Fetus Sentence Examples

He thought of Edith Shipton, impregnated by a man she hated and who seemed not to have wanted an intrusive fetus invading her life.

The biggest part of the fetus's body is usually its head.

Women who have become infected six months or more before conception do not pass the infection on to their fetus, because the organism has become dormant (inactive) and formed thick-walled cysts in muscle and other tissues of the body.

Seeing him curled up in a fetus position really unnerved me.

From the third month to the point of delivery, the individual is called a fetus.

Potential treatment of the fetus can begin earlier.

These include false positive rates, and method of termination of an affected fetus.

In the male fetus, an enzyme, 5 alpha reductase, converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

Only in certain strains of rabbit and primate can thalidomide 's effect on the human fetus be reproduced.

Aimed at the public, this brochure describes bovine trichomoniasis, a venereal disease of cattle caused by the parasite Tritrichomonas fetus.

Congenital thyrotoxicosis is due to the passage from the mother to the fetus of maternal immunoglobulins that stimulate the fetal thyroid.

At the same time I found the pylorus persistently closed and accurately shut, like the os uteri on the fetus.

This contrast to the situation in mammals, where the developing fetus receives a continuous external supply of nutrients from the mother 's uterus.

Do not take this herb if you are pregnant or nursing as the effects on the developing fetus and on young children are unknown.

Again, there are not enough studies yet, but there are concerns that a raw vegan diet could be problematic for a developing fetus.

Beyond that, this juice, if consumed by pregnant women, is believed to produce a healthier fetus.

Because of the potential risk to the fetus, pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine intake.

However, smoking poses a serious danger to both the mother and her developing fetus.

A woman who smokes during her pregnancy passes nicotine to her fetus and cuts oxygen flow to the placenta by 25%.

The medicine's effects on a developing fetus are unknown.

When a woman who is pregnant uses heroin, the drug use can have serious consequences for the developing fetus.

During pregnancy, the lead stored in the bones is released and is transferred to the fetus.

Women who are exposed to high lead levels during their pregnancy can also transfer lead in the bloodstream to their fetus.

The disease is transmittable from mother to child as the protozoa will cross the placenta and infect the fetus.

Patent ductus arteriosus-A congenital defect in which the temporary blood vessel connecting the left pulmonary artery to the aorta in the fetus doesn't close after birth.

Biliary atresia is the congenital failure of a fetus to develop an adequate pathway for bile to drain from the liver to the intestine.

When a parent has NF, and the specific genetic defect causing the parent's disease has been identified, tests can be performed on the fetus (developing baby) during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, it is attached to the wall of the uterus and served to exchange needed nourishment from the mother to the fetus and simultaneously to remove waste products from the fetus.

Non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings represent a condition in which the fetus may not be tolerating labor and oxygen deprivation can occur.

Amniotic sac-The membranous sac that contains the fetus and the amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

Gestation-The period from conception to birth, during which the developing fetus is carried in the uterus.

Because fifth disease can pose problems for an unborn fetus exposed to the disease through the mother, testing for the disease may be conducted while a fetus is still in the uterus.

This test uses fluid collected from the sac around the fetus (amniotic fluid) instead of blood to detect the viral DNA.

Mothers who develop the infection while pregnant can pass the infection on to their fetus and thus stand an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

There are tests and treatments, however, that can be performed on the fetus while still in the uterus that can reduce the risk of anemia or other complications.

Syphilis can cause early delivery, miscarriage, and is a potentially life-threatening infection for an affected fetus, often resulting in stillbirth.

Prior to birth the mother's liver processes bilirubin for the fetus.

An Rh-negative mother who was exposed to her fetus's Rh-positive blood during a previous pregnancy or delivery or who has accidentally received an Rh-positive blood transfusion has antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells.

Such infections may be congenital, having been passed from the mother to the fetus, or may occur after birth.

Uterus-The female reproductive organ that contains and nourishes a fetus from implantation until birth.

Lanugo-A soft, downy body hair that covers a normal fetus beginning in the fifth month and usually shed by the ninth month.

T. gondii infection of a fetus or newborn can also cause severe neurological impairment, blindness, mental retardation, and death.

When a fetus acquires the infection through its mother, this is called congenital toxoplasmosis.

