Problems during pregnancy

Pregnancy: Twins or More

Pregnancy: Twins or More

Twins are two offspring resulting from the same pregnancy, usually born in close succession. They can be the same or different sex. Twins can either be monozygotic (MZ, colloquially “identical”) or dizygotic (DZ, colloquially “fraternal” or “non-identical”). Is this topic for you? This topic is for women who are pregnant with more than one baby. [...]

Repair of Choanal Atresia

Repair of Choanal Atresia

Surgery Overview Choanal atresia (say “KOH-uh-nul uh-TREE-zhuh”) is blockage by bone or tissue of the nasal passages (choana) leading from the back of the nose to the throat. The condition—present at birth in about 1 in 7,000 babies—makes it impossible to breathe through the nose. Choanal atresia is diagnosed at birth when both passages are [...]

Pregnancy Complications

Pregnancy Complications

Many women face some minor health problems and pregnancy complications, but there are some women who unfortunately get faced with more serious complications during pregnancy. When these pregnancy complications occur, usually a visit to your healthcare provider is required. It’s very important to report any unusual pregnancy symptoms to them, so you can get checked [...]

Alcohol effects on fetus

Alcohol effects on fetus

What effect does alcohol have on a fetus? A woman who drinks alcohol while she is pregnant may harm her developing baby (fetus). Alcohol can pass from the mother’s blood into the baby’s blood. It can damage and affect the growth of the baby’s cells. Brain and spinal cord cells are most likely to have [...]

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis

What is toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmosis is a common infection found in birds, animals, and people. For most people, it doesn’t cause serious health problems. But for a pregnant woman’s growing baby, it can cause brain damage and vision loss. Still, the chance of a pregnant woman getting the infection and passing it on to her baby [...]

Rh Sensitization during Pregnancy

Rh Sensitization during Pregnancy

What is Rh sensitization during pregnancy? If you are Rh-negative, your red blood cells do not have a marker called Rh factor on them. Rh-positive blood does have this marker. If your blood mixes with Rh-positive blood, your immune system will react to the Rh factor by making antibodies to destroy it. This immune system [...]

high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy

high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy

What are high blood pressure and preeclampsia? Blood pressure is a measure of how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. If the force is too hard, you have high blood pressure (also called hypertension). When high blood pressure starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it may be a sign of a [...]

placenta previa

placenta previa

What is placenta previa? If you have placenta previa, it means that your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix. The placenta is the pancake-shaped organ — normally located near the top of the uterus — that supplies your baby with nutrients through the umbilical cord. Placenta previa [...]

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes

What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Gestational (jes-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, three to eight get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means [...]

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic means “out of place.” In an ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus. The egg settles in the fallopian tubes in more than 95% of ectopic pregnancies. This is why ectopic pregnancies are commonly called “tubal pregnancies.” The egg can also implant in the ovary, abdomen, or the cervix, so you [...]