Most common pregnancy complications
You may experience
complications during pregnancy. Some complications are more common than others.
Ectopic pregnancy:
- Ectopic pregnancies can be caused by a sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, or an infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease. Women who have undergone sterilization procedures or have been diagnosed with endometriosis or other female reproductive disorders are also at risk.
- If the fallopian tube is getting tighter, or more narrow, the egg is fertilized outside the uterus in the tube, hence the name: “Tubal pregnancy.”
- Causes heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain, dizziness and may result in death.
- Emergency surgery or Methotrexate are used for treatment.
Rh-negative disease:
- Rh isoimmunization.
- The Rh factor is determined by the presence of a protein that surrounds red blood cells. Without protein, a woman is considered Rh-negative.
- If a mother is Rh-negative and her baby is born Rh-positive, she will start producing antibodies against the next Rh-positive baby.
- At the beginning of pregnancy, the mother is checked to see if she is sensitized. (This means that the baby's red blood cells were affected by antibodies made by the mother.)
- RhoGAM is a medication that is given for about 28 weeks to prevent the accumulation of these antibodies.
- RhoGAM is reintroduced at birth only if the baby is Rh positive.
Group B streptococcus:
- Group B Strep is the leading cause of infections in newborns.
- Not group A strep (strep throat).
- Doctors find Group B Strep through cultures during pregnancy.
- Can be treated during or after pregnancy.
Preterm labor:
- When the mother’s body is trying to deliver the baby before she has reached full-term (37 weeks).
- There is a risk of delivering the baby too early when the contractions are closer, stronger, and longer.
- Can feel like menstrual cramping or a subtle backache.
- In serious situations, bed rest and medications are necessary to help the pregnancy go full-term.
Diabetes during pregnancy:
- Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy when a woman’s body is not making enough insulin.
- Develops usually in the second trimester.
- Cannot be treated by pills.
Low birth weight:
- Caused by improper diet, substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs).
- May result from a sexually transmitted disease, other contagious diseases, or lack of prenatal care.
- When a baby is born prematurely, he stays in the hospital for up to four months.
- Babies born with low birth weight are at risk of respiratory infections, blindness, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and heart infections.