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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13 2006, 1:30 PM EST | annika | 46 words added |
| Mar 13 2006, 1:13 PM EST | annika | 902 words added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Rh incompatibility – Rh status, either positive or negative, is determined through a blood typing test. If your red blood cells carry a specific protein, you are Rh positive. If this protein is lacking, you are Rh negative. This status normally does not affect health. One exception is if an Rh negative woman conceives a baby with an Rh positive man. The baby has a 50% chance of having Rh positive blood. When an Rh negative mother carries an Rh positive baby, this is called Rh incompatibility. If a few fetal cells get into the Rh negative mother’s blood, she will form antibiodies against the Rh protein. This will affect any future Rh positive babies she may have causing destruction of their blood cells. When this incompatibility is discovered during pregnancy, it can easily be treated (the mother is given injections to prevent the development of antibodies to the baby’s Rh positive blood).
Rooming in – a hospital term that refers to keeping a newborn infant in the same room as the mom, rather than in the infant nursery.
Rooting reflex – a reflex seen in infants soon after birth. When you stroke the side of the infant’s face, she will turn her head in that direction, open her mouth, and stick out her tongue in search of the nipple to begin feeding.
Rubella – a contagious viral illness that causes tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, and a red, spotty rash. Most children are vaccinated against rubella. If a woman contracts rubella during pregnancy, her baby can develop severe birth defects, including mental retardation, hearing problems, blindness, and heart defects.
Rupture of membranes – the membrane refers to the amniotic sac, which is a fluid-filled sac that protects the baby during pregnancy. Often, this sac breaks before labor begins. You may feel fluid running out of you. The flow can be dripping (if you are standing up) or gushing (if you are lying down). When this happens, call your doctor immediately. Also called water breaking.
Scrotum – part of the male reproductive system. The scrotum is a pouch of skin that hangs outside the pelvis to hold and regulate the temperature of the testes.
Semen – part of the male reproductive system. Semen is a fluid that contains seminal fluid and sperm. It is ejaculated from the penis into the vagina to carry sperm to a woman’s egg for fertilization.
Seminal gland – part of the male reproductive system. The seminal gland produces seminal fluid. Seminal fluid is mixed with sperm to produce semen.
Sickle cell disease – a genetic disease that causes red blood cells to be sickle-shaped rather than round. In order to have sickle cell disease, a baby must inherit the gene from both the mother and the father. When a baby inherits only one gene this is called sickle cell trait. These babies have few health problems. Many states test infants for this disease. If sickle cell disease is detected, early treatment is advised.
Sitz bath – a shallow, warm water bath meant to cover only the hips and buttocks. A sitz bath can help ease pain and promote healing after an episiotomy. The water may contain medication.
Sonogram – see ultrasound
Stations – the term used to describe how far the baby has dropped. A “-3 station” means that the baby’s head is not yet in the pelvis. “0 station” means that the head has entered the maternal pelvis and is at the level of the ischial spines. This is also called “fully engaged.” When the head is beginning to emerge from the birth canal, the term “+3 station” is used. +3 occurs during delivery and is also called crowning.
Stem cells – unspecialized cells that may develop into any type of cell. Stem cells are of great interest among scientific researchers. Many researchers believe that studying stem cells can lead to a better understanding of the causes of diseases and birth defects, as well as some possible treatments. The blood in an infant’s umbilical cord contains stem cells.
Streptococcus – see Group B streptococcus.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – the unexpected, unexplained death of a child less than one year of age. Most SIDS deaths happen between two and four months. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but some steps may help reduce the risk: do not smoke or use drugs during pregnancy; put a baby to sleep on his or her back or side; and do not allow a baby to sleep on a waterbed or with soft things, such as pillows or stuffed toys.
Surrogacy – if a woman is unable to naturally conceive and/or carry a pregnancy, her embryo can be placed in the uterus of another woman for gestation. This woman acts as a surrogate, carrying the pregnancy until birth. The exact circumstances will differ based on each individual couples situation and may involve the use of donor eggs, donor sperm, or an in vitro procedure transferring an embryo derived from the couples own egg and sperm.
Syphilis – a sexually transmitted disease. If syphilis is not properly treated, it can cause brain, nerve, and tissue damage. A pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the disease to her infant during childbirth (this is called congenital syphilis). In an infant, syphilis causes a variety of serious effects from a rash to deafness to bone formation problems. Syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics.
