Acknowledgment This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in this chapter are those of the…
Rupture of the fetal membranes is an integral part of parturition at term and is anticipated in the processes of both spontaneous term and preterm birth. Spontaneous rupture of the membranes at term and preterm can occur any time before…
Preterm birth is the principal unsolved problem in perinatal medicine. The rate of preterm birth in the United States has been rising since 2015 to 10.23% in 2019. Advances in care have improved outcomes for preterm infants, but prematurity is…
The incidence of twin deliveries has fluctuated in the United States over the past several decades with an increase in incidence through the late 20th century ( Table 37.1 ). This was followed by a brief period of stabilization and…
Hydrops fetalis is the term used to describe generalized edema accompanied by collections of fluid in serous spaces in the fetus and neonate. Since first described almost 80 years ago, nonimmune hydrops (NIH) has become far more common than hydrops…
History Hippocrates recognized hydrops fetalis as long ago as 400 BC, according to Ballantyne, who accepted Hippocrates’ account as the first reported cases of the syndrome. The first clear-cut description of hydrops fetalis, however, did not occur until 1641 when…
Acknowledgments We would like to acknowledge the hard work put forth from the previous edition authors in writing this chapter: Jan Deprest, MD, PhD; Ryan Hodges, PhD, MBBS; Eduardo Gratacos, MD, PhD; and Liesbeth Lewi, MD, PhD. The fetus is…
Acknowledgment The previous edition of this chapter included the contributions of Dr. Larry C. Gilstrap III. This chapter is built on his contributions and is still reflective of that work, for which the editors and author are greatly appreciative. Factors…
Assessment of fetal health is an important part of the management of any pregnancy, but it becomes more critical when maternal and fetal complications arise. Understanding the range of normal fetal behavior and considering the clinical context in which testing…
A teratogenic exposure is defined as one that has the potential to permanently damage the normal structural or functional development of an embryo or fetus. A teratogenic exposure is determined not only by the agent (e.g., a particular chemical) but…