Most pregnant women worry about the effects of taking medication on the growing fetus. When medications are available over the counter, many pregnant women assume that they're safe to use without asking a medical provider. But many...
Patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus does not close normally, according to MedlinePlus. The ductus arteriosus is a small blood vessel in the heart of an unborn baby that allows blood to bypass the lungs....
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reports that a premature infant is one who is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature newborns are susceptible to multiple different health problems, which are more likely to...
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, also known as PPHN, is defined as ongoing high blood pressure within the pulmonary artery. Normally, the pulmonary artery transports blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs, where...
Congenital heart defects or heart diseases afflict or are present in infants under the age of one year. These heart diseases are caused by problems or malformations in the structure and function of the heart and its vessels, resulting in mild to...
The heart has four chambers that work together to make sure that blood and oxygen is distributed throughout the body. The right side of the heart, which holds the blood that needs oxygen, is separated from the left side with its oxygenated blood....
Indocin is a prescription drug with the generic name indomethacin. According to "2010 Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide," it is available in oral capsule, oral sustained release capsule, oral liquid, rectal suppository and intravenous forms. Indocin...
Cymbalta is an antidepressant medication classified as an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), which means it increases levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Cymbalta is a Class C drug for use in pregnancy, which means that...
The blockage of blood flow to the brain is an ischemic stroke; when one of the vessels in the brain bursts, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs. Either of these situations can kill brain cells and have serious or fatal consequences. According to the...
Premature infants are babies who are born before the 37th week of gestation. A premature birth shortens the time for development and maturation in the womb. The risk of complications increases the earlier the baby is born. The result is an...
Pregnancy lasts approximately 38 to 42 weeks in humans. Babies born earlier than 37 weeks are considered premature. Depending on how early they arrive, these children may have lungs, a liver and a circulatory system that are unprepared for life...
Pregnancy does not always last 40 weeks, but babies who are born before their mothers have been pregnant for 37 weeks are considered to be premature. Some of these babies go on to live full and healthy lives, but others die or have health problems...
Meconium aspiration is a common complication of childbirth in a newborn. Meconium is the first stool passed by a newborn; it's dark green, very sticky and thick. If a baby is stressed in utero, even for a short time, meconium may be passed into...
The heart is a vital organ, pumping blood as well as oxygen received from the lungs throughout the body. This organ is mostly developed before your infant even arrives into the world, although it will continue to strengthen after birth. In some...
Despite easy accessibility, Drug Information Online reports that ibuprofen may be unsafe to take during pregnancy. Especially in the last three months, there is a risk of birth defects. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or NSAID,...
One of the most exciting moments of pregnancy for parents-to-be, is the sight or sound of the beating fetal heart. By the time the heart is able to be heard when amplified by fetal Doppler, around nine to ten weeks of pregnancy, says the Dr. Spock...
The heart can be described as the muscle pump of the body. A congenital heart problem can arise when there is abnormal heart development that happens in utero, before birth. The American Heart Association (AHA) states that annually approximately...
The average gestation period in humans is 40 weeks, although a baby born at 37 weeks is still regarded full-term. Labor that begins prior to the completion of 37 full weeks is known as pre-term labor and the baby is considered premature. Due to a...
An echocardiogram is a test that examines the internal structures of the heart. It is a painless procedure, which uses a probe that emits sound waves into the chest. These sound waves are high-frequency and bounce off internal structures, giving...
Pulse strength is a direct indicator of how efficiently your heart is able to work. Pulse types are usually classified by their strength and pattern. A specific pattern of strong or weak pulses can aid in diagnosis of heart and arterial problems,...
Every year, around 35,000 infants are born with heart defects in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Such malformations result in abnormal blood circulation through the four chambers of the heart and...
One in 12 babies born in the United States weighs less than 5 lbs., 8 oz. at birth, according to the March of Dimes. Babies less than 3 lbs., 4 oz. are classified as very low birth-weight, a designation that only 1.5 percent of babies attain,...
Acular is a medication used to manage allergy eye symptoms such as itching, swelling, pain, stinging and burning, says Drugs.com. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that decreases bodily substances that promote inflammation. Typically,...
If you are pregnant, you should speak to your doctor about adjusting your current medications and supplements. For instance, if you take a vitamin K supplement that includes aspirin, you might need to avoid it due to its potential for fetal and...
Xibrom (bromfenac) is a medication used to manage eye pain and swelling after you have cataracts (clouding of eye lenses) surgery. According to Drugs.com, Xibrom belongs to a class of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)....
Congenital heart disease refers to problems in the structure and function of the heart because of abnormal heart development before birth. The U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that congenital heart disease is the most common type of birth...
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, about 12 percent of all births in the United States are premature, taking place before the 37th week of gestation. Premature birth can lead to numerous complications. The...
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in the United States. There is ongoing debate if marijuana use during pregnancy causes harm to the fetus. Research reported by the...
Progesterone supplements are given to pregnant women who have a history of low progesterone levels in pregnancy or a history of recurrent miscarriage. Progesterone is a hormone that helps maintains a pregnancy; normal levels are over 12 ng/ml in...
