Best Iowa Obstetricians

Placenta Previa
The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. Its purpose is to nourish the baby. Oxygen and nutrients pass through the placenta to the baby, and waste products pass back out to the mother's blood stream.

Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a problem that occurs in some women during pregnancy. Blood pressure increases and protein appears in the urine. This usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy and in 5%-8% of pregnancies.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) belongs to a group of disorders called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. It is caused when a women drinks alcohol during pregnancy. The alcohol can cause birth and developmental defects in the baby. These defects make up FAS.

Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that grows in a location other than the lining of the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies (95%) occur within a fallopian tube. Rare locations include on the cervix, in the abdomen, or on an ovary. An ectopic pregnancy cannot survive because only the uterus can support the growth of a fetus and its placenta. If an ectopic pregnancy bursts a fallopian tube, it is a medical emergency that threatens the life of the mother due to hemorrhage in the abdomen. Ectopic pregnancies occur with a frequency of 1 in 100-200 diagnosed pregnancies.

Fetal Blood Transfusion
This procedure is done when a baby that is still in the womb suffers from severe Anemia. Anemia is a lack of red blood cells. When the baby's blood count falls too low, a transfusion is needed. A transfusion means giving the baby red blood cells from a donor.

Neonatal Sepsis
Neonatal sepsis is a bacterial infection in the blood. It is found in infants during the first month of life. This may become a serious condition. If you suspect your baby has this condition, contact your doctor right away.

Premature Birth
The normal gestation period for humans is about 40 weeks. Some babies are born before 40 weeks. Any birth that occurs more than three weeks before the due date, or before 37 weeks, is defined as a premature birth.

Placental Abruption
Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before the fetus is delivered. The placenta is the organ that provides nourishment for the fetus while it is still in the uterus. In a healthy pregnancy, the placenta remains attached to the uterine wall until after the fetus is delivered.

Shoulder Dystocia
Dystocia is a term used to describe the difficult delivery of a baby. In shoulder dystocia, the baby's head can be delivered, but the shoulders cannot pass through the birth canal. The shoulders are too wide to fit and become lodged behind the mother's pubic bone or the opening of the birth canal.

Umbilical Cord Prolapse
Umbilical cord prolapse is a condition during the last stages of pregnancy in which the umbilical cord descends into the vagina prematurely. This most often occurs after the membranes have ruptured and the baby moves into the birth canal for delivery.