Complications During Pregnancy

What causes complications during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is the most wanted stage in every woman’s life, and complications in it may be a result of mainly stress and over exertion. But these are not the only factors responsible for pregnancy complications. There are various other mental and physical health issues as well that cause pregnancy complication in women. Smoking and alcohol are also huge factors responsible for these complications. But every factor causes different type of complications and those are as given below:

1. Ectopic Pregnancy:

This Ectopic pregnancy can be caused by an STD, like chlamydia or an infection like pelvic inflammatory disease. At the risk of this type of complication are the women who have undergone sterilization procedures or have been diagnosed with endometriosis or other female reproductive disorders. If the fallopian tube is getting tighter or in some cases it’s getting narrow then the egg is fertilized outside the uterus and in the tube, thereby getting the name as ‘Tubal pregnancy.’ This complication causes severe pelvic pain, heavy bleeding and may also result in death in some rare cases. So in such cases emergency surgery or Methotrexate are used for treatment.

2. Rh Negative Disease:

The name of this complication is Rhesus isoimmunization and it is determined by the presence of a protein surrounding red blood cells. In the absence of this protein a woman is considered Rh negative. If the mother is Rh negative and her child is born Rh positive; then she starts to build antibodies up against the next Rh positive baby. At the beginning of the pregnancy, mother is tested to see if she has been sensitized. Which means that whether the baby’s red blood cells have been affected by the mother’s developed antibodies? In this case RhoGAM is a medication given around 28 weeks to prevent the build-up of these antibodies. It is given again at birth, if the baby is Rh positive.

3. Group B Strep:

This is the leading cause of infections in newborns, Group B strep. It’s not a group A strep or strep throat. Most doctors find Group B Strep through cultures during pregnancy. It can be treated during or after pregnancy.

4. Preterm Labor:

This takes place when the mother’s body is trying to deliver the baby before she has reached full-term i.e. 37 weeks. In this case there is a risk of delivering the baby too early or when the contractions are close, stronger and longer. There may be feeling like that of menstrual cramping or a subtle backache. Yet in certain serious situation, bed rest and medications are necessary to help the pregnancy go full-term.

5. Gestational Diabetes:

This condition develops during pregnancy, that too when a woman’s body is not making enough insulin. Usually it is developed during second trimester and it cannot be treated with the help of pills, and mostly the treatment is through diet or insulin.

6. Low Birth Weight:

Such a condition occurs by poor nutrition, along with certain substance used like cigarettes, or alcohol, or even drugs. It can be an effect of a STD or maybe some other contagious diseases or no pre-natal care. Whenever a baby is born pre-maturely it stays in the hospital for up to four months. But the babies that are born at a low birth rate run the risk of respiratory infections and blindness with learning disabilities or cerebral palsy and heart infections.

7. Miscarriage:

This is the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks. For about 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage and more than 80 percent of miscarriages happen before the 12 weeks. In the first trimester mostly miscarriages are believed to be caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg, which keeps the embryo from developing. The first sign is usually vaginal spotting or bleeding, so call your healthcare practitioner right away if you notice any such sign. Though it is not so uncommon to spot or bleed in early pregnancy even if you're not miscarrying. Moreover if your practitioner suspects a miscarriage, then she'll order an ultrasound to see what is going on in your uterus and possibly do a blood test.

8. Preeclampsia:

It is a complex disorder that affects about 5 percent of pregnant women. If you are diagnosed with preeclampsia then you have high blood pressure and protein in your urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In case of most expectant mothers who get preeclampsia, develop a mild version near their due date and they and their babies do fine with proper care. Yet in case of severe preeclampsia the affects may be on many organs and cause serious or even life-threatening problems. So women whose preeclampsia is severe or getting worse, need to deliver early.

9. Low amniotic fluid:

Usually the amniotic sac fills with fluid that protects and supports your developing baby. When there's too little fluid, then it is called oligohydramnios. As per the March of Dimes, for about 4 percent of pregnant women have low levels of amniotic fluid at some point, which is usually in their third trimester.

10. Placenta previa:

Well, if you have placenta previa, then your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, and next to or covering your cervix. It isn't usually a problem early in pregnancy. Yet if the placenta remains dangerously low as your pregnancy progresses, then it can cause bleeding, leading to other complications and may require you to deliver early. However the location of your placenta will be checked during midpregnancy ultrasound exam. But only a small percentage of women who have placenta previa in midpregnancy still have it when they deliver their baby. It is usually present in up to 1 in 200 deliveries.

These are the complications that usually takes place during pregnancy. So in order to avoid these circumstances have a word with your doctor as soon as you get to know about your pregnancy and try to stay away from all the harms for the safety and health of you and your baby.