Most pregnancies progress without serious complications. But, some women may experience health issues that can put their life and their baby’s life at risk. Some conditions or diseases the mother had before the pregnancy may exacerbate, while others develop during delivery.
Health concerns during pregnancy detected on time, and timely prenatal care can minimize the risk to the mother and her baby.
The following are common health concerns that arise during pregnancy:
In This Article
1. Anaemia
Being anaemic means that the pregnant woman has low blood cells in her body. One of the causes of this condition is iron deficiency in pregnancy, so your doctor will have to establish the leading cause and treat it.
Symptoms of anaemia include feeling more weak and tired than usual and pale skin. You can avoid this condition by taking folic acid and iron supplements during your pregnancy.
2. High Blood Pressure
This is a health issue that occurs when narrowing of the arteries carrying blood from the heart to the placenta and other organs occurs. High blood pressure is closely linked to other complications, such as preeclampsia.
Hypertension puts the mother at an elevated risk of delivering the baby before the due date; preterm delivery. You are also at risk of delivering a tiny baby; hence, you need to control the condition with medications.
3. Gestational Diabetes
Diabetes prevents the body from breaking down sugar. During pregnancy, some women develop gestational diabetes mellitus. Gestational diabetes puts the baby at the risk of growing larger than average. If this happens, your baby’s shoulders may get stuck during delivery.
If you are overweight or have a history of diabetes, your doctor will screen for the condition during your first trimester. You can prevent this health issue by losing weight before getting pregnant, eating a healthy diet, and doing regular exercises.
4. Infections
Some parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections may prevail during pregnancy. Infections can harm the baby and the mother; therefore, it is essential to seek treatment immediately.
Some common infections include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Hepatitis B
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Influenza
- Yeast infection
- Zika virus, e.t.c.
Some of these infections can be avoided by simply washing your hands frequently, while others, such as influenza and hepatitis B virus, are preventable through vaccination.
5. Placenta Previa
While pregnant, the baby receives nutrients and oxygen through the placenta. The placenta usually attaches to the uterus on its upper part. However, with placenta previa, the placenta partially or covers the cervix.
Women who have scarring on their uterus due to uterine surgery or previous pregnancies are more likely to have placenta previa. Also, a woman with fibroids is at risk of the condition.
Placenta previa manifests itself with vaginal bleeding but without pain or cramping. However, not all women experience these symptoms; a physical exam or ultrasound is used to confirm a diagnosis.
You cannot prevent placenta previa. But, you can manage it by having regular prenatal care. If you are at risk because of fibroids, a previous C-section or surgery, notify your doctor as soon as you can. The doctor will then monitor you closely during the pregnancy.
