Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that results in the malformation of the vertebrae that cover the spinal cord. This condition can cause life-threatening complications, which can make surgery or medications necessary. Learning about spina...
While many pregnancies proceed through the nine months without a hitch, others are complicated by maternal or fetal disorders. Prenatal testing is done to prevent or treat complications that may impact the mother or baby. Some prenatal testing is...
Spina Bifida Occulta is a group of conditions that affect the spinal column, which is made of small bones called vertebrae. Affecting 10 to 20 percent of people who are otherwise healthy, Spina Bifida Occulta is relatively common and may not...
Why some babies develop an omphalocele is not entirely understood. Consequently, there is no definite way to prevent one from occurring in your baby. That said, some research suggests that taking prenatal vitamins can significantly reduce your...
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations---which can be inherited or acquired over time---that lead to cells growing abnormally quickly (causing tumors) and developing the ability to invade other tissues. Because tumor cells are different than normal...
Tumor markers are proteins found in the blood or urine when cancer is present in the body, according to the American Cancer Society. Doctors order lab tests on patients' blood to test for the presence of tumor markers if some type of cancer is...
CVS stands for chorionic villus sampling, which is a tissue test performed to detect and diagnose birth defects in unborn fetuses. If you're pregnant, your doctor might recommend a CVS if you have certain risk factors. Some potentially serious...
The use of ultrasound to detect fetal anomalies has become standard in the U.S. Although the increase in diagnostic capability has benefited families in some ways, ultrasound and other diagnostic tools have their limitations. The pairing of...
Although an article published in the British Medical Journal states that 95 percent of multiple pregnancies are diagnosed before delivery, families are occasionally surprised by the appearance of two or more babies at the time of delivery. There...
According to 2010 information from the American Liver Foundation, cancer that begins in the liver is less common in the United States than in other parts of the world, with approximately 21,000 cases diagnosed each year, but the number is...
Parents often want reassurance that their child is normal before birth. Sometimes, they have specific concerns about genetic diseases that run in their families or that are related to advanced maternal age, such as Down syndrome. Fetal genetic...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is the pregnancy hormone. Your doctor may order one of two types of hCG tests. A qualitative hCG test determines if hCG is present in the blood and can confirm pregnancy. A quantitative hCG test, or beta hCG,...
Gastroschisis is a birth defect of the abdominal wall that occurs in 1 out of 5,000 births. A small hole in the abdominal wall, usually less than 2 inches long, extends through the skin, usually to the right of the umbilical cord, according to...
Alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, is a protein found normally in abundance in the developing fetus. Only very low levels of the protein are present in healthy children and adults, except for pregnant women. Elevated blood levels of AFP can be associated...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is a hormone whose levels increase after a woman becomes pregnant. Cells in the developing placenta produce hCG during the first trimester. However, if you are not pregnant, elevated levels of hCG are...
Down syndrome, a congenital chromosomal disorder that causes physical anomalies and developmental delays, affects approximately 1 in 700 to 800 people, the Mayo Clinic reports. People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome number 21....
A multiple pregnancy is defined by the March of Dimes as carrying more than one baby at the same time. Most pregnancies in the United States are singletons, with only one baby in utero. Approximately 3 percent of American births are multiple...
Estriol levels are part of a normal prenatal screening schedule for birth defect risks. Coupled with measurement of alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, and inhibin-A, it can fairly reliably detect increased risk for...
