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4 Common Pregnancy Complications

Your thoughts and emotions may go into overdrive when you find out you’re pregnant. Hence good perinatal and postnatal care is important for this stage. You may be just as excited as you are afraid about the new person you will bring into the world. But talking to your perinatal care and postnatal care provider is essential

The majority of pregnancies go smoothly. However, about 8% of all pregnancies have difficulties that, if unchecked, could be fatal to the mother or the baby. While some consequences are related to pre-existing health issues, others arise suddenly and are unavoidable.

Hearing that a problem has been diagnosed might be frightening. You may be concerned about your baby’s health as well as your own. You might even be worried that anything you did (or didn’t do) contributed to this. These emotions are very normal. It may give you some peace of mind to know that nothing you did cause these issues.

Furthermore, these issues are curable. Perinatal care and postnatal care from a reputable professional are the most pleasing things you can do for yourself and your baby. Early detection and treatment improve your chances of keeping both you and your baby healthy.

Gravidarum Hyperemesis

Morning sickness (nausea, perhaps with vomiting, usually in the morning hours) and other discomforts are common among pregnant women, but people with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) have morning sickness multiplied by 1,000. HG is characterised by extreme nausea that causes significant weight loss and may necessitate hospitalisation. 

What are the signs and symptoms?

HG causes severe nausea and vomiting in women. Weight loss and dehydration result from vomiting and diminished appetite, a good perinatal care and postnatal care professional can help cope with the same. The most significant distinction between HG and regular morning sickness is that HG causes you to lose 5% or more of your pre-pregnancy weight.

Doctors are still learning more about HG, such as what causes it and who is more likely to develop it hence good perinatal care and postnatal care is a place to start.

Are you able to stop it?

You won’t be able to prevent HG during your pregnancy, but you can take actions to control and manage it. Regular  perinatal care and postnatal care is the most critical thing you can do for yourself and your baby. HG can cause you and your baby to be deficient in nutrients, which can be dangerous to both of you. However, with adequate treatment, neither the mother nor the infant usually suffers long-term consequences following the pregnancy.

What is the treatment for it?

If you’ve been diagnosed with HG, the most important thing is to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients to keep both you and your baby healthy. Some women may get by on a bland diet and plenty of fluids, while others may require medicine to help them feel better. You may need to be hospitalised in extreme situations to receive nutrients and fluids through an intravenous (IV) line. You may be depressed about having to spend your pregnancy in the hospital. But keep in mind that you’re only doing what’s necessary to safeguard your and your baby’s health!

By the 20th week of pregnancy, many women begin to feel better, while others continue to have symptoms throughout the pregnancy.

If you’ve had HG in the past, speak with your doctor before trying to get pregnant again. It’s critical to ensure that you’re physically, emotionally, and psychologically prepared to start a new pregnancy. If you’ve lost weight or have other nutritional deficits, you should consult your doctor before getting pregnant to make sure you’re healthy. Diabetes During Pregnancy

What is it, exactly?

Diabetes is a health condition in which the body’s ability to break down sugar is impaired. One of the most severe consequences of gestational diabetes is that your baby’s growth may be much faster than predicted, a condition known as macrosomia. As a result, the shoulders of the newborn may become caught during birth. If the baby is too big for vaginal delivery, your doctor will recommend a caesarean section.

What are the symptoms and signs?

Gestational diabetes has no apparent signs or symptoms. In high-risk women, such as those who have previously had gestational diabetes, doctors check for it between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy or even earlier.

What are the symptoms?

There are no signs or symptoms of gestational diabetes. However, doctors check for it between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. 

Who is in danger?

Being overweight or having a history of diabetes in previous pregnancies are risk factors for gestational diabetes. If you’re at high risk for GDM, your doctor will screen you for it sooner than 24 weeks, usually in the first trimester.

Are you able to stop it?

GDM risk can be reduced by losing weight before pregnancy, following a balanced diet, and exercising regularly.

