Pregnancy complications can arise due to various reasons. Sometimes the health conditions the mother has before she became pregnant can lead to certain complications and sometimes certain new conditions may surface altogether during pregnancy.
These complications can affect the mother and /or the baby. Most of the complications that arise can be treated or avoided if you get the right treatment and support.
Below are six common complications that may arise during pregnancy:
1. Miscarriage:
Miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, most of which occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. The common sign of a miscarriage is abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Miscarriage can occur due to various reasons but knowing the risk factors, signs and symptoms can help you better understand and get the right treatment you need.
2. Gestational Diabetes:
Gestational diabetes is a common condition where pregnant women are not able to process sugar efficiently. This leads to abnormally higher levels of sugar in the bloodstream and can cause serious complications during pregnancy.
It is generally treated through close monitoring blood sugar levels and taking steps to regulate the same. The main motive remains to keep the glucose levels in the normal range for the remainder of pregnancy through medications and diet variations.
3. Preeclampsia:
Preeclampsia is a condition that is caused due to high blood pressure and high levels of protein in a woman’s urine. Commonly developed after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, preeclampsia puts you at a risk of kidney problem and your kid at a possibility of preterm birth. The treatment of this condition is aimed at delivering the baby and placenta between the 37th and 40th week of pregnancy.
You may be prescribed a few medications to regulate your blood pressure and help you reach the 37th week. During this time, you might have to stay at the hospital for continuous surveillance and monitoring.
4. Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus. It usually settles in the fallopian tube. It can cause symptoms like vaginal bleeding, severe pain, weakness, etc. You will be given medications or might be recommended surgery to treat this condition.
5. Preterm labour
Labour that occurs between the 20th and 37th week is known as pretermed. While most of the preterm labour and births aren’t intentional, around 1 out of 4 are such cases where the doctors decide to proceed with a preterm delivery in order to prevent the mother or the baby from certain health complications.
With women with no such complication who still experiences symptoms of a preterm labour might be given medication to pause the contractions.
6. Infections
Other than the above mentioned complications, many pregnant women land into complications due to a variety of parasitic, bacterial and viral infections. It is important that you keep extra hygiene. Few other complications such as hepatitis B, influenza, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus can be prevented by vaccines.
All complications may not be preventable. You must, however, take all the necessary steps required for a healthy pregnancy to prevent any possible complications. Consuming a healthy diet, taking prenatal vitamins as prescribed, attending all routine prenatal visits, etc. can help you to go through your pregnancy journey with ease and joy.
Disclaimer: Indian Health Bureau does not claim any responsibility for the information contained in this article. The information may not hold good for everyone. The post is for general awareness only and should not be construed as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Please consult your doctor to know what is good for you.
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