The only form of direct person-to-person transmission occurs from mother to fetus during pregnancy.

It is estimated that about one third of women with active infections pass the infection along to their fetus.

Women who give birth to one infected child do not pass the infection to their fetus during subsequent pregnancies unless they are immunocompromised (for example, with AIDS) and the infection recurs.

Amniocentesis (sampling amniotic fluid) between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation can detect toxoplasmosis in the fetus.

Transmission of toxoplasmosis from the mother to the fetus may be prevented or reduced if the mother takes the antibiotic spiramycin.

Later in a pregnancy, if the fetus has contracted the disease, treatment with the antibiotic pyrimethamine (Daraprim, Fansidar) and folinic acid (an active form of folic acid) may be effective.

When a fetus is found early in pregnancy to be infected, parents are faced with the decision of whether to continue the pregnancy given the likelihood of serious complications to the fetus.

Multiple pregnancy, usually referred to as multiple gestation, is one in which more than one fetus develops simultaneously in the mother's womb.

During a pregnancy, it is essential that the uterus be well perfused to sustain the fetus with nutrients and oxygen.

If multiple gestation is suspected, an ultrasound may be performed to determine the gestational age of the fetus or to check for more than one fetus.

It assists with dating the pregnancy, determining the number of fetuses, detecting fetal anomalies, following the growth and development of each fetus, and serves to monitor the length of the cervix in anticipation of preterm labor.

In a normal pregnancy the fetus spends the last four to six weeks growing and gaining weight, primarily body fat.

When the mother has high blood pressure (hypertension) or blood poisoning (toxemia), the flow of oxygen to the fetus may be reduced, causing brain damage and mental retardation.

Tests such as amniocentesis and ultrasonography can determine whether a fetus is developing normally in the womb.

Either the fluid itself or cells from the fluid can be used for a variety of tests to obtain information about genetic disorders and other medical conditions in the fetus.

Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is a congenital heart defect that develops in the fetus.

In the fetus, blood from the heart to the lungs is delivered into the aorta through a short blood vessel called the ductus arteriosis.

Amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling can be used to determine if the fetus has Tay-Sachs disease.

If a fetus is identified as having TSD, parents can then consider their options.

During pregnancy, cell samples can be collected from the fetus using amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling.

The results of these tests can indicate if the developing fetus has a lipidosis disorder.

If parents have one child with a lipidoses disorder and are considering having other children, genetic counseling or in utero testing of the fetus may be beneficial.

Most birth defects occur in the first three months of pregnancy when the organs of the fetus are forming.

During the crucial first weeks, frequently before a woman is aware she is pregnant, the developing fetus is most susceptible to substances that can cause birth defects (teratogens).

In some cases, tight amniotic bands may constrict the developing fetus, preventing a limb from forming properly, if at all.

However, if a doctor suspects that the fetus is at risk for developing a limb deficiency (for example, if the mother has been exposed to radiation), a more detailed ultrasound examination may be performed.

Teratogen-Any drug, chemical, maternal disease, or exposure that can cause physical or functional defects in an exposed embryo or fetus.

They care for women who have pre-existing medical problems, women who develop complications during pregnancy, and women whose fetus has problems.

Thus, the diagnosis may be determined during history taking or if it is the fetus, during the morphological ultrasound at 16-19 weeks gestation.

These tests are designed to follow the original condition, survey for complications, verify that the fetus is growing adequately, and make decisions regarding whether labor may need to be induced for early delivery of the fetus.

If it is the fetus that has a problem, serial ultrasounds may be performed.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-A common human virus causing mild or no symptoms in healthy people, but permanent damage or death to an infected fetus, a transplant patient, or a person with HIV.

Polyhydramnios-A condition in which there is too much fluid around the fetus in the amniotic sac.

Sometimes parents can stay with children during an x ray, unless the mother is pregnant, in which case she must protect the fetus from x-ray exposure.

Exposure of the fetus to x rays, especially during early pregnancy can increase the risk of the child later developing leukemia.

There is an increased risk that a developing fetus will develop leukemia during childhood if exposed to x-ray radiation; pregnant or potentially pregnant women should avoid x rays.

This passageway allows blood to bypass the lungs, which are not yet functional in the fetus.

