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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Obese - Having an abnormally high, unhealthy amount of body fat. Having a BMI of 30 or greater is classified as obese. Pregnant women that are obese are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy, labor and recovery.
Obstetric Laceration - A superficial tearing of the tissue in the vagina, perineum and/or anus that occurs during a vaginal delivery. Lacerations are classified as one of four types, based on the severity.
Obstetric Paralysis - Paralysis of the mucles in the foot that is caused by improper placement of the laboring woman in stirrups during childbirth. The condition causes dropfoot, which will cause the foot to slap down onto the floor when walking.
Obstetrician - A doctor that specializes in the care of women during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Obstetricians will assess the condition of the developing fetus as the pregnancy progresses and recommend and perform any necessary tests, procedures or examinations to ensure the safety of the mother and the baby. Most obstetricians are also gynecologists and are capable of caring for women throughout their life and diagnosing conditions in the reproductive system.
Obstetrics - The field of medicine that is primarily concerned with the management of pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care that follows either a vaginal birth or cesarean birth. An obstetrican or midwife generally performs care for obstetrical patients.
Obstructed Labor - A condition of childbirth in which labor can not progress, due to the head size of the baby and/ or pelvis. The condition is responsible for approximately 8% of maternal deaths and is more common in areas where emergency obstetrical care is not available.
Occult Bleeding - Escape of blood in such small amounts that it can only be detected by special medical tests.
Octoxynol 9 - A surface acting chemical that is often used in conjunction with other spermicides for use on contraceptive devices, aimed at preventing pregnancy.
Octuplets - A multiple birth in which eight babies are born from one pregnancy.
Oligemia - A reduced amount of blood in the body. During labor this can be caused by hemorrhage. A blood transfusion may be necessary to prevent additional complications.
Oligodactyly - A congenital malformation in which a baby is born with missing fingers or toes.
Oligodontia - The congenital absence of seven or more teeth. Oligodontia is generally a genetic problem and often occurs in families. A team of oral providers, such as a dentist, oral surgeon and orthodontist can coorect the abnormality.
Oligohydramnios - Low amniotic fluid during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is produced first by the mother's body and later by the baby's urine to provide a warm and safe environment for the developing baby. This condition can occur at any point during the pregnancy. Oligohydramnios can be caused by a variety of factors. The amniotic fluid levels will decrease as the mother passes her due date and will decrease significantly by the time she is 42 weeks pregnant. This is because the placenta deteriorates as the pregnancy goes overdue and placental problems can cause low levels of amniotic fluid. If a mother's water has broken or is leaking, the amniotic fluid levels will definitely be low. Birth defects that affect the baby's kidneys and urinary tract can cause oligohydramnios, because there is little urine being produced by the fetus. A mother that is carrying twins, triplets or higher is at greater risk of developing oligohydramnios during the pregnancy.
Oligomenorrhea - Reduction in the frequency of menstrual periods that a woman experiences. Whereas a typical menstrual cycle repeats itself every 28-35 days, a woman with this condition can expect her menstrual cycle to be prolonged.
Oligospermia - A deficiency in the quantity of sperm in a typical ejaculation. Oligospermia with less than 1 million sperm per milliliter of semen is considered functional infertility. The cause could be permanent or temporary, which could include fever, medications, smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Ollier`s Disease - a very rare condition that affects approximately 1 out of every 100,000 people. Benign tumors will form in the bones and bone growth is restricted because of the tumor development. The benign tumors are called enchondromas and they usually only affect one side of the skeleton, although both sides can be affected. Because the tumors grow in the cartilage and bones, cartilage is not able to calcify and grow as expected. The bones that have been affected will be shorter and more fragile than the other bones in the body, which makes bone fractures and breakage more likely. A doctor can diagnosis this condition by performing a bone scan or other imaging evaluation. Once a diagnosis has been made, bone scans should be performed periodically. Because tumors can become malignant (cancerous) doctors will continue to monitor the growth and development of the tumors.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Essential, unsaturated fatty acids that are critical for physical and mental health. There are many advantages to taking omega-3 fatty acids including reduction of cholesterol levels in the blood, arthritis pain relief, nourishment of the hair and nails and contribution of fetal development. During fetal development, these essential fatty acids help develop the fetal brain, retinas of the eye and central nervous system. During pregnancy, the fatty acids help to reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia, decrease the chances of experiencing postpartum depression and reducing the chance of preterm labor. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in cold-water fish, purified fish oils, nuts, eggs, flaxseed, tofu, soybean oil and canola oils.
Omphalocele - A birth defect that is easily seen at delivery. It occurs when the intestines or organs within the abdominal cavity stick out from the belly button onto the outside of the body. Cases can range from mild to severe. A baby that is born with a severe case may have the liver, spleen or other organ(s) protruding at the same time. A thin layer of tissue covers the protrusion. During fetal development, the muscles within the fetus's abdomen do not close as they should and the intestines stay on the outside of the umbilical cord, causing the hernia. A prenatal ultrasound is capable of diagnosing the condition during fetal development. If not diagnosed prenatally, a doctor can easily diagnose after birth through a brief physical examination. Surgery is the only way to correct the deformity. If the omphalocele is able to be placed back into the abdomen, it will be covered with a special material and the protrusion will eventually fall back into place. However, some omphaloceles are too large and are not able to be placed back into the abdomen. In this situation, the skin around it will have to grow large enough to cover the omphalocele. Special care should be taken to avoid an infection in the intestines or abdomen.
Omphalopagus - Conjoined twins that are united at the abdominal wall, in the area of the navel. This is one of the most common types of conjoined twins and the twins will have four arms, four legs and two pelvises. Although the hear is usually never shared, it is common for the twins to share a liver, digestive system, diaphragm and other internal organs.
Omphalophlebitis - Inflammation of the umbilical veins.
Omphalorrhagia - Bleeding that occurs at the site of the umbilicus. The most common cause for umbilical bleeding is fungal or bacterial infections. Any significant amount of blood or continuous bleeding in the umbilical area should be reported to a healthcare provider.
Oocyte - A female reproductive cell that is produced by the ovaries and released during ovulation. The ovum is about the size of a grain of sand and is the largest cell in the human body. During conception, the ovum will become fertilized by sperm cells. The ovum is responsible for supplying the maternal genetic material to the zygote at the point of fertilization. A woman is born with only a certain amount of ovums, one is released each month during the menstrual cycle.
Oophorectomy - A surgical operation which removes one or both ovaries. The procedure is generally performed when ovarian cysts or ovarian cancer are present. Risks involved with the surgery include increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased bone fracture risk and risk of earlier death. Hormone replacement therapy can help address these concerns.
Oophoritis - Inflammation of one or both ovaries, commonly occurring with pelvic inflammatory disease and salpingitis. When the condition goes undiagnosed and/or untreated, it can lead to infertility in the female, an abscess around the ovaries and fallopian tubes and occasionally, death.
Open Biopsy - Biopsy that is carried out during a surgical operation so that the organ can be visualized at the time of the biopsy. This type of biopsy is performed when there is a need to avoid dangerously close structures or avoid unecessary bleeding.