Morning Sickness to Miscarriage

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Mastitis

An infection of a milk duct in the breast, which is most common after delivering a baby and not affected by whether the mother is breast- or bottle-feeding. Symptoms include fever and an area on the breast that is reddened, sore, hard or hot to the touch.

Meconium

The baby's first bowel movements, which are often black or green and sticky.

Mesoderm

The cell layer that forms connective tissue, muscles, kidneys and other organs.

Midwife

A woman who provides prenatal care to pregnant women as well as care during and after labor and delivery. Midwives provide more personal, woman-focused support. They usually work with a backup physician or group of physicians they can call on to deal with pregnancy or birthing problems.

Miscarriage

Giving birth to a baby, involuntarily, before it can survive outside the mother's womb, usually before 20 weeks gestation.

Molar Pregnancy

A molar pregnancy is the phenomenon of the tissue inside the uterus becoming a growth, called a mole, rather than a fetus. Despite the fact that the growth is not an embryo, the body may still experience the symptoms of pregnancy.

Mongolian Blue Spot

A form of birthmark with large bluish spots, which are more common in darker-skinned babies. These marks usually fade or disappear later in childhood.

Mongolism

Also known as Down syndrome, this is a chromosomal disorder.

Montgomery's Tubercles

The tiny bumps around the areola, which are glands that enlarge during pregnancy.

Morning sickness

Nausea with or without vomiting, usually during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Moro Reflex

Also known as the startle reflex, it is present at birth and typically disappears after a few months. It can be triggered by a sudden change in position or a loud noise. When babies are startled, they suddenly reach out their arms and hands, extend the neck, then bring the arms together and may even cry loudly. This reaction is normal and it even occurs during sleep.

Mucus Plug

A "plug" of mucus that blocks the cervical canal during pregnancy. The plug is loosened and passed prior to labor or during labor, when the cervix starts to thin out and dilate.

Multigravida

A woman who has had at least one previous pregnancy.

Multipara

A woman who has given birth to two or more babies.