Retrovir (azidothymidine or AZT) is a prescription medication that has zidovudine as an active ingredient, used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults and children. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Retrovir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.  Retrovir belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by blocking the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme needed for the HIV virus to multiply. This decreases […]

Perinatal, as used in the pregnancy and birthing industry, is a term that refers to the period of time around the childbirth process. This includes the weeks leading up to delivery, as well as the first few weeks after the baby is born. The perinatal period is a crucial time for both mother and child, and it is during this time that many important decisions are made about the care and treatment of both. There are many different aspects to […]

A Special Care Nursery, also known as a Level II Nursery, is a hospital unit that provides care for sick or premature newborns. The term “special care nursery” can be used to describe the actual physical space where these infants are cared for, or it can refer to the team of healthcare providers who staff the unit. These nurseries are also sometimes referred to as neonatal units, newborn units, or intensive care nurseries. The primary purpose of a special care […]

Macrosomia is a medical term used to describe an unusually large baby. It is generally defined as a birth weight of more than 8 pounds 13 ounces (4,000 grams). The average birth weight in the United States is about 7 pounds 3 ounces (3,300 grams). There are several factors that can contribute to macrosomia, including gestational diabetes, maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and certain medications. Additionally, certain ethnic groups are more likely to have babies with macrosomia, such as Hispanic […]

Gravida is a term used to describe the number of times a woman has been pregnant, including the current pregnancy. The word gravida comes from the Latin word for “heavy.” It can also be used to describe the number of pregnancies a woman has had, including miscarriages and abortions. This is important because each pregnancy adds weight to the mother’s body. The term is typically used when discussing pregnancy and childbirth, to help assess the risk of complications. The term […]

Fetal distress is a term used in the pregnancy and birthing industry to describe a fetus that is experiencing medical problems. This can include things like a heart rate that is too low, not enough oxygen in the blood, or other signs that the fetus is not thriving. Fetal distress can be a sign of a number of different conditions, some of which are serious and can lead to complications during birth or even stillbirth. Risk Factors and Disambiguation There […]

A quad screen is a blood test that measures the levels of four substances in the mother’s blood: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol, and inhibin-A. These substances are produced by the fetus and placenta. The levels of these substances can help to indicate whether or not the fetus has certain conditions. The test is also called a multiple marker screening, triple screen, or quadruple screen.  It is a blood test that is given to pregnant women to help […]

A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatricians can be either generalists or subspecialists. Generalists are pediatricians who provide comprehensive care for all children from birth to adulthood. Subspecialists are pediatricians who limit their practice to a particular area of child health, such as adolescent medicine or pediatric cardiology. The term “pediatrician” comes from the Greek words “ped” (meaning “child”) and “iatros” (meaning “doctor”). Pediatricians provide comprehensive care for their patients, […]

Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) is a medical condition that can occur during pregnancy when the baby’s head is too large to pass through the mother’s pelvis. The pelvis is made up of bones in the hip area. These bones come together at the pubic symphysis, a joint in the front of the pelvis. The pelvic outlet is the space between the bones at this joint. It is also called the birth canal. The size of a baby’s head and the size […]

Anaesthetists, also called anesthesiologists, are doctors who specialize in the administration of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia is a technique used to achieve general or localised pain relief during surgical procedures, childbirth and other medical treatments. The role of the anaesthetist during pregnancy and childbirth is to provide pain relief for the mother. This can be done through a variety of methods, including regional anaesthesia (such as epidurals), general anaesthesia, or a combination of both. Anaesthetists are highly trained medical professionals who specialize […]