Complications Women Can Face During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is very complex and women that are pregnant should know all the complications that they can face so they would know what to do in case things go south.

Most of the pregnancies these days happen without having any complications, however, some women that do get pregnant are going to experience complications that can involve their own health, the health of the baby, and on rare occasions, both.

The thing is, early detection of the complications in pregnancy can help the mother and the baby to avoid any serious problems.

What are the most common complications for women while they are pregnant?

Some of the most common complications of pregnancy are:

high blood pressure
gestational diabetes
preeclampsia
preterm labor
a loss of pregnancy
miscarriage

Who is most likely to experience these complications?

Women with ongoing health problems and conditions are more likely to experience pregnancy complications. So, if you do have ongoing health problems try to talk with your doctor so they can tell you what to avoid and what to take so you can minimize the chances of getting complications during pregnancy.

If you have the following illnesses already, you are likely to face complications when you are pregnant:

diabetes
cancer
high blood pressure
infections
sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
kidney problems
epilepsy
anemia

Not only health problems but there are other factors that also increase your risk for facing pregnancy complications too.

Here are the other factors that increase the risk of getting complications while you are pregnant:

being pregnant at age 35 or older
being pregnant at a young age
having an eating disorder
smoking cigarettes
using illegal drugs
drinking alcohol
having a history of pregnancy loss or preterm birth
carrying multiples, such as twins or triplets

When to call the doctor or seek medical help?

If you are experiencing the things that we are going to mention below, you want to call your doctor right away:

bleeding from the vagina
sudden swelling of the hands
swelling of the face
pain in the abdomen
high fever
persistent fever
severe headaches
dizziness
persistent vomiting
blurred vision

Also, if you are noticing that your baby is not moving that often in your belly, you want to your doctor right away. That may be a sign of something serious.

Some of the most common pregnancy and labor complications

1. High blood pressure

The blood pressure of our body increases when the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the organs of our body and the placenta become narrow. High blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of many complications, which includes heart attacks and strokes. Not only that, but in pregnant women, preeclampsia can also occur.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had been normal.

2. Gestational diabetes

Another complication that may arise when you are pregnant is elevated blood sugar in the bloodstream, this happens when the body of a pregnant woman fails to process sugars effectively.

According to CDC.gov, “your blood sugar levels will usually return to normal after your baby is born. However, about 50% of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. You can lower your risk by reaching a healthy body weight after delivery.”

3. Preterm labor

Preterm labor happens when you go into labor before the 37^th week of pregnancy. The bad part for this one is that this happens before the organs of the baby, which includes lungs and the brain, are not yet fully developed.

4. Infections

Infections are also common when you are pregnant.

Some of the most common infections that you might get when you are pregnant includes:

the flu
vaginal yeast infections
uterine infections
group B streptococcus
bacterial vaginosis
listeria

Remember, you can get this infection yourself or you can get it from other incidents.

Here are some symptoms that you might get when you have an infection:

Fever (this is sometimes the only sign of an infection)
Chills and sweats
Change in cough or a new cough
Sore throat or new mouth sore
Shortness of breath
Nasal congestion
Stiff neck
Burning or pain with urination

5. Placenta previa

Placenta previa happens when a baby’s placenta partially or totally covers the cervix of the mother, which is the outlet for the uterus.

The placenta previa can cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery, meaning you might bleed throughout your pregnancy and during your delivery if you have this type of complication. To avoid any further complications, doctors usually perform a cesarean delivery if this is the case.

6. Anemia

Anemia results from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body’s organs.

Symptoms may include:

Fatigue
skin pallor
shortness of breath
light-headedness
dizziness
fast heartbeat

Anemia during pregnancy can cause your baby to not grow to a healthy weight, meaning that your baby has a chance of arriving in this world at a low birth weight.

The good thing is that this one is detectable at early pregnancy stages. Anemia is usually found during a routine blood test for hemoglobin or hematocrit levels. Treatment depends on the type of anemia and how bad it is.

Doctors can suggest you take supplements of iron and folic acid during your pregnancy.

7. Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks.

The APA (American Pregnancy Association) believes that the most common cause of miscarriage is a genetic abnormality in the embryo. However, there are other factors that can also cause miscarriage.

Some of them include:

Thyroid disorders
Anemia
Immunological disorders
Drug abuse
Diabetes
Blood clotting
Obesity

People may experience:

Pain areas: in the abdomen, lower back, or pelvis

Groin: vaginal bleeding, uterine contraction, or vaginal discharge

Gastrointestinal: nausea or vomiting

Other symptoms: cramping, irregular uterine bleeding, or fatigue

Other factors that can possibly increase your risk of miscarriage include:

Listeria
Maternal trauma
Certain medication
Advanced maternal age (over 35)
Infections
Air pollution
High fever

8. Labor complications

Remember, complications can also happen during labor and delivery itself. So, if there is a problem during labor, your doctor may have to come up with another approach fort the delivery itself.