Research on diagnosing cardiovascular defects when the fetus is in the womb may lead to future treatment to correct these conditions before birth.

Folic acid is necessary for the proper growth and development of the fetus.

Amniotic fluid-The liquid in the amniotic sac that cushions the fetus and regulates temperature in the placental environment.

A cesarean section (also referred to as c-section) is the birth of a fetus accomplished by performing a surgical incision through the maternal abdomen and uterus.

When a fetus experiences stress, (oxygen deprivation) in utero, it may pass meconium (feces) into the amniotic fluid.

The appearance of meconium in the fluid along with a questionable EFM tracing may indicate that a fetus is becoming compromised.

Breech birth is the delivery of a fetus (unborn baby) in a bottom- or foot-first position.

Throughout most of pregnancy the developing fetus is completely free to move around within the uterus.

Between 32 and 36 weeks, however, the fetus becomes so large that movement is restricted.

It is much harder for the fetus to turn over, so whatever position it has assumed by this point is likely to be the same position that he or she will be in when labor begins.

The fetus is upside down in the uterus, and the head will dilate the cervix (or vaginal opening) and lead the way during the birth process.

If the head fits through the mother's pelvis, then the rest of the fetus's body should slip out fairly easily.

If the fetus is born bottom first, it is possible that the body will fit through the mother's pelvis, but the baby's head will get stuck at the level of the chin.

This condition, known as a entrapment, has the potential to cause serious injury to the fetus, and surgical intervention may be required to complete the birth.

Breech presentation occurs in 3 to 4 percent of all births, and up to 95 percent of women with a breech fetus choose cesarean section for birth.

The earlier a birth occurs in pregnancy, the higher the chances are that the fetus will be in a breech position.

Women with multiple gestations (i.e., twins or more) are more likely to have at least one fetus in a breech position simply due to space constraints in the womb.

There are generally no identifiable symptoms of a breech fetus.

However, some women may be able to detect the position of the fetus by where they feel the fetus kicking.

A healthcare provider can often tell the position of the fetus by feeling it through the wall of the mother's abdomen.

This should only be attempted if ultrasound shows that the fetus is in a favorable breech position.

During an external cephalic version (also known as version), the obstetrician attempts to turn the fetus to a head first position before labor begins by manipulating the outside of the abdomen.

It may take several tries before the fetus cooperates, but about half will eventually turn.

A version should only be done in a hospital, with an ultrasound machine used to guide the obstetrician in turning the fetus.

The fetus should be monitored with a fetal monitor before and after the version.

A version is not appropriate for every fetus who is in the breech position at the end of pregnancy.

It can only be tried if there is one fetus in the uterus, if the placenta is not lying in front of the fetus, and if the umbilical cord does not appear to be wrapped around the fetus at any point.

There is no way to prevent a fetus from settling into the breech position at the end of pregnancy.

A woman who has had one breech fetus is at an increased risk for having another breech fetus in subsequent pregnancies.

Possible causes that center on the fetus rather than the mother include chromosomal abnormalities, genetic and other syndromes that impair skeletal growth, and defects of the placenta or umbilical cord.

Researchers are as of 2004 also investigating treating SCID in the yet unborn fetus, which has been done successfully a few times.

Thus, the early movements of the fetus and newborn were previously viewed as passive byproducts of the central nervous system.

Retardation can also be caused by damage to the fetus during pregnancy due to alcohol, drug abuse or toxicity, and disorders of the developing nervous system such as hydrocephalus.

However, those that arise from damage to the fetus due to the mother's use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can be prevented by avoiding these substances.

Second, the onset of premature labor may be induced, in part, by complications that have already caused neurologic damage in the fetus.

Studying prenatal human development is difficult because the embryo and fetus develop in a closed environment-the mother's womb.

Each of these infections is considered a risk to the fetus only if the mother contracts it for the first time during that pregnancy.

Just as a stroke can occur in an adult and cause neurologic damage in an adult, so too can this type of event occur in the fetus.

Serious physical trauma to the mother during pregnancy could result in direct trauma to the fetus as well, or injuries to the mother could compromise the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetal brain.

Infection in the mother is sometimes not passed to the fetus through the placenta but is transmitted to the baby during delivery.

Once a couple has had a child with MPS, prenatal testing is available to them to help determine if another fetus is affected with the same MPS as their previous other child.

