-Moon syndrome, treatments are available for individual symptoms. A dietician should be contacted to control obesity. Other treatment options involve corrective lenses, removal of cataracts, speech therapy, medications and surgery to remove skin tags and extra fingers/toes.
Laxative - Any substance that is taken to cause a bowel movement. This includes medicine and foods. Although constipation is a common occurrence associated with pregnancy, laxatives should not be used unless prescribed by a healthcare provider. Laxatives can stimulate the uterus, which can cause contractions and lead to preterm labor.
Lay Midwife - An individual without formal training in obstetrics who attends a woman during labor, delivery, and the postpartum recovery period (usually 42 days).
Layette - The complete set of newborn clothing and equipment that is needed for a new baby. Items include onesies, sleepers, hats, socks, bibs, blankets, toiletries and diapers. The term is commonly referred to as something that you would purchase as a pre-packaged gift set.
Leaded Apron - A shield of lead rubber that protects patients from radiation exposure during exams or procedures that use radiation. Any woman that is pregnant or could be pregnant should wear the apron to protect the developing fetus from dangerous and potentially harmful radiation.
Leg Cramps - Contractions or spasms of the calf muscle that can be very painful. Almost half of all pregnant women will experience leg cramps. These cramps are more common in the second and third trimesters and tend to occur more frequently during the evening and night hours. Causes include weight gain, pinched nerves caused by the weight of the uterus and the need for additional nutrients in the diet.
Legume - Vegetables within the pea or pod family that include beans, peas, soybeans, peanuts and lentils. These foods are good sources of protein and fiber and should be eaten during pregnancy as part of a well-balanced diet.
Leiomyoma - A benign tumor that is primarily composed of fibrous tissue.
Lemon Sign - A concave or flattening of the front portion of the fetal skull. The condition can be seen on ultrasound and may indicate the presence of spina bifida.
LEOPARD Syndrome - A rare inherited disorder that causes abnormalities of the skin, heart, ears, genitals, head and face. LEOPARD stands for: L=Lentigines, or dark spots on the skin,
E= Electrocardigram abnormalities, O= Ocular hypertelorism, or wide spaced eyes,
P= Pulmonary stenosis, A= Abnormal genitalia, R= Retardation of growth,
D= Deafness. Common symptoms of the disorder include dark brown spots on the skin that are usually on the face, neck and chest, freckles in the armpits, coffee-colored birthmarks, lightened spots on the skin, stretchy skin, webbed fingers, hearing loss, short stature, low set ears, dental complications, mental retardation of varying degrees, genital abnormalities, heart complications and an unusually shaped head. To remove lentigines, surgery, laser treatments, chemical peels or cryotherapy can be performed. The child should continue to be evaluated by medical professionals to monitor any complications.
Leopold's Maneuver - Four maneuvers to determine the position of the fetus in the uterus. Palpation of the fundus and pelvic brim can determine where the fetus is lying. A health care provider can also apply pressure to the sides of the abdomen as well as the lower portion of the abdomen to find out what part of the fetus has engaged in the pelvis.
Leri Weil Syndrome - A type of dwarfism that varies in severity from one individual to another. The condition is rare and females are more severely affected than males. A child that is born with Leri-Weil syndrome will have short arms and short legs, as well as bone abnormalities of the wrist and arm. The chest and head will be of normal size. The child could experience hip abnormalities and wide bones in the fingers and toes. A doctor can generally diagnose the condition during a physical examination or through the use of x-rays and genetic testing. Prenatal amniocentesis is available to test before birth. While there is no exact cure for Leri-Weil syndrome, treatments include giving growth hormones, surgery and physical therapy.
Letdown - The process of making breast milk available to the infant. Letdown starts when the baby sucks effectively at the breast and the nerve endings in the nipple and areola are stimulated.
A nerve signal is sent to part of the mother`s brain called the hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus sends a signal to the mother`s pituitary gland in her brain which starts the release of prolactin and oxytocin.
Oxytocin causes the smooth muscle cells around the alveoli to contract.
The milk is squeezed through the ducts to wait for the baby to suck it out.
Leukocycte - Infection fighting cells that help to maintain a healthy immune system. When a bacteria, virus or other foreign organism enters the body, white blood cells attack and destroy them. If an infection is present, the amount of white blood cells in the body will increase. Women that are pregnant will have slightly elevated levels of white blood cells.
Leukorrhea - An abnormal white or yellowish discharge from the vagina that contains mucus and pus. This is often a symptom of an underlying yeast infection, STD or other gynecological condition.
Leydig Cell - A cell in the testes that secretes the hormone testosterone.