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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Polymicrogyria - A condition in which the brain's surface does not develop normally during fetal development. There are a variety of types of polymicrogyria and not all patients will experience the same symptoms because different areas of the brain can be affected. The affected brain will have an excessive amount of folds and the folds are smaller than a typical brain. Polymicrogyria can be caused by a defective gene, lack of oxygen during fetal development or infections during pregnancy. A doctor can diagnose the condition through an extensive examination that includes MRI's and CAT scans. There is no cure available for the disorder. Children that are affected should be closely monitored and if seizures are present, medication should be given.
Polymorphic Eruption Of Pregnancy - A rash that occurs in some women during thieir first pregnancy. PUPPP will usually show up around week 35 and most women notice it in stretch marks on their stomach. One major difference in PUPPP and other rashes that pregnant women may develop is that the belly button is not affected. The rash will appear as small, red, spongy areas in the stretch marks. They will grow together to form larger areas on the stomach. The rash will spread to the thighs, arms, breasts and butt. The face is never affected by this rash.
Although the rash can be quite itchy and bothersome, there is no reason to worry about the rash harming mother or baby. The average rash will last around six weeks and it will all go away after delivery. The cause of PUPPP is not fully understood, although researchers believe it may have something to do with the fetal DNA of a male baby.
Polyspermy - An unusual occurrence in which one egg is fertilized by more than one sperm.
Porencephaly - A rare disorder that can develop after birth or before birth as an inherited defect. Porencephaly occurs when a cyst or area filled with fluid develops in the brain. After birth, porencephaly would be caused by a stroke or some form of an infection. Common symptoms of porencephaly include delayed growth, slow development, varying degrees of paralysis, low muscle tone, seizures, speech delays, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and mental retardation. There is no cure for porencephaly, but there are treatment options available to help the child reach their full developmental potential. Treatment options include physical therapy and speech therapy as well as, medication and the placement of a shunt to drain fluid from the brain.
Port Wine Stain - A vascular birthmark usually present at birth that affects approximately 3 out of every 1,000 babies. The birthmark generally is flat and pink or red at birth. It may lighten during the baby's first few months of life. However, as time passes, the port wine stain will usually become darker and may continue to grow. The majority of port wine stains are found on the face, but they can be found anywhere on the body. Unlike many hemangiomas, a port wine stain does not go away on its own. A port wine stain that is particularly bothersome can be treated with laser therapy, although it will likely not completely remove the birthmark.
Post Coital Test - A test in which a sample of cervical fluid is obtained by gently scraping the cervix within a few hours of intercourse. The fluid is checked under a microscope to see if motile sperm are present. Must be done with fertile mucus at ovulation time.
Postcoital Bleeding - Bleeding occurring after sexual intercourse. The bleeding may be caused by cervical cancer, polyps, increased blood flow during pregnancy or infection.
Postcoital Contraceptive - An oral contraceptive that is taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse. The pill usually contains higher doses of estrogen and progestin than typical oral contraceptives. Progestin prevents the sperm from reaching the egg and prevents a fertilized egg from implanting to the wall of the uterus. Estrogen stops the ovaries from releasing eggs that can be fertilized by sperm. This type of contraceptive has a success rate of approximately 80%, should rarely be used and only as a last resort after unprotected sex.
Postdate Pregnancy - A pregnancy that lasts 42 weeks or longer. Approximately 10% of pregnancies are considered postdate and typically occur as a result of incorrect dating in regards to the due date. Because the placenta begins to deteriorate after 40 weeks of pregnancy, most doctors will not allow their patients to continue pregnancy past 41 weeks.
Posterior Fontanel - A triangular shaped fontanel that is located towards the back of the infants head. This soft spot usually closes during the first 6-8 weeks of an infants life.
Posterior Labia - The back portion of the uterine cervix that is longer and thinner than the anterior portion.
Posterior Presentation - A fetal presentation in which the baby faces toward the mother's front instead of toward her back. Because the fetus's head does not fit well into the mother's pelvis, labor tends to be harder. The bone in the back of the baby's head presses into the mother's back, which may cause painful back pain, or back labor.
Posterior Urethral Valves - A deformity of the urethra that only affects males. The disorder affects approximately 1 out of every 8,000 baby boys. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. In a child with posterior urethral valves, the urethral valves will have a small slit-like opening that does not allow for proper urine output. Because the urine is not able to drain properly, it will begin flowing backwards. The urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys will all become affected and can suffer mild to severe damage. Common symptoms of the disorder include an enlarged bladder, chronic urinary tract infections, decreased urine stream, a frequent urge to urinate, decreased weight gain and bedwetting after potty training has taken place. Treatment options include surgery and supportive care to take care of the symptoms your child experiences.