Prenatal testing can also diagnose MPS in the fetus, but this testing is normally done only when there is some reason to expect to find the disorder (e.g. family history of the disease).

If the spine malformation is not skin covered, alpha-fetoprotein from the fetus's circulation may leak into the surrounding amniotic fluid, a small portion of which is absorbed into the mother's blood.

After direct closure of the spine malformation, the fetus is returned to the womb.

Although rubella causes only mild symptoms in child and adult sufferers, the infection can have severe complications for the fetus of a woman who becomes infected with the virus during the first trimester of pregnancy.

These complications include severe birth defects or death of the fetus.

When a woman is already pregnant, tests can be performed on either the cells of the fetus (amniocentesis) or the placenta (chorionic villus sampling) to determine whether the baby will have Tay-Sachs disease.

As a result, pregnant women should not receive the mumps vaccine because of the possibility of damage to the fetus.

Prenatal surgery is a surgical procedure performed on a fetus prior to birth.

This can cause the urine, which normally flows out into the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus, to back up and injure the kidneys.

However, in addition to kidney damage, urinary tract obstructions can lead to multiple abnormalities and depleted amniotic fluid, which endangers the fetus and prevents the lungs from growing.

About 10 percent of fetuses with urinary tract obstructions may require prenatal surgery in which a device is placed in the fetus's bladder to drain the urine into the amniotic sac.

The decision to have prenatal surgery is made on the basis of detailed ultrasound imaging of the fetus, including an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to obtain images of the fetal heart, as well as other diagnostic tools.

Since additional congenital defects preclude prenatal surgery, amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling (CVS) are used to check for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

The fetus receives the anesthetic via the mother's blood.

In some procedures the fetus is partially removed from the uterus.

The fetus must be moved away from the placenta, the disk-shaped organ within the uterus that provides the blood supply to the fetus.

The surgeon may knead and push on the uterus to move or flip the fetus.

Following the procedure the fetus is replaced in the uterus and the incision is stitched.

A tiny hole was made in the bladder of the fetus and a catheter (a long, thin tube) was inserted to drain the urine directly into the amniotic fluid.

A balloon placed in the fetus's trachea prevents lung fluid from escaping through the mouth, enabling the lungs to expand, grow, and push the abdominal organs out of the chest and back into the abdomen.

A catheter is passed through the needle across the fetus's aortic valve.

This slows the tumor's growth and may enable the fetus to survive until delivery.

Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is a surgery performed for a congenital defect that blocks the fetus's airway.

The fetus is removed from the womb by cesarean section but the umbilical cord is left intact so that the mother's placenta continues to sustain the fetus.

Following the surgery the mother lies in bed on her side to provide the best circulation to the fetus and to help prevent contractions.

This increases blood flow to the fetus and reduces pressure on the cervix to help prevent uterine contractions.

Amniotic fluid is essential for lung development and protects the fetus from injury and infection.

Without the cushion that enables the fetus to float, the fetus may compress the umbilical cord causing death.

Fetal surgery for CDH lessens the severity of the condition so that the fetus usually survives delivery and lives long enough to undergo corrective surgery.

Fetoscope-A fiber optic instrument for viewing the fetus inside the uterus.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT)-A tumor occurring at the base of the tailbone in a fetus.

Alcohol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into a pregnant woman's bloodstream and circulates to the fetus by crossing the placenta.

Here it interferes with the ability of the fetus to receive sufficient oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other organs.

Studies suggest that drinking a large amount of alcohol at any one time may be more dangerous to the fetus than drinking small amounts more frequently.

The fetus is most vulnerable to various types of injuries depending on the stage of development in which alcohol is encountered.

The ultrasound produces sound waves that are reflected back from the body structures of the fetus, producing a picture that can be seen on a video screen.

In thalassemia minor, fetal hemoglobin (HbF), the hemoglobin form that circulates in the fetus, does not decrease normally after birth and may remain high in later life.

The term intrauterine growth retardation (also known as intrauterine growth restriction)(IUGR) is generically defined as a fetus who is at or below the tenth percentile in weight for its gestational age.

In the first stage, four to 20 weeks gestation, rapid cell division and multiplication (hyperplasia) occurs as the embryo grows into a fetus.

