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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Penicillamine - A medication that is used to treat lead poisoning and individual's with Wilson's disease. If taken during pregnancy, the fetus is at an increased risk of having connective tissue abnormalities.
Penicillin - An antibotic compound used to suppress The synthesis of bacterial cell walls to prevent multiplying
Penile Agenesis - An extremely rare birth defect that affects approximately one in every 20 million live births. The condition affects male infants and occurs when the baby is born without a penis. Penile agenesis is also known as aphallia. Penile agenesis occurs during fetal development when the genital tubercle does not develop properly or at all. Although the penis is missing, the testicles and scrotum are usually present. Most doctors agree that the best treatment for penile agenesis is to raise the child as a female and do a complete sex change with estrogen therapy.
Penile Duplication - Penile duplication.
This occurs when the baby is born with 2 penises and occurs in 1 out of 5,000,000 male births. It extremely rare and only about 100 cases have been reported to date. Generally, a child that is born with penile duplication will also have other congenital defects, including spina bifida.
Babies that are born with this condition are at an increased risk of infant death because of the defects and infections that are associated with the condition. Researchers believe that a fetus will develop penile duplication around 23-25 days of gestation because the genital tubercle fails to fuse properly.
Penile Implant - An inflatable device surgically inserted into the penis that allows a man with impotence to have sexual intercourse. A man with a penile implant can still ejaculate and fertilize an egg, causing pregnancy in a female partner.
Pentazocine - An analgesic That can be addictive and may cause retardation with withdrawl symptoms in newborns
Pentobarbital - A drug sometimes used to treat insomnia that may cause hemorrhage and withdrawal in newborns
Peptostreptococcus - A bacteria normally found in the intestinal, respiratory, and female genital areas
Percutaneous - Somethiong that is performed or effected through the skin
Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling - A prenatal test that screens blood from the umbilical cord for abnormalities while the fetus is in the uterus. The test is generally done between week 18 and 36 of a pregnancy. This test gathers fetal blood by guiding a needle into the umbilical vein. It is primarily used in addition to an ultrasound and amniocentesis if your health care provider needs to quickly check your baby's chromosomes for defects or disorders or if he or she is concerned that your baby may be anemic. This is a very fast test. If a developing baby is showing signs of distress, it is helpful to know whether the baby has a fatal chromosomal defect. If the baby is suspected to be anemic or to have a blood platelet disorder, this is the only test that can confirm suspicions. If the fetus needs a blood transfusion or fluids, the test allows them to be done while the needle is in place.
Perforation - A hole trhat form in tissue and organs because of disease or injury
Perfusion - The passing of fluids through blood vessels of organs and tissue
Pergonal - A medication that is used to induce ovulation in women and promote sperm production in men. The medication is adminsitered in the form of injection.
Pericystic - Something that is surrounding the bladder or gallbladder
Perimenopause - The period of time before menopause occurs in females. Symptoms often include irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, night sweats and mood swings.
Perinatal Death - Death of the fetus or neonate occurring during the perinatal period, which occurs from the end of the 20th week of pregnancy through the first 28 days after delivery. Death can be spontaneous, accidental or inflicted.
Perinatal Infection - Any infection that occurs during the time of life between the completion of the 20th week of pregnancy and the first 28 days after birth. Infections of the amniotic fluid and maternal exposure to diseases are common perinatal infections.
Perinatal Mortality Rate - The number of deaths of newborn infants less than 7 days of age plus the number of fetal deaths of after 28 weeks of gestation in a given year per 1,000 live births of that same year.
Perinatologist - An obstetrician that has specialized in the care and management of pregnant women and fetus's that are considered high-risk. Perinatologists are capable of making complicated diagnoses and performing difficult procedures such as amniocentesis and cordocentesis that an obstetrician may not be comfortable with. Approximately 10% of pregnant women will be referred to a perinatologist.
Perinatology - The study of the mother and baby in the last stages of pregnancy and shortly after birth
Perineal Block - An anesthetic that is injected into the perineum to block discomfort in the lower vagina and perineal area. This form of local anesthesia is used during the repair of an episiotomy or when forceps or vacuum extraction is used during vaginal childbirth.