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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Nabothian Cyst - A mucus-filled cyst that develops when a mucous gland of the uterine cervix is obstructed.
Naegele's Rule - Estimation of the day of childbirth by counting back three (3) months from the first day of the last menstrual period and adding 7 days.
Nager Syndrome - A birth defect that occurs because of the abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches during fetal development. These arches are responsible for making the nerves and muscles of the lower jaw, middle ear bones, the small part of the ears, facial expression, chewing movements and the bone above the larynx. Symptoms of the disorder include an underdeveloped cheek and jaw, downward slanted eyes, abnormal eyelashes, cleft palate, underdeveloped ears, missing or abnormal thumb and short forearms. A child may also experience a minimal range of arm motion, hearing loss and stomach reflux. A child with Nager syndrome will have normal intellectual development and mental retardation is not associated with the disorder.
Nail Patella Syndrome - An inherited birth that is characterized by bone, joint, fingernail and kidney abnormalities and affects approximately 1 out of every 50,000 live births. Common symptoms of the condition include abnormal kneecaps and thumbnails. The nails are usually missing or very short and can be discolored and easily split. Bones and joints are affected and the knees are often unstable. A person may experience a limited range of motion in the elbows. Vision complications are another main characteristic of the disease and include loss of peripheral vision, red eyes, sore eyes, blurry vision, blind spots, headaches and difficulty adjusting in a dark room.
Nanism - A condition in which an affected individual fails to achieve full growth potential , due to arrested growth. The condition can be induced by ecological, genetic or endocrine factors.
Nappy - An absorbent undergarment that is worn by babies and young children that are unable or unwilling to control the bladder and bowels. Nappies must be changed frequently by parents and caregivers to avoid nappy rash.
Nappy Service - Professional launderers that rent reusable cotton nappies. On a weekly basis, the service delivers clean nappies and picks up the used nappies from your home. The launderer will count the nappies that are soiled and will replace what has been used. They will then professionally clean the soiled nappies with industrial cleaning equipment. Most services provide a hamper with a high-grade deodorant. Most nappy services do not require the customer to rinse the soiled nappy out. You only need to place it in the provided hamper. The customer can request changes in sizes as their baby grows.
Narcotic - A drug with addiction potential that reduces pain, encourages sleep and alters one's usual mood and behavior. Some narcotics are prescribed by medical doctors while others are used illegaly, such as cannibis and speed. Narcotics that are used during childbirth are given in small doses during the early stages of labor to prevent potential side effects for the mother and baby. Narcotics do take the edge off of the pain, but do not numb the area. Demerol, Morphine, Stadol, Fentanyl and Nubain are used during labor.
Nasogastric Tube - A small tube that is inserted through the nose, extending through the esophagus, and into the stomach. The tube ismade of rubber or plastic and is used to remove air from the stomach, administer medication or give food.
Natural Abortion - A spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, occurs when a pregnancy is lost in the first 20 weeks. Out of all pregnancies, approximately 15 to 20% end this way. 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.
Natural Childbirth - Giving birth without medical intervention, such as pain relief medications. The laboring mother is capable of managing her labor and delivery with breathing exercises, massage therapy, position changes, music and guided imagery. Many women that succeed at natural childbirth have participated in prepared childbirth classes during the prenatal period.
Natural Family Planning - Abstaining from sexual intercouse for a few days before, during, and after the expected day of ovulation for birth control purposes.
Natural Menopause - Permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the normal cessation of ovarian function that usually occurs in healthy females between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five years of age.
Nausea - A feeling of sickness or discomfort in the stomach that may come with an urge to vomit. Nausea is a common symptom of pregnancy that many women experience during the early months of pregnancy. While the symptom may decrease or vanish for the majority of pregnant women, others will experience it throughout the entire pregnancy.
Navel - The indentation in the middle of the stomach or abdomen, that leaves the small hole, which can be classified as an inny or outty. This is the point of attachment to the umbilical cord while in utero.
Neck Of Womb - The lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina. During pregnancy, the cervix remains tightly closed. As pregnancy progresses and the estimated due date draws near, healthcare providers do routine cervical examinations to check for cervical dilation and effacement. During labor, the cervix will thin out and dilate to allow the passage of the baby. The cervix must dilate to a full 10 cm in order to push the baby through the birth canal. The cervix must also soften, or thin, to allow the baby to emerge from the birth canal.
Neck-Righting Reflex - A normal neonatal reflex that is elicited by turning the infant's head to the right or the left side, whcih causes the shoulder of the opposite side to rotate.
Necrospermia - A condition in which semen contains a high percentage of nonmotile sperm.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis - An acquired disease of newborn infants, resulting from vascular and mucosal damage of the intestinal wall, which allows bacterial and viral invastion and deterioration of the bowel. Symptoms include abdominal distensio and bloody stools. Premature infants are more prone to the condition and it typically develops within the first week of life.
Needle Biopsy - A biopsy that is performed with a needle attached to a syringe and inserted through the skin into the target tissue. The specimen is sucked out through the needle and examined for abnormal cells.
Neonatal - A term that refers to the first four weeks of an infant's life.
Neonatal Conjunctivitis - Inflammation of the newborn infant's eye that may be due to an infection acquired from its mother during passage through the birth canal, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. The inflammation can also be caused by a staphylococcal infection or another infection that was acquired from the hospital nursery. The condition is not as common anymore because of the use of erythromycin ointment and silver nitrate immediately after birth.
Neonatal Death - Death that occurs in an infant during the first 28 days of life. Causes of neonatal death vary and can be infection, SIDS, respiratory failure, heart failure, malnourishment and a variety of other causes.
Neonatal Encephalopathy - A disease or dysfunction of the brain that is seen in a newborn baby. In a mild case, the condition is characterized by irritability, jitteriness, alternating episodes of excessive and reduced muscle tone, hyperalertness. Moderate cases of the disease are often characterized by lethargy, severly increased muscle tone and occasional seizures. Severe cases are marked by coma, apnea and recurring seizures.