Growth inhibition during the first stage produces an undersized fetus with fewer cells, but normal cell size, causing symmetric IUGR.

Decreased amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) is associated with IUGR as the fetus may have a decreased cardiac output and thus decreased renal flow to produce less urine.

Uteroplacental insufficiency-Designates the lack of blood flow from the uterus to the placenta, resulting in decreased nourishment and oxygen to the fetus.

Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with a fetus with IUGR should talk to their obstetrician about options for treatment.

Clubfoot may be suspected during the latter stages of pregnancy, especially in a mother of shorter or smaller than normal stature, a large fetus, or multiple infants.

Many unexpected events occur during the development of a fetus inside the womb.

Any symptoms the mother may have had to indicate that the defects are present in the fetus are nondescript.

In many cases, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) occurs, which means the fetus does not survive to term.

In this test, changes in the baby's heart rate are noted with the fetus's own movements.

External monitoring of the fetus is accomplished by means of a transducer that emits continuous sound waves (ultrasound).

Because of the relatively small risk (2-4%) of recurrence of OI type II in a family, families may opt for ultrasound studies to determine if a developing fetus has the disorder.

Using ultrasound, a doctor can examine the fetus's skeleton for bowing of the leg or arm bones, fractures, shortening, or other bone abnormalities that may indicate OI.

Fetal hemoglobin, an alkali-resistant form of hemoglobin, is the major hemoglobin component in the bloodstream of the fetus.

Conception-The union of egg and sperm to form a fetus.

In the fetus, the testes are in the abdomen.

In some newborn boys the testes are not present in the scrotum, either because the testes did not descend or because the testes never developed in the fetus.

Sometimes the failure is due to problems that occur during pregnancy with the tissues as they are developing or with hormone levels in the developing fetus.

If genetic testing in a family has identified a DMPK mutation, it is possible to test a fetus during pregnancy.

It can also be done by amniocentesis after 14 weeks gestation by removing a small amount of the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus and analyzing the cells in the fluid.

A sample of the amniotic fluid, which surrounds a fetus in the womb, is collected through a pregnant woman's abdomen using a needle and syringe.

Thirty-five is the recommended age to begin amnio testing because that is the age at which the risk of carrying a fetus with such a defect roughly equals the risk of miscarriage caused by the procedure-about one in 200.

Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein produced by the fetus and present in the mother's blood.

As an invasive surgical procedure, amnio poses a real, although small, risk to the health of a fetus.

Parents must weigh the potential value of the knowledge gained, or indeed the reassurance that all is well, against the small risk of damaging what is in all probability a normal fetus.

The word amniocentesis literally means "puncture of the amnion," the thin-walled sac of fluid in which a developing fetus is suspended during pregnancy.

The most promising area of new research in prenatal testing involves expanding the scope and accuracy of maternal blood screening as this poses no risk to the fetus.

A very slight risk of injury to the fetus resulting from contact with the amnio needle does exist.

Negative results from an amnio analysis indicate that everything about the fetus appears normal and the pregnancy can continue without undue concern.

An overall "normal" result does not, however, guarantee that the pregnancy will come to term, or that the fetus does not suffer from some other defect.

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)-A substance produced by a fetus' liver that can be found in the amniotic fluid and in the mother's blood.

During pregnancy women should take only drugs that are known to be safe for the fetus.

Phenylalanine is a type of teratogen (any substance or organism that can cause birth defects in a developing fetus).

Families with a history of hemophilia can also have tests done during a pregnancy to determine whether the fetus will have hemophilia.

Diaphragmatic hernia may be diagnosed while the fetus is still in the womb using prenatal ultrasonography.

As the fetus develops, it receives the oxygen it needs from the mother's blood system.

Mothers are recommended to eat approximately 300 additional calories a day (above and beyond a normal non-pregnancy diet) to support the fetus's growth and development.

A developing fetus can also be poisoned if a pregnant woman breathes CO gas.

Then the fertilized egg must travel to the woman's uterus (womb), where it lodges in the uterus lining and develops into a fetus.

Towards the end of pregnancy, a fetus begins to hear sounds and speech coming from outside the mother's body.

The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test is a blood test that is performed during pregnancy to screen the fetus for certain conditions; it is also used to screen for certain diseases in infants and children.

