Some women experience health problems during pregnancy. These health problems can affect the mother’s health, the foetus’s health, or both. Early treatment or prenatal care can reduce the risk of problems during pregnancy, but even women who were healthy before becoming pregnant can experience complications. Pregnancy complications may range from minor to very serious. Asthma or heart disease are examples of existing medical conditions that may be aggravated by pregnancy.
There are a variety of reasons that pregnancy complications may occur. Pre-existing medical conditions can play a role or new ones can develop, creating complications during pregnancy. Undiagnosed and untreated complications can lead to miscarriage and other incidents. Some pregnant women also experience viral and bacterial infections like UTIs, yeast infections and sexually transmitted infections, these infections may result in complications during pregnancy.
Some of the most common complications women face during pregnancy are:
Gestational diabetes is a condition that prevents the body from breaking down sugar into small molecules. This condition only occurs during pregnancy and increases the risk of abnormal growth of the baby, known as macrosomia. Macrosomia can cause the baby to grow abnormally large and cause challenges during childbirth. This condition is a dangerous complication that can harm both mother and the foetus. Some of the common symptoms are:
Gestational diabetes, or GDM, usually occurs in those females who are overweight, have a history of GDM in previous pregnancies or had uncontrolled diabetes before becoming pregnant. It is important to consult a doctor if you have symptoms of GDM. Some women will need medication to control GDM and blood sugar levels.
Hypertension occurs when the arteries are narrowed and obstruct blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body. This causes pressure in the arteries and causes complications in pregnant women. In pregnancy, hypertension decreases the flow of blood to the placenta. Decreased blood flow can affect the growth of the foetus and can be life-threatening.
Due to hypertension, the foetus won’t get enough nutrients and oxygen, which could increase the risk of preterm labour or preeclampsia. Some of the most noticeable symptoms include:
If you are experiencing symptoms of hypertension during pregnancy, it is important to speak with your doctor so you can get the right treatment to control your blood pressure.
During pregnancy, the placenta is the source of oxygen and nutrition for the foetus and is necessary for proper development. The placenta is normally attached to the upper part of the uterus. In some females, it is either totally or partially covering the cervix (the opening between the uterus and vagina). This can lead to a complication known as placenta previa.
Placenta previa has no symptoms, and doctors usually diagnose it with the help of a routine ultrasound test. Sometimes, it causes contractions and painless bleeding in the second trimester of pregnancy. Changes to the uterus and placenta during pregnancy may lead to placenta previa resolving on its own. If this does not occur, the baby will be born through a caesarean section or C-section.
Is a condition in pregnant women that causes morning sickness, including nausea and vomiting in the morning hours. Pregnant women usually experience morning sickness, but hyperemesis gravidarum is much more severe than normal morning sickness. Hyperemesis gravidarum elevates the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, worsening morning sickness in pregnant women.
This complication can cause weight loss, and they may be hospitalized due to constant vomiting. It usually includes severe vomiting, loss of appetite and dehydration that can severely affect the health of the mother and foetus. There is no specific reason behind this condition, and doctors are working to find the root cause of this complication. You can’t prevent hyperemesis gravidarum or HG, but there are some steps to control and manage it during pregnancy.
Most women do not have pregnancy complications and deliver a healthy baby. For those who are pregnant and experience any signs and symptoms of the complications mentioned above, consult your doctor.