Potential Complications During Pregnancy
Several complications are associated with pregnancies. However, some women have it enjoyable and easy, while others are faced with various challenges although the risk it not high. It doesn’t matter whether you are a first-time mother or whether you’ve handled a series of pregnancies. Each new pregnancy has its own experience, which is usually different from the previous one.
The nucleus of this piece is to analyse the complications that can tag along with being pregnant.
Below are some common issues faced by pregnant women.
Pre-eclampsia
This type of health challenge can be hereditary, and it mostly happens during the second trimester of pregnancy. Although it is common with first-time mothers, a survey conducted pens the number at 10%.
Pre-eclampsia occurs when the woman has protein in the urine and an intensified blood pressure level caused by her pregnancy. (Nelson TR. A clinical study of pre-eclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp 1955; 62: 48– 57.)
The details to spot to identify whether a person has this type of issue are sudden swelling in some body parts like the face, hands, and feet, constant vomiting, critical head pains, blurred vision, and pain under the ribs.
It is worthy to note, however, that sometimes, these symptoms mentioned may not be present. That is why, as a pregnant woman, you need to stay true to your antenatal appointments and allow your doctor to check you.
Pre-eclampsia patients needs need an ever-watchful eyes of a medical official, and this may lead to hospital admission. For severe cases, C-section may be the recommended method of delivery, and babies mostly have to be delivered prematurely. Typically for milder cases, labour will be induced, with close monitoring before the delivery process.
Anaemia
This type of complication experienced in pregnancy is as a result of reduced production of the red blood cells in the blood of the pregnant woman. It usually happens when the soon-to-be-mom critically needs to increase her blood level since the baby’s request for iron increases too. (Merck Manuals 2019)
Again, anaemia is associated with the loss of too much blood, such as gastric ulcers or bleeding piles.
The prevalent symptom of this pregnancy-related issue is the constant feeling of fatigue or weakness; that is why it is essential to go for regular checkups and avoid being dismissive. (L. H. Allen, “Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 71, no. 5, pp. 1280s–1284s, 2000. )
For an anaemic patient, doctors usually write down certain pills such as folic acid and iron tablets, which would aid the production of blood, thereby giving you and your unborn baby a blissful pregnancy and delivery experience.
Multiple Pregnancies
Women who carry more than one baby in their wombs have the possibility of giving birth to babies tinier than women with a single foetus.
It is not enough to know if you are carrying multiple babies or just one; another important consideration is to ascertain whether your babies are identical or non-identical twins. Because there is an increased risk associated with identical twins, these types of babies share one placenta, causing an imbalance in blood transfusions between the twins. (Osamu Motoyama, Ken Sakai and Kikuo Iitaka, Management and outcome of multifetal gestation in a 35-year-old woman with childhood-onset membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I, CEN Case Reports, 10.1007/s13730-018-0357-7, 8, 1, (18-22), (2018).
This imbalance can lead to unequal growth between the twins, while one is small, the other is bigger. Consequently, this growth dynamics can cause heart failure for the mother, so it is advisable to schedule scan dates, to spot or determine any possible pregnancy complication with the babies. This would aid early treatment and avoidance of a fatal or problematic delivery.
Identical twins are not the only babies that should be scheduled for regular check-ups; non-identical should also make you book scan and check-up appointments. How you would like your delivery done is a conclusion between you and your doctor, and be sure to take on your doctor’s advice; after all, he or she would want what’s best for you and your babies.
Gestational Diabetes
This is a complication that arises with pregnancy. Some pregnant women may develop this condition, which disappears after delivery. For women who witness gestational diabetes during pregnancies, diabetes will likely occur in the future even when they are not pregnant.
For mum’s suffering from gestational diabetes, the foetus can become bigger and heavier than normal. So, usually mum is induced at around 38 to 39 weeks, otherwise her baby may be too big to have delivered through a natural virginal birth.
The causes of gestational diabetes range from an array of factors. First, it could be hereditary, meaning it was passed down from parents. Also, it could be a result of obesity. Finally, a woman with a previous past of gestational diabetes faces the risk of having it again.
Sometimes, some women continue to deal with this condition even after pregnancy, meaning that these types of women are diabetic.
You must watch and plan your diet as a gestational diabetes patient. Take note of your blood sugar level, engage in exercises, and reduce your sugar and carbohydrate intake. This will help your health and your baby’s.
Let your doctor in on the details of any pre-existing health condition, to give you and your child an exciting experience. Enjoy motherhood.
Good luck!