What is the treatment for it?

You and your doctor should talk about the best way to manage your GDM. Diet and exercise appear to be an excellent place to begin. The diet helps control a large majority of gestational diabetes cases. However, some women with GDM will possibly require medication (pills or even insulin) to keep their blood sugar levels under control.

Even if it’s simply walking 30 minutes a day, exercise during pregnancy is beneficial to blood sugar control. Of course, it’s best to do something you enjoy so you can continue with it, but you should inform your doctor about your fitness regimen.

You and your kid are both at risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes later in life if you have GDM. So, talk to your doctor about how you might lower your risk.

Previa Placenta

What exactly is it?

The placenta delivers oxygen and nourishment for your baby’s appropriate development while you’re pregnant. The placenta usually connects to the upper section of the uterus; however, in the placenta previa, it covers the cervix entirely or partially (which is the opening between the uterus and vagina).

Who is in danger?

If you have scarring on your uterus from prior pregnancies or uterine surgery, or if you have fibroids, you may be at higher risk.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Vaginal bleeding that is not accompanied by cramping or other pain is the most common symptom. Your doctor will use an ultrasound or a physical exam to confirm a diagnosis.

Are you able to stop it?

You can’t stop placenta previa from happening. Regular perinatal care and postnatal care, on the other hand, can improve your and your baby’s health. Tell your doctor if you are at increased risk because of past surgery, C-section, or fibroids. During your pregnancy, they may want to keep a closer eye on you.

What is the treatment for it?

During pregnancy, placenta previa can cause bleeding. Some women experience no bleeding, while others experience spotting or excessive bleeding. You may need to stay in the hospital for a while if the bleeding is severe. In addition, women with placenta previa will need to have their baby delivered via C-section, commonly arranged two to four weeks before their due date.

If you experience any vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy, always consult your doctor.

Preeclampsia

What exactly is it?

Preeclampsia is a severely high blood pressure disorder that occurs during pregnancy. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening. 

What are the signs and symptoms?

Severe headaches, visual abnormalities, and pain beneath the ribcage are all symptoms of preeclampsia. Many women, however, may not have symptoms immediately away. The first sign is usually when a woman with elevated blood pressure comes in for a routine perinatal care and postnatal care. Your doctor will check for things like kidney and liver function to see if it’s preeclampsia or just elevated blood pressure in those circumstances.

Who is in danger?

Having a history of high blood pressure, being obese (having a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30), age (teenage moms and those over 40 are at increased risk), and being pregnant with multiples are all risk factors for preeclampsia.

Are you able to stop it?

Preeclampsia cannot be prevented, but staying healthy during pregnancy will help. Experts urge that if you have risk factors, you see your obstetrician either before you get pregnant so you and your doctor can explore methods to lower your risk. After the first trimester, many women at risk for preeclampsia are recommended a baby aspirin.

Preeclampsia is best managed with regular perinatal care and postnatal care. Your doctor will check your blood pressure during those routine visits. If it’s too high, more tests can be done to pinpoint the problem so you can get the help you need.

What is the treatment for it?

Preeclampsia can only be treated once the baby is born. Thus, delivery is the best option. However, delivering the baby too soon can put the new born in danger of developing health problems. How you are treated will be mainly determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy. You may need to be admitted to the hospital so that your team can keep a careful eye on you and your baby.

Your doctor will explore the risks and benefits of delivering the baby early versus prolonging the pregnancy and attempting to manage the preeclampsia through other means for as long as possible. The issue will go away after birth, but you will be at a higher risk for heart disease later in life. Discuss what you can do to help decrease and manage those risks with your doctor. 

The Bottom Line on Pregnancy Complications

While these illnesses may differ, there is one thing they all have in common: regular perinatal care and postnatal care treatment. Women are advised to come in for a preconception consultation to discuss their options for lowering their risks. The best thing you can do for your new born is to be healthy before