Many kinds of complications can arise throughout the nine months of pregnancy. While some of them are not that serious, others can be very dangerous and even risk the lives of both the mother and the baby.
Therefore, any expecting mother needs to have complete knowledge about all possible medical issues, so they can immediately minimize the damage by reporting any troubling symptoms to the doctor.
Thus, to help you with this, here is a quick guide to the seven most common pregnancy complications that every mom-to-be should watch out for!
Miscarriage
A pregnancy loss within the first twenty weeks is called a miscarriage. It is usually caused because of abnormality in the fertilised egg’s chromosomes, which hampers the proper development of the embryo.
The first symptom of miscarriage is vaginal spotting or light bleeding. So if you notice any bleeding, visit your doctor immediately.
Premature Labor and Birth
Preterm or premature labour can start when you start having regular contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy, causing the cervix to dilate or efface.
The baby delivered this way is called a premature baby and is kept in incentive care. Premature birth is reported to cause many kinds of health problems in the baby and even cause death.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a very serious pregnancy complication. It happens due to having high blood pressure or a very high protein content in the liver, kidney or urine.
You will be reported to have preeclampsia if you have these conditions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Although mothers with mild preeclampsia can be treated without any risk, having severe preeclampsia can cause serious damage to other body organs.
Oligohydramnios (Low Amniotic Fluid)
When pregnant, the amniotic sac is filled with fluid to protect and support your baby. Having a low level of this fluid can hamper the baby’s proper growth.
Having Oligohydramnios in the last trimester can even result in preterm labor.
Gestational Diabetes
Almost 20% of pregnant women in the US develop Gestational Diabetes. It is a temporary case of diabetes, which goes away once the pregnancy does.
Women with this kind of diabetes must be very careful about their food habits and lifestyle. The glucose level has to be monitored regularly.
It is not dangerous if the blood sugar level is kept under control. Otherwise, the baby can be at risk of many health problems, including being overweight and having type-2 diabetes.
Ectopic Pregnancy
When the fertilized egg implants itself anywhere outside the ovary, it is known as ectopic pregnancy. It is said that one out of fifty pregnancies is ectopic. Early detection is very important in this case.
Any organ other than the ovary is not fit for the size of a growing baby. Thus, ectopic pregnancy can result in rupturing the fallopian tubes and walls of any other organ near it. In this case, the only option is to end the pregnancy.
Placenta Previa
This is a rare condition in which the placenta lies unusually low inside the uterus, often covering the cervix. This is usually not much of a problem in the first two trimesters.
But if it remains low towards the end of the pregnancy, it can cause serious problems. If this is the case, then an emergency C-section has to be done on the mother.
Summary
Most of the complications mentioned above do not have any early symptoms. The only way to ensure you don’t have any is by not missing an appointment with the doctor and getting regular Ultra Sounds.
Also, talk about every little health-related concern to your doctor, and seek emergency medical attention if need be. Lastly, take good care of yourself, eat healthy and relax to ensure a safe and sound pregnancy journey.