The screening test measures the level of AFP in the mother's blood and indicates the probability that the fetus has one of several serious birth defects.

Alpha-fetoprotein is a substance produced by the liver of a fetus, by tumors of the liver, by testes and ovaries, and by certain other diseases of the liver.

During pregnancy, the fetus excretes AFP in urine, and some of the protein crosses the fetal membranes to enter the mother's blood.

By analyzing the amount of AFP found in a blood or amniotic fluid sample, doctors can determine the probability that the fetus is at risk for certain birth defects.

It is very important that the doctor know precisely how old the fetus is when the test is performed, because the AFP level changes over the length of the pregnancy.

Abnormally high AFP may indicate that the fetus has an increased risk of a neural tube defect, the most common and severe type of disorder associated with increased AFP.

Abnormally low levels of AFP can also occur when the fetus has died or when the mother is overweight.

In both pregnant mothers (whose fetus is being screened) and in children, blood is drawn from a vein, usually on the inside of the elbow.

For a fetus, AFP can also be measured in the sample of amniotic fluid taken at the time of amniocentesis.

It is very important that the doctor know precisely how old the fetus is when the test is performed, because the AFP level considered normal changes over the length of the pregnancy.

Errors in determining the age of the fetus lead to errors when interpreting the test results.

An abnormal test result does not necessarily mean that the fetus has a birth defect.

The test has a high rate of abnormal results (either high or low) in order to prevent missing a fetus that has a serious condition.

The doctor inform the mother of the fetus about the specific increased risk as compared to the normal risk of a standard case.

Again, the test has a high rate of showing an abnormal AFP level in order to prevent missing a fetus that has Down syndrome.

This is not particularly a problem for a fetus because hardly any blood flows through the lungs until birth.

Prenatal development refers to the process in which a baby develops from a single cell after conception into an embryo and later a fetus.

The embryo is now referred to as a fetus.

When an embryo becomes a fetus at eight weeks, it is approximately 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) in length from crown to rump and weighs about 3 grams (0.1 ounce).

By the time the fetus is considered full-term at 38 weeks gestation, he or she may be 50 centimeters (20 inches) or 3.3 kilograms (7.3 pounds).

The fetus is able to swallow and make sucking motions.

The fetus becomes more active, and the mother can sometimes begin to feel fetal movements at this stage.

The fetus's bones are developed but not yet hardened.

The fetus has gained a high degree of control over body functions.

In a healthy fetus, all organ systems are functioning.

In other cases, problems may arise when a fetus is born prematurely.

The age, health status, nutritional status, and environment of the mother are all closely tied to the health of a growing embryo or fetus.

In other cases, a mother's illness may cause congenital malformations; an example is rubella, which can cause heart defects, deafness, developmental delays, and other problems in a fetus if the mother contracts it during pregnancy.

Prenatal testing is often recommended to parents-to-be as a means of assessing the fetus's health and the risk of developing certain conditions.

Little is known about the risks of these drugs to the fetus; however, the risk of birth defects does not seem to be any higher than for women who do not take these medications.

Mothers are recommended to eat approximately 300 additional calories day (above and beyond a normal nonpregnancy diet) to support the fetus's growth and development.

Minimizing the risk of transmitting a maternal infection to a fetus is often a major concern for parents.

Pregnant women should not receive the vaccine because it may affect the fetus.

Congenital immunodeficiency is caused by genetic defects that generally occur while the fetus is developing in the uterus.

The ductus arteriosus should be present and open before birth while the fetus is developing in the uterus.

Brain development begins shortly after conception and continues throughout the growth of a fetus.

Early in fetal development, a flat strip of tissue along the back of the fetus rolls up to form a tube.

Anencephaly is sometimes seen to run in families, and for parents who have conceived one anencephalic fetus, the risk of a second is as high as 5 percent.

Meconium aspiration syndrome-Breathing in of meconium (a newborn's first stool) by a fetus or newborn, which can block air passages and interfere with lung expansion.

Ultrasonography (ultrasound) is also routinely used to evaluate the fetus before birth and in the period shortly after birth.

Smoking can damage fertility, making it harder to conceive, and it can interfere with the growth of the fetus during pregnancy.

