Most fetal growth follows a prescribed pattern. But between 3 to 10 percent of fetuses develop intrauterine growth retardation, often referred to as IUGR, the University of California San Francisco reports. Babies with IUGR, who are smaller and...
A fetal ultrasound, also known as a sonogram, is an imaging study that uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the baby inside the uterus, according to MayoClinic.com. Physicians commonly perform an ultrasound in the first trimester...
Progesterone, an indispensable hormone before and during pregnancy, is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovaries until the eighth week of pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, the placenta takes over the development of the hormone. Progesterone...
Tetracycline, an antibiotic, can cause birth defects or abnormalities in the fetus if taken by a woman during pregnancy. The type of potential damage varies depending on when in pregnancy the drug is taken. Tetracycline is classified as a class D...
Diazepam, the generic name for the drug Valium, is a medication mainly used to treat anxiety. Other uses of the drug include inducing conscious sedation and skeletal muscle relaxation, such as in prolonged seizures or conditions causing muscle...
Teratogen is the medical term for any substance that causes abnormalities in a fetus. Teratogenic drugs can cause congenital heart disease, but in almost every situation where a pregnant woman would need to take a teratogenic drug, a safe,...
Congenital malformations of the central nervous system result from abnormalities that occur during a fetus's growth and development in the womb. Chromosomal abnormalities, maternal illness and drug abuse can cause congenital abnormalities which...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is a type of growth hormone that is only present in the human body during pregnancy. HCG, from its name, indicates that it is a molecule that stimulates the gonads or sex organs. HCG is made by the placenta...
A miscarriage refers to the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur before the 12th week in pregnancy, as stated by the Mayo Clinic. Miscarriages generally occur from abnormalities to the fetus and certain maternal...
A sonogram is an image of the organs inside of the human body. It is also called an ultrasound, and the image is created by a machine that uses high frequency or ultrasonic waves. It does not use radiation. When the machine sends the sound waves,...
While most pregnancies proceed without complications, in a small percentage of cases, difficulties arise. Complications are more common in women of advanced maternal age, and just as conceiving can be more challenging at age 40, maintaining a...
Miscarriage is loss of a pregnancy up to 20 weeks; most occur by 12 weeks. Miscarriage before seven weeks of pregnancy is common; as many as 10 to 25 percent of diagnosed pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the American Pregnancy...
Losing a baby to miscarriage is devastating for an expectant mother. In most cases, a miscarriage is the result of a genetic abnormality in the fetus that would not allow it to survive to term or after birth. Other causes include hormone...
A mutation in a person's DNA can cause a disruption in normal function. In some cases, the DNA mutation may not result in any symptoms until the patient has reached adulthood. According to the National Institutes of Health, "genetic tests are...
A pregnant woman must be critical of everything she consumes during pregnancy because her unborn baby can absorb harmful substances through her body. It can be difficult to determine the safety of many items, especially natural substances that may...
Everyone needs vitamins and minerals on a daily basis, but women have needs that make their requirements a bit different. In addition, women who are pregnant or nursing often need supplemental vitamins and minerals, according to MayoClinic.com....
Xanax, with the generic name alprazolam, is an anti-anxiety drug that is reasonably safe for most people. But for pregnant women, it may have damaging effects. Although research is inconclusive, talk with your doctor if you're taking Xanax and...
Pregnant women often worry about whether the foods they eat could trigger a miscarriage, and spicy foods flavored with cayenne pepper can be of particular concern. Fortunately for women with a craving for etouffee, kung pao chicken or any of the...
There are many diets that have come in and out of the mainstream. Dieting -- the prospect of losing weight effortlessly -- appetite control and various other gimmicks have been used to market products, techniques and potions to the public. You...
As of September 2010, the National Institute of Mental Health reports approximately 40 million American adults age 18 and older suffer from anxiety in any given year. The National Sleep Foundation reports that 15 percent of American adults have...
Having a healthy diet during pregnancy is extremely important, both for the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. A healthy diet with increased calories sustains the mother throughout her pregnancy, helping her to fight off infections, giving...
Cardiac failure, or congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart is unable to fill with blood or pump enough blood to circulate throughout the entire body. Cardiac failure usually occurs over a long period of time, as various lifestyle factors,...
Radiation is a form of energy that travels as waves or high-speed particles, reports MedlinePlus, a National Institutes of Health website. Radiation occurs naturally in sunlight, but devices such as X-rays, nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants...
Placenta previa is an uncommon pregnancy complication wherein the placenta implants over the cervical os (opening to the cervix), blocking the cervix. In a normal pregnancy, the placenta is usually planted high up in the uterus. Implantation can...
Stillbirth is the premature delivery of a deceased baby after the 20th week of gestation. This is often a painful and emotional experience for the parents, and it usually comes with questions of what went wrong in the pregnancy. There are quite...
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, cleft lip and cleft palate is the most common congenital deformity, affecting 1 out of every 700 children born each year. (Reference 1) Cleft lip and cleft palate abnormalities occur...
The "H" in vitamin H comes from the German words "haar" and "haut" -- for "hair" and "skin." Because of its benefits to the hair and skin, it is sometimes referred to as "the beauty vitamin." Otherwise known as biotin, vitamin B7, co-enzyme R or...
Early in the first trimester of pregnancy, certain blood tests are done to ensure that mother and fetus are healthy. All pregnant women, regardless of their medical history or genetic background, will undergo initial blood testing. The American...
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol passes through the placenta into the unborn baby's bloodstream. Fetuses cannot break down alcohol as effectively as adults, so alcohol stays in the bloodstream for a long time, potentially causing...
A cesarean section is a surgical birthing procedure wherein the pregnant woman's uterus is cut open to deliver the baby, chosen when natural child birth is deemed dangerous. Get professional tips and advice on childbirth in this video.
Demonstration of ultrasound use. Learn about obstetrics from a doctor in this video on understanding pregnancy.
