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 blocked. [...]
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 is low.
If [...]
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 response [...]
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. It focuses [...]
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 very [...]
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 is not [...]
Placental abruption
Placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) is an obstetric catastrophe (complication of pregnancy), wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. It is the most common cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth. It occurs [...]
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 that your [...]
molar pregnancy
What is a molar pregnancy?
A molar pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that is a type of gestational trophoblastic disease. It can refer to either a complete or a partial mole. Throughout the United States and Europe the incidence is about 1/1000 and 1/2000 pregnancies. Although it is much more common in areas such as [...]
Cesarean Section
A C-section, also called a cesarean section, is the delivery of a baby through a surgical opening in the lower belly area.
Description
A C-section delivery is performed when a vaginal birth is not possible or is not safe for the mother or child.
Surgery is usually done while the woman is awake but numbed from the chest [...]