Health Information

Jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The medical term for jaundice in babies is neonatal jaundice. Other symptoms of newborn jaundice can include: yellowing of the palms of the hands or soles of the feet

Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too high. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods, such as bread and rice. Insulin, a hormone produced by your pancreas, helps your body to use glucose for energy.

If a woman drinks alcohol at any time during pregnancy, she risks damaging her baby. The mental and physical problems that can develop in the baby are known as "foetal alcohol syndrome".

When you first learn that you're pregnant, get in touch with a midwife or GP as soon as possible. Although your first hospital antenatal appointment may not be until you are around 12 weeks pregnant, telling your GP and/or midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences. Find maternity units in your area.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a test you may be offered during pregnancy to check if your baby has a genetic disorder, such as Down’s syndrome.

When you first learn that you're pregnant, get in touch with a midwife or GP as soon as possible. Although your first hospital antenatal appointment may not be until you are around 12 weeks pregnant, telling your GP and/or midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences.

Polyhydramnios is a common complication of pregnancy, where there's an excessive amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn baby (foetus).

Amniocentesis is a diagnostic test carried out during pregnancy. It can assess whether the unborn baby (foetus) could develop, or has developed, an abnormality or serious health condition.

All young children are active, and it’s normal for them to have lots of energy. Children should be active on a daily basis; getting lots of exercise is good for their health and it’s fun

Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is a glycoprotein that can be used to help predict the short term risk of premature delivery. fFN is produced at the boundary between the amnionic sac (which surrounds the baby) and the lining of the mother's uterus (the decidua) in an area called the uteroplacental (or choriodecidual) junction.

Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) is genetic material that is released by the placenta and circulates in a woman's blood during pregnancy. CffDNA generally reflects the genetic makeup of the developing baby (fetus). The technology employed in this test detects defects in fetal DNA after it is purified from the pregnant woman's blood.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein that is present in certain tissues of a developing baby (fetus). By the time a baby is born, it drops to a very low level. In adults, CEA is normally present at very low concentrations in blood but may be elevated in certain types of cancer. This test measures the amount of CEA in the blood to help evaluate individuals diagnosed with cancer.