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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Waardenburg Syndrome - An inherited birth defect in which a baby will suffer from hearing loss and problems with the pigment in the skin and hair. Common symptoms of the disorder include eyes that are different colors or abnormally pale blue eyes, grey hair at any early age, a white patch of hair, white patches in the hair, a broad nose, connecting eyebrows, hearing loss of varying degrees and a low hairline in the front of the face.
Walking Epidural - A combination of spinal and epidural anesthesia that allows a laboring woman to stand up or walk around while relieving some of the pain of the contractions. A walking epidural will not completely numb the inidvidual, so contractions and other childbirth sensations can still be felt.
Walking Reflex - A reflex in which an infant will take steps or dance when held upright with the feet touching a solid surface. This reflex is evident at birth and will dissapear around the time the baby is three months old.
Warfarin - A compound that is used in the prevention and treatment of abnormal blood clotting. Administration of the medication anytime during pregnancy can cause birth defects and/or miscarriage.
Warmer - A medical bed for a newborn infant that needs assisted care. Warmers are found in the NICU and enable intensive care staff to keep a close watch on sick babies, while providing direct heat above the bed to keep the baby warm. After the baby has properly progressed with the warmer, they are usually moved to an isolette.
Washed Intrauterine Insemination - An artificial insemination technique in which washed sperm (separated from the seminal fluid) is placed in the uterine cavity through a small catheter on the day of ovulation. This form of assisted reproductive technology is used to bypass hostile cervical mucus and overcome low sperm count and motility complications.
Water Birth - A form of hydrotherapy in which the mother delivers the baby while in a birthing tub or pool. The water is often relaxing and soothing to the laboring woman during contractions. A water birth can be achieved during a home birth or hospital birth, providing the hospital has the equipment necessary to do so. A water birth should only be attempted by women that are expecting a low-risk birth with no complications.
Water On The Brain - A defect that affects approximately 1 out every 500 children and can be congenital or developed. Congenital hydrocephalus means that the child was born with the disorder.
If hydrocephalus is acquired, the child has developed it after some type of trauma or from a disease/infection. Hydrocephalus is a brain defect in which there is an excessive amount of cerebral fluid in the brain. Because of the extra fluid in the brain, the ventricles become dilated and there is harmful pressure on the brain tissue. Hydrocephalus can be diagnosed prenatally or after birth. Symptoms of the disorder are rapid head growth, vomiting, sleepiness, seizures, irritability, headaches, poor coordination and balance, loss of development, lethargy, double vision and memory loss. Treatment includes the placement of a shunt through surgery. The shunt will allow the cerebral fluid to flow to another area of the body rather than collecting around the brain.
Water Retention - The process in which your body retains water to account for a lack of water intake. Rising hormone levels are a common cause of water retention during the prenatal period. Water retention is a common condition during pregnancy and can cause the legs, ankles and other parts of the body to appear swollen. The third trimester of pregnancy and summer months tend to be the worst for most women.
Weakened Vaccine - A vaccine that is prepared from live bacteria or viruses, that have been weakened through a chemical process so they produce immunity but do not actually cause the disease.
Weaning - The process of gradually decreasing and then fully stopping breastfeeding an infant. The infant will switch from breastmilk to solid foods and other sources of nourishment.
Well Baby Care - Health care services that are provided to a healthy newborn or child. Well baby care includes immunizations, vision tests, hearing tests, reflex tests and additional forms of evaluation that determine if the child is growing and developing at the expected rate. Well baby visits are important for children, especially those birth-3 years of age.
Werdnig-Hoffman Disease - A rare disease of newborn infants that is inherited as an autosomal trait. The disease affects the motor nerve cells of the spinal cord which cause floppiness and paralysis of muscles. Most affected children will die before the age of three years. Many mothers of affected children also noted reduced fetal movement during pregnancy.
West Syndrome - An uncommon and severe disorder of infants in which epileptic seizures are present. Infants are usually affected during the first 3-5 months of life and the condition is caused by dysfunction in the brain that develops before birth, during birth or after birth.
Wet Lung Syndrome - A benign condition of a near term or term baby that has respiratory distress syndrome after delivery. The condition generally lasts for 3 to 5 days and may be caused by delayed resorption of fetal lung fluid. Common symptoms include chest retractions, a bluish tint of the skin and grunting while breathing. Standard chest x-rays are generally performed to diagnose the condition.
Wharton's Jelly - The sott, homogeneous substance forming the matrix of the umbilical cord. The jelly surrounds and supports the blood vessels in the uterus.
Whiff Test - A medical test in which several drops of a potassium hydroxide solution are added to a sample of vaginal discharge to test for bacterial vaginosis. A fishy odor on the test usually means bacterial vaginosis is present.
Whistling Face Syndrome - A rare genetic condition that is also known as Freeman Sheldon Syndrome. Characteristic facial features of Freeman-sheldon syndrome include an unusually small mouth with puckered lips that cause a whistling appearance. Because the mouth is very small, feeding complications and speech impairment are common in infants and children. A flattened face with underdeveloped nasal cartilage is common. Most children will have a dimple on their chin that resembles the letter H or Y. The eyes will appear squinty and droopy and hearing loss is common. Because the muscles and joints in the fingers and hands are contracted, the hands often remain clenched together. Other common symptoms include club feet, scoliosis and difficulty walking. Surgery is recommended to repair the mouth abnormalities, eyes, feet, hands and fingers. Various therapies include physical therapy and speech therapy
White Blood Cell - Infection fighting cells that help to maintain a healthy immune system. When a bacteria, virus or other foreign organism enters the body, white blood cells attack and destroy them. If an infection is present, the amount of white blood cells in the body will increase. Women that are pregnant will have slightly elevated levels of white blood cells.
White Coat Hypertension - A condition in which an individual's blood pressure rises in the presence of a doctor or nurse, but returns to normal when not in a medical environment. Women with white coat hypertension may be clinically diagnosed with high blood pressure during their pregnancy, which could lead to more thorough monitoring to make sure the condition does not progress.
Whites - A common name for leukorrhea. An abnormal white or yellowish discharge from the vagina that contains mucus and pus. This is often a symptom of an underlying yeast infection, STD or other gynecological condition.
Wilson's Disease - A rare inherited disorder in which excessive amounts of copper accumulate in the body causing damage in the kidneys, brain, and eyes. While the copper accumulation does begin at birth, symptoms of the disorder usually appear between the ages of 6 and 20. Symptoms of the condition include liver disease, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, drooling, tremor of the head, arms, or legs, abnormal postures, impaired muscle tone, repetitive movements and slowness of movements. Some individuals will also experience psychiatric symptoms such as personality changes, inappropriate behavior, depression, suicidal thoughts, neurosis, or psychosis. Treatment involves the use of medications to remove excessive amounts of copper from the body and will be a lifelong necessity.
Witch's Milk - A milk-like fluid that is sometimes secreted by the breast of newborn infants of either gender.
Withdrawal Method - Withdrawal of the penis from the vagina just prior to ejaculation which is used as a method of contraception.
Witkop Syndrome - An automsomal dominant inherited disorder in which an individual has abnormalities of the nails and is missing several primary and/or permanent teeth at birth. Characteristics of the syndrome include thin, brittle and slow-growing nails and the toenails are generally worse than the fingernail. In extreme cases, the nails may separate from the nail bed or are completely absent at birth. It is estimated that the syndrome will affect approximately 1 out of every 1,000 births.