Complicated Pregnancies? You're Not Alone

For parents, a pregnancy confirmation brings joy and reasons to celebrate. Most pregnancies are carried to term without any complications. However, studies have shown that around 8% of pregnant women face some difficulties.

Complications can be severe to mild, but in both cases, treatment is vital to keep the baby and the mother safe. While some of the complications could be present before a woman gets pregnant, many health issues can also occur unexpectedly.

Understandably, being diagnosed with complications can be extremely stressful and scary and leads to worries about the unborn child’s health. But do not panic. The difficulties you may face during your pregnancy are treatable.

The best thing you can do for your child's health is to get yourself diagnosed for any pre-existing conditions or comorbidities and take proper care.

Here are some possible pregnancy complications:

1. Preterm/Premature labor

Some women start having contractions before they reach their 37th week of pregnancy. If this happens to you, it means you are in premature or preterm labor. If you end up giving birth during this phase, your child will be born prematurely.

There is no exact reason why some women give birth prematurely. But evidence suggests that this could happen when a mother carries multiple fetuses and has a family medical history. Apart from these reasons, certain infections in the vagina or abnormalities in the cervix can also lead to preterm/premature labor.

The best way to deal with preterm/premature labor is to manage stress appropriately. Your doctor will be the best person to talk to in such situations.

2. Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is another high-risk or complicated pregnancy, and it happens when the mother-to-be has a high protein build-up in urine or high blood pressure. This is a severe health issue and may affect the mother and the child. Medical supervision is tremendously important in such cases.

Depending on the mother's medical condition, the doctor may suggest bed rest, vitamins, such as C and E, and maintaining an ideal weight.

3. Placenta Previa

Placenta previa occurs in less than 1% of women during pregnancy. This is a condition when the cervix gets covered by the placenta. This may lead to heavy bleeding. Women carrying multiple fetuses, having gone through an abortion, or those who have had C-sections in the past are at a higher risk.

There is no way to prevent this condition, and if you have this complication, the doctor will monitor you closely so that you do not lose a lot of blood. Also, you should take complete bed rest. 

4. Gestational Diabetes

Women who develop diabetes when they are pregnant have gestational diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes often end up with type 2 diabetes. One may not have any symptoms of gestational diabetes, and only a doctor can diagnose it.

The best way to avoid this complication is to increase fiber in your diet and have a low sugar intake. Please exercise regularly as well. 

Wrapping up

No one wants a complicated pregnancy. That's why the best thing to do is to visit your doctor, who knows your case history well. Get the right information, follow your doctor’s instructions, and understand what you should do for a safe pregnancy and delivery.