Postmature Infant - An infant that is born after 42 weeks of pregnancy due to a postdate pregnancy. Postmature infants are alert at birth and generally look mature. Infants that are born after 42 weeks pregnancy have a decreased amount of soft-tissue mass and the skin is usually loose, dry and peeling. The fingernails and toenails are abnormally long at birth and will need to be clipped to prevent scratching. There may be meconium staining of the nails and umbilical cord if the baby had its first bowel movement in the womb.
Postmortem Delivery - Delivery of a fetus after the death of its mother. Generally, this type of delivery would occur if a woman was fatally injured in a car accident, homicide or other form of trauma. Other reasons would include fatal infection, drug overdose, or complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth.
Postnatal - The period of time from the moment a woman has given birth until six weeks afterwards.
Postoperative Care - Care of a patient immediately following a surgical operation, including a cesarean section or other type of gynecological surgery. Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and fluid balance are all continuously monitored. Healthcare providers check the surgical wounds, lasting anesthetic effects, bed position of the patient, dietary needs and drainage tubes.
Postpartum Breast Engorgement - A condition of the breasts that occurs during the first week after childbirth, in which the breasts become firm, warm and nodular. The condition is also characterized by pain and slight fever when severe. This is caused by an increased amount of blood within the breast.
Postpartum Depression - A form of depression that occurs soon after having a baby. Some health professionals call it postpartum nonpsychotic depression. Postpartum depression occurs in about 10-20% of women, usually within a few months of delivery. You are at higher risk for developing postpartum depression if you have had previous depression, psychosocial stress or if you have a lack of social support. If you experience postpartum depression, you may worry about the baby's health and well-being. Even though most women never act on their thoughts, you may have negative thoughts about the baby and fears about harming the infant. This type of depression does generally interfere with your ability to care for the baby. When a woman with severe postpartum depression becomes suicidal, she may consider killing her infant and young children. This is usually not from anger, but from a desire not to abandon them.
Postpartum Hemorrhage - Excessive bleeding in a woman following delivery. Although the conidtion is more likely during a cesaren delivery, it can occur during a vaginal delivery. Excessive blood loss can cause a dangerous drop in the mother's blood pressure and can lead to shock and death if not treated properly.
Postpartum Hypopituitarism - A dangerous after effect of extreme blood loss during or after childbirth. Because of the blood loss, permanent underproduction of pituitary hormones occurs. Common symptoms of the condition include inability to breast-feed , weight loss, hair loss in the pubic region, fatigue, wrinkling of the skin, cold intolerance and infrequent or absent menstruation.
Postpartum Infection - An infection that is caused by any kind of bacteria that are normal vaginal flora of pregnant and nonpregnant females without causing disease. Common symptoms include a fever of 100.4 or higher on any two consecutive days after the first 24 hours postpartum, chills, headache, loss of appetite and malaise. The infection is more common in women with premature rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, multiple pelvic examinations during labor or a cesarean section.
Postpartum Mastitis - An acute condition in which one breast becomes tender, reddened, swollen, and hot. The inflammation is caused by a microorganism which gains entry through the cracks in the nipple. The individual will develop a fever and appear ill. This condition occurs as a complication of breastfeeding, usually affecting first time mothers.
Postpartum Necrosis of Pituitary - A dangerous after effect of extreme blood loss during or after childbirth. Because of the blood loss, permanent underproduction of pituitary hormones occurs. Common symptoms of the condition include inability to breast-feed , weight loss, hair loss in the pubic region, fatigue, wrinkling of the skin, cold intolerance and infrequent or absent menstruation.
Postpartum Psychosis - The most serious postpartum disorder. It requires immediate treatment. This type of extreme depression is reare. A woman with this condition experiences psychotic symptoms within 3 weeks of giving birth. These include false beliefs (delusions), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), or both. Postpartum psychosis is associated with mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. If you are experiencing postpartum psychosis, symptoms can include inability to sleep, agitation, and mood swings. A woman experiencing psychosis can appear well temporarily. She may lead health professionals and caregivers into thinking that she has recovered, but she can continue to be severely depressed and ill even after brief periods of seeming well. Women who harbor thoughts of hurting their infants are more likely to act on them if they have postpartum psychosis. If untreated, postpartum psychotic depression has a high likelihood of coming back after the postpartum period and also after the birth of other children.