If taken late in pregnancy, these drugs may prolong pregnancy, lengthen labor time, cause problems during delivery, or affect the heart or blood flow of the fetus.

Development-The process whereby undifferentiated embryotic cells replicate and differentiate into limbs, organ systems, and other body components of the fetus.

The testing results reflect how well the placenta is functioning in its ability to adequately supply blood and, therefore, oxygen to the fetus.

If a fetus is not receiving adequate oxygen from the placenta, the FHR will not accelerate, but if the oxygen supply is sufficient, accelerations will be noted.

If it is difficult to obtain fetal movements, a vibroacoustic stimulator (VAS) is sometimes used to provide a loud noise to awaken the fetus and produce the desired results.

A fetus is considered viable at 24 weeks since that is the minimum gestational age for sufficient lung development.

There are no significant risks to the mother or the fetus from the nonstress test (NST), modified biophysical profile (MBPP), or the biophysical profile (BPP).

Usually, a report of normal results for NSTs provides reassurance that the fetus is healthy and should remain so for three to four days, at which time repeat testing will be necessary.

For an extremely preterm fetus, a normal NST is reported as being reactive for gestational age, which indicates the FHR demonstrated two accelerations of 10 beats per minute above baseline for 10 seconds over a 20-30 minute period.

Vibroacoustic stimulation-In the biophysical profile, use of an artificial larynx to produce a loud noise to "awaken" the fetus.

Tracheoesophageal fistulas are defects in development of the fetus that cannot be prevented.

Polydactyly and syndactyly are conditions that occur in the developing fetus.

Failure of an unborn child (fetus) to develop properly can result in birth defects.

During fetal development, the enlarged esophagus may also have pressed on and narrowed the trachea, a condition in the fetus that can contribute to fistula development.

Physicians also use antenatal tests to determine various characteristics of the fetus, such as gestational age, size, and position in the uterus, or to verify the presence of multiple fetuses.

Diagnostic tests tend to more invasive but are able to determine with more certainty that a fetus will be born with a certain condition.

In the early stages of pregnancy, physicians may order blood or urine tests to screen for possible disorders or infections that could affect the growing fetus.

A multiple marker test or triple screen is used to determine if a fetus is at an increased risk of having certain congenital abnormalities.

Ultrasound is a device that records sound waves as they bounce off the developing fetus and create an image that is projected onto a large computer screen.

In certain cases, the technician may insert a plastic probe into the woman's vaginal canal to get a clearer picture of the fetus.

Afterward, tiny cells shed by the fetus can be studied in the laboratory; scientists can analyze the samples to determine if the fetus has certain genetic conditions.

The other risks are maternal infection, injuries to the fetus, and premature labor.

Alpha fetoprotein test-A screening blood test that can be done after the sixteenth week of pregnancy to evaluate the possibility of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in the fetus.

The physical dependency the fetus has with the mother creates a basis for emotional and psychological bonding after birth.

Often there is also an emotional detachment from a fetus that causes emotional or physical pain to the mother during pregnancy.

Prenatal therapy, in which a pregnant woman at risk for a second CAH child is given dexamethasone to decrease secretion of androgens by the adrenal glands of the female fetus, has been in use since 1994.

This therapy is started in the first trimester when fetal adrenal production of androgens begins but before prenatal diagnosis is done that would provide definitive information about the sex of the fetus and its disease status.

Then, early in a pregnancy, cells can be obtained from the developing fetus by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis and checked for the same mutation.

Prenatal diagnosis-The determination of whether a fetus possesses a disease or disorder while it is still in the womb.

DiGeorge syndrome is caused either by inheritance of a defective chromosome 22 or by a new defect in chromosome 22 in the fetus.

Rh incompatibility may develop when a woman with Rh-negative blood becomes pregnant by a man with Rh-positive blood and conceives a fetus with Rh-positive blood.

Red blood cells (RBCs) from the fetus leak across the placenta and enter the woman's circulation throughout pregnancy with the greatest transfer occurring at delivery.

In succeeding pregnancies, the antibodies reach the fetus via the placenta and destroy (lyse) the fetal RBCs.

The resulting anemia may be so profound that the fetus may die in utero.

In subsequent pregnancies, however, the fetus may be at greater risk.

If this happens, the fetus can suffer severe health effects and may die.

