- Industry: Health care
- Number of terms: 8622
- Number of blossaries: 1
- Company Profile:
A protein produced by the fetus that can be detected in the mother's blood most accurately between weeks 15 and 18 of pregnancy.
Industry:Parenting
A blood test given to an expectant mother between weeks 15 and 18 of pregnancy to screen for an increased risk of the baby having a birth defect. High levels of AFP may be associated with a neural tube defect; low levels may be associated with Down syndrome. The test is used to decide whether more invasive testing, such as an amniocentesis, is necessary.
Industry:Parenting
Part of the first stage of labor when the cervix dilates from three to seven centimeters. Active labor lasts an average of two to four hours. The contractions during active labor are strong, long (40 to 60 seconds each), and frequent (three to four minutes apart).
Industry:Parenting
A form of complementary and alternative medicine that has roots in ancient Chinese medicine. It uses pressure from the fingers to heal and soothe aches and pains; during pregnancy, acupressure can be used to combat morning sickness, labor pain, and back pain.
Industry:Parenting
When the placenta begins to separate from the wall of the uterus before the baby is born. Symptoms of an abruption usually include bleeding and abdominal pain.
Industry:Parenting
A pus-filled cavity; an abscess in the breast of a nursing woman can result from untreated mastitis, or breast infection. Symptoms of an abscess include throbbing pain, swelling, tenderness, localized heat, and fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and possible surgical drainage.
Industry:Parenting
The loss of an embryo or fetus either spontaneously (miscarriage) or induced (when a pregnancy is terminated on purpose) before 20 weeks. After 20 weeks, the spontaneous loss of a fetus is called a stillbirth.
Industry:Parenting
The area of the body below the chest – the cavity that includes the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs. The uterus is located in the lowest part of the abdomen, the pelvis, although it pushes up as far as the chest as it expands throughout pregnancy.
Industry:Parenting
