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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome - A birth disorder that is caused by a defect on chromosome #4 and usually affects girls more than boys. This defect occurs in approximately 1 out of every 50,000 births. Babies that are born with this condition will usually have very distinct facial features. They generally have a small head and a prominent forehead with wide eyes and a beaked nose. Children are usually short and have defects in the hands, feet, spine and chest. Mental retardation is common and a child will usually experience heart defects. Babies are usually diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome at birth because of their distinctive appearance, but it is possible to make a diagnosis via ultrasound during a pregnancy.
Wolf-Hirschhorn-Syndrome - Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome occurs in approximately 1 out of every 50,000 births. The birth disorder is caused by a defect on chromosome #4 and usually affects girls more than boys. Babies that are born with this condition will usually have very distinct facial features. They generally have a small head and a prominent forehead with wide eyes and a beaked nose. Children are usually short and have defects in the hands, feet, spine and chest. Mental retardation is common and a child will usually experience heart defects. Babies are usually diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome at birth because of their distinctive appearance, but it is possible to make a diagnosis via ultrasound during a pregnancy.
Wolfram Syndrome - A rare genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness. There is no treatment for the disease and researchers believe that affected individuals will live approximately 30 years.
Womb - A pear-shaped, muscular organ in women that is hollow and thick-walled. The muscle sheds its lining every month during menstruation and conception can occur. Once an egg has been fertilized, it will attach itself to the lining of the uterus so that an embryo can develop into a fetus.
Women's Choice Condom - A sheath similar to a male condome with a thick latex dome and a flexible ring at the open end. It is inserted with a tampon-like applicator to prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Wrongful Conception - An unwanted pregnancy resulting from the physician's failure to inform the patient that a sterilization procedure might be unsuccessful.
Wryneck - A disorder that occurs when a newborn's neck is twisted because of a shortened A newborn can be born with muscular torticollis after a difficult delivery. Most of the time this happens when the baby is born breech or has a high birth weight.
During delivery, the baby's sternocleidomastoid (the muscle that runs from the jawbone to the collarbone and breastbone) gets pulled and will tear. This will cause bleeding and bruising on the muscle, which will lead to scar tissue build up. The scar tissue will then cause the baby's muscles to become shorter and tighter, causing the baby's head to pull to one particular side.
Parents and caregivers will notice that the child keeps their head tilted to one side and they usually also have a small, hard lump in their neck. A doctor can usually diagnose muscular torticollis during a physical examination, but x-rays and ultrasounds can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Wryneck does not go away on its own and if it is not treated, the condition will only become worse. When muscular torticollis is not treated properly, it will cause the muscles to permanently tighten and the neck and face will become uneven in appearance.
Treatments options include stretching exercises, therapy and surgery.