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Some Prenatal Concerns

INTRODUCTION 

It is very important for the expecting mothers to undergo prenatal care regularly which can be helpful in monitoring the babies as well as their mothers health so that any issue can be addressed promptly.
Regular check-ups accompanied by ultrasounds,blood tests,screenings,nutrition counseling are all the vital components of the prenatal care. All this ultimately leads to healthier pregnancy outcomes by improving fetal health and mothers feel more confident and healthy.
In this Blog, we will discuss some conditions that can affect the babies during the prenatal phase.


INFECTIONS

1.Group B strep: 
A kind of bacterial infection which can infect the baby during the prenatal phase and labor because of which they become critically ill. It's onset can be within six hours of birth and can last for weeks or months.Symptoms include:
▪︎Fever
▪︎Low body temperature
▪︎Difficulty feeding
▪︎Sluggishness, limpness or weak muscle tone
▪︎Difficulty breathing
▪︎Irritability
▪︎Jitteriness
▪︎Seizures
▪︎Rash
▪︎Jaundice
▪︎Pneumonia 
Treatment includes antibiotics and supportive care to manage symptoms.
2.Listeriosis: 
A rare but a serious infection which affects the patient depending on their age and immunity and he/she can have affect on gastrointestinal system leading to fever and diarrhea.
This condition can lead to miscarriage,stillbirth,preterm labor,neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the pregnant women however they only experience a mild flu-like symptom but this infection can be life threatening for the newborn.
3.Toxoplasmosis: 
A parasitic disease in which a person's behaviour and neuro psychiatric conditions are affected Symptoms include mild, flu-like illness such as muscle aches and tender lymph nodes for few weeks or months.If this parasite infects the person during pregnancy then chances of a newborn getting affected by a condition called congenital Toxoplasmosis arise.
 Some serious symptoms that baby might develop after delivery are eye infections, jaundice, enlarged liver or spleen, and low birth weight , however they are only serious in the early period of birth that us during infancy.
4.Cytomegalovirus (CMV): 
A common virus which can infect the pregnant women leading to some issues in baby as it passes from the placenta of the mother to the unborn baby.
It causes flu-like symptoms in pregnant women, including fever, sore throat, cough, and runny nose and they go away within few weeks while babies have disabilities in hearing, vision, cognition, and motor development and in rare cases it can be fatal as well.
About 1 in 200 babies are born with congenital CMV and about 1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV will have birth defects or long-term health problems. 


BIRTH DEFECTS 

1.Heart defects:
A condition in which a heart isn't normally developed before birth and it is a most common type of birth defects.
 Congenital heart defects usually are found soon after birth or during the first few months of life. Symptoms could include:
▪︎Pale gray or blue lips, tongue, or fingernails. Depending on the skin color, these changes may be harder or easier to see.
▪︎Rapid breathing.
▪︎Swelling in the legs, belly or areas around the eyes.
▪︎Shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain.
▪︎Easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity.
▪︎Getting tired very easily during exercise or activity.
▪︎Fainting during exercise or activity.
Changes in the connection of blood vessels causes these symptoms as the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mixes because of the abnormal development of heart.
2. Cleft lip and palate: 
A birth condition which can occur alone or a part of a genetic syndrome in which there's a opening or slit in the roof of the mouth or lip,because of this condition babies have difficulty in feeding and are not able to speak properly in the later stages of life.
Normal functioning can be restored only by the surgery which involves minimal scarring and therapies have been proved to be helpful in correcting speech difficulties.
3. Spina bifida: 
A condition in which baby's spinal cord is abnormally developed that is it fails to develop properly,a portion of neural tube doesn't close all the way from brain to spinal cord which affects the later and its bones.This condition is of three types:
Spina bifida occulta:It is a mildest and most common type which results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the bones of the spine, called vertebrae. 
Myelomeningocele:It  is the most serious type and is also known as open spina bifida because the spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. 
Part of the spinal cord, including the spinal cord's protective covering and spinal nerves, push through this opening at birth, forming a sac on the baby's back because of which tissues and nerves usually are exposed. This makes the baby prone to dangerous infections and  may also cause loss of movement in the legs, and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Meningocele:In this type, a sac of spinal fluid bulges through an opening in the spine. No nerves are affected and the spinal cord isn't in the fluid sac. 
4. Clubfoot
A condition in which a foot of a baby is twisted by birth and it can be characterized as:
▪︎A high arch in the midfoot
▪︎A forefoot turned inwards
▪︎A heel turned inwards
▪︎A hind foot pointed downwards
Other than the appearance, this condition doesn't cause any discomfort or pain to the baby and the baby's health is also fine.
Although it's cause is not known but treatment is very successful with the following two methods:
Ponseti method-It includes stretching and casting of the foot.
French method-It includes stretching and taping of the foot.
Clubfoot usually doesn't cause any problems until a child starts to stand and walk. Treatment can bring the foot into the proper position and help a child walk well.

 But a child may still have some problems with:
Movement. The foot may be a little stiff and not bend easily.
Leg length. The leg with clubfoot may be slightly shorter, but this usually doesn't stop a child from learning to walk.
Shoe size. The foot may be up to 1 1/2 shoe sizes smaller than the other foot.
Calf size. The muscles of the calf on the side with clubfoot may always be smaller than those on the other side.
Foot shape. It's common for the foot to have a bean shape and a small inward point, even after treatment.

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