Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Female Genital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications > Pregnancy Complications > Fetal Diseases Terms and Definitions

Fetal Diseases

	Chorioamnionitis - An inflammatory process involving the chorion, its fetal blood vessels, the umbilical cord, and the amnion by extension of the inflammation, as the amnion itself has no blood supply. This inflammatory process is potentially fatal to mother and fetus.
	Erythroblastosis, Fetal - Hemolytic anemia of the fetus or newborn infant, caused by the transplacental transmission of maternally formed antibody, usually secondary to an incompatibility between the blood group of the mother and that of her offspring. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - A disorder occurring in children born to alcoholic women who continue to drink heavily during pregnancy. Common abnormalities are growth deficiency (prenatal and postnatal), altered morphogenesis, mental deficiency, and characteristic facies - small eyes and flattened nasal bridge. Fine motor dysfunction and tremulousness are observed in the newborn.
	Fetal Anoxia - Fetal oxygen deficiency.
	Fetal Distress - Adverse or threatening condition of the fetus identified by fetal bradycardia or tachycardia and passage of meconium in vertex presentation.
	Fetal Growth Retardation - The failure of a fetus to attain its expected growth potential at any gestational stage.
	Fetal Macrosomia - A complication of several conditions including DIABETES MELLITUS and prolonged pregnancy. A macrosomic fetus is defined as weighing more than 4000 grams.

Fetal Diseases Medical Definitions and Terms