If this condition develops in the fetus in utero, the pregnant woman will generally notice a decrease in fetal movement, which should be immediately reported to her clinician.

For example, a severely sensitized woman may have antibody titers that are moderately high and remain at the same level while the fetus is being more and more severely affected.

Conversely, a woman sensitized by previous Rh-positive fetuses may have a high antibody titer during her pregnancy while the fetus is Rh-negative.

If bilirubin levels are elevated, indicating impending intrauterine death, the fetus can be given intrauterine transfusions at ten-day to two-week intervals, generally until 32 to 34 weeks gestation, when delivery should be performed.

Hydrops fetalis-A condition in which a fetus or newborn baby accumulates fluids, causing swollen arms and legs and impaired breathing.

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS)-A technique used to obtain pure fetal blood from the umbilical cord while the fetus is in utero and also called cordocentesis.

They circulate through various organs in the lymphatic system as the fetus develops.

A specialized ultrasound exam measures the thickness of the back of the fetus's neck (called nuchal lucency).

Pregnant women who come into contact with lead can pass it along to the fetus.

Nicotine and carbon monoxide are both poisons that limit the absorption of nutrients and oxygen by the fetus during this vital time in his development.

Since the fertilized egg is implanted in an area too small for a growing fetus to survive and it can endanger the life of the mother if the organ where the egg is implanted ruptures, medical care is mandatory.

As the fetus grows, it will rupture the tube and cause severe internal bleeding.

In these cases, during or soon after conception, the fetus fails to develop properly.

For nine months, you watch you body change, to metamorphasize into the perfect vessel for nurturing a growing fetus.

If the pregnancy is normal, HCG can be used to help determine the age of the fetus.

Implantation bleeding is light spotting probably caused when the fetus implants into the uterus a few days after fertilization, though no one is exactly sure what causes it.

This is a very serious condition when the fetus implants into the fallopian tubes or ovaries rather than the uterus.

If the ectopic pregnancy isn't caught early, the fetus will grow until the fallopian tube ruptures, resulting in bleeding and abdominal pain.

Fetus is the technical term for your unborn child.

It takes 40 weeks for your fetus to grow from a cluster of cells to a beautiful newborn baby.

During this time, your fetus changes from a tiny lump of cells implanting into your uterus to an identifiably human baby that is three inches long and weighs about half an ounce.

During this trimester, the fetus develops arms and legs.

Facial features have formed and ultrasounds have shown the fetus squinting and frowning in this trimester.

Your fetus has now developed a sleep cycle that you might notice as a period of less movement.

Normal heart rate for a fetus is between 120-160 beats per minute.

From there, the egg develops into a fetus.

Since there is no room for the fetus to grow other than in the uterus, organ damage can occur.

Many pregnant women stop dyeing their hair for fear the chemicals will harm the developing fetus.

However, some doctors believe these services may pose a slight risk to the fetus.

Any woman experiencing a symptom of tubal pregnancy should make an appointment with her doctor to ensure the health of herself and her fetus.

Curtis, Your Pregnancy Week by Week allows you to learn what your fetus is going through in each week of your pregnancy.

This is when the arms and legs fully form and the head becomes a smaller part of the fetus in proportion to the rest of the body.

The fetus grows a lot during the last trimester, largely because it is finally putting on body fat.

The fetus is considered "full term" at 37 weeks, but babies born in week 36 usually survive.

A fetus's developing liver can't process alcohol, so your baby relies on your body to clear the alcohol from both your blood and his.

Nutrition- the proper nutrition is necessary for both the health of the mother and the developing fetus.

From the moment you conceive, your body begins a process of growth and support for the fetus that is really draining on your body energy-wise.

The old adage that expecting mothers are eating for two is somewhat outdated; yes, pregnant women are feeding their babies as well as themselves, but a fetus doesn't have the same nutritional requirements as a full-grown adult.

Because lupus antibodies can cross the placenta to the fetus, the baby may experience a low white blood cell count, anemia, or a slow heartbeat.

For example, if either the man or women is taking a steroid such as 'Methotrexate,' which is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, since it is known to be harmful to a fetus.

This procedure enables an obstetrician to determine any chromosomal disorders or open neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, that the unborn fetus may have.

The cells contain fluid that contains genetic information about the fetus.