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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Metrophlebitis - Inflammation of the uterine vein that occurs only during pregnancy and immediately following childbirth.
Metrorrhagia - Bleeding from the uterus and through the vagina that takes place between two consecutive menstrual periods. Common causes of metrorrhagia include uterine fibroids or polyps, injury or disease of the vagina, stopping and starting birth control pills, ectopic pregnancy, IUD, stress and low thyroid production.
Microcephaly - A birth defect that refers to a child that is born with a small head. Microcephaly can be inherited from a defective gene or developed due to other causes. During pregnancy, a fetus that is exposed to certain chemicals, radiation, infections, alcohol or medications is at an increased risk of abnormal head and brain development, which will cause microcephaly. If the pregnant mother does not consume enough vitamins and nutrients to sustain a healthy pregnancy or has diabetes, there is an increased chance as well. The symptoms of microcephaly include a very small head, seizures, mental retardation and developmental delays. Other children may have a hard time feeding. Microcephaly can be diagnosed during a prenatal ultrasound, which is best seen during the third trimester. If the diagnosis was not made prenatally, a doctor can diagnose microcephaly after the baby has been born based on the child's head circumference.
Once a confirmation has been made, additional tests may be necessary to make sure there are no other abnormalities. There is no cure or treatment for microcephaly.
Micrognathia - An abnormally small jaw that may occur on its own or may be found in association with many syndromes including trisomy 18, Treacher-Collins syndrome, Pierre Robin syndrome, Russell-Silver syndrome , Seckel syndrome, Progeria, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome
Micromanipulation - The techniques of handling eggs, sperm and embryos with special instruments under a microscope during assisted reproduction processes.
Micromelia - A congenital condition in which the limbs are abnormally short or small in comparison with the rest of the body.
Micropenis - An abnormally small penis that is seen in the newborn, measuring less than two centimeters in length from the pubic bone to the tip.
Microphthalmia - A disorder of the eye that occurs in approximately 1 out of every 10,000 live births. In microphthalmia, the eye began to develop in the fetus but stopped. This would leave the child with small eyes. Some cases are mild and often go unnoticed. However, the majority of cases are obvious. If a child has severe microphthalmia, it is the same as anophtalmia. Nothing can reverse microphthalmia. Parents and caregivers should continue to monitor the condition and make sure there are no associated eye defects.
Microtia - A condition in which the external ear canal is missing or underdeveloped.
In most cases, the inner ear and auditory nerve are completely normal. However, the external and middle ear is not normal.
Doctors generally diagnose a baby with this birth defect shortly after delivery during an examination. Microtia can affect one ear or both ears. In the affected ear, there is no hearing. If a child has aural atresia, they will require hearing tests and a hearing aid will likely be needed.
Reconstructive surgery is often desired and speech therapy is generally necessary.
Mid-Cycle Spotting - Slight bleeding during the middle of the menstrual cycle, characterisitc of ovulation or fluctuations in hormone levels. Other cuases of spotting mid cycle include stress, medications, excessive amounts of exercise, drug abuse or weight loss/gain. The color of blood can vary and is most commonly brown, red or pink.
Midforceps Delivery - The use of forceps to aid in childbirth when the fetal head is above station +2 but the head is engaged.
Midpain - Pelvic pain that occurs between two consecutive menstrual periods.
Midwife - A person with specific training. licensing and professional experience that is able to provide care to women during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Women that are considered high-risk should not be seen by a midwife. Midwives usually take a homeopahtic and natural approach with their patients. Most midwives work with the backup support of a medical doctor. A Direct Entry Midwife assists women that are interested in a homebirth while a Certified Professional Midwife assists births that take place in the hospital or birthing center.
Milia - Tiny white cysts or bumps under the skin of a newborn, usually around the nose or eyes. Milia have no pore opening and cannot be squeezed out. The condition does not post threat of any type and will go away on their own, with no treatment.
Milk Ejection Reflex - 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.
Milk Retention Cyst - A cyst that forms in one or more milk ducts in the breast due to a clogged duct during lactation or breastfeeding. The cyst is usually small and filled with milk. Common symptoms of the cyst include breast pain and a lump within the breast. Treatment involves aspirating the cyst.
Milk Spots - Tiny white cysts or bumps under the skin of a newborn, usually around the nose or eyes. Milia have no pore opening and cannot be squeezed out. The condition does not post threat of any type and will go away on their own, with no treatment.
Miller Syndrome - A rare inherited birth disorder that affects a child's facial appearance. Common facial abnormalities include cleft palate, small cup-shaped ears, underdeveloped cheekbones, a very small jaw and droopy eyelids. Some children will also suffer from additional abnormalities such as webbed fingers or toes, missing fingers or toes, abnormal development of the limbs and improper development of the ulna and radius. Mental retardation is not a symptom of Miller syndrome. Surgery is available to restore a normal appearance to facial features.
Miniabortion - Aspiration of the endometrium that is performed one to three weeks after the woman has failed to menstruate. This method can also be used to remove the remaining tissue of an incomplete miscarriage. A small, flexible tube is inserted into the uterus through the cervix and a handheld syringe is used to suction any remaining pregnancy material from inside of the uterus.
Minocycline - An antibiotic that belongs to the tetracycline group. The medication is prescribed by healthcare providers to treat a variety of infections within the body. Because intrauterine exposure may cause permanent discoloration of the fetus's developing teeth, pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid the medication.
Miscarriage - A miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy is lost in the first 20 weeks. Out of all pregnancies, approximately 15 to 20% end in a miscarriage. Most miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks. There are various causes for a miscarriage to occur. Sometimes, a fertilized egg can not develop properly because of a chromosomal abnormality. Other times, the fertilized egg simply can not attach to the lining of the uterus.
Misoprostol - A medication that is sometimes used to treat missed and incomplete miscarriages, abortion inductions and often to soften the cervix for medical procedures including placement of an IUD, labor induction or postpartum hemorrhage.
Missed Abortion - An spontaneous miscarriage in which the fetus has died before the 20th week of pregnancy and the placenta, fetus and membranes remain inside of the uterine cavity. Symptoms of pregnancy begin to fade and the woman will no longer feel pregnant. The fetal hearbeat can not be detected and a bloody or brownish discharge may be noticed.