Common Complications
While every expectant mother hopes and prays for a safe
pregnancy, there are times when one faces unexpected
complications. One should know that some pregnancy
complications are quite common and can occur in seemingly
healthy mothers and even in those who have had many children
before. Let us take a brief look at some of these complications
and understand how to recognize the symptoms so that you can
seek help at the earliest.
1·One often hears of women having ectopic pregnancies
especially during the first month. In fact, ectopic pregnancy
can be considered to be one of the more common early pregnancy
complications. In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg is not
fertilized inside the womb; instead the fetus starts to develop
in the fallopian tube or the ovary. This is a very dangerous
situation for the mother since there is a danger that the tubes
could burst resulting in severe internal bleeding and at times,
the death of the mother. Surgery appears to be the only
solution for an ectopic pregnancy.
2·At times, there are other early pregnancy complications
like the opening up of a cervix, infection, structural
problems, blood clotting – which can cause a miscarriage. In
fact, even smoking, high caffeine intake or alcohol is supposed
to contribute to a miscarriage.
3·It is now commonly understood that it gets more difficult
for a woman over 30 to get pregnant and if she does, there are
more chances that there will be complications in the pregnancy.
In fact, women over 30 have a higher risk of giving birth to
babies with birth defects than women who are under 30. In fact,
miscarriages are more common in the early pregnancies of women
over 30. When women reach 35, there is an increased risk of
high blood pressure and diabetes. As a result, women over 35
who are pregnant are said to carry a high-risk pregnancy.
However, almost all these complications can be identified early
on, monitored accordingly and treated satisfactorily allowing
women with high-risk pregnancies to have healthy pregnancies
and a safe labor and delivery.
4·Multiple pregnancies may be a cause for joy as well as
concern. With more than one fetus sharing the space, food and
oxygen, it is quite likely that there will be complications in
the pregnancy. The twins or multiples may be born with very low
birth weights and at times, with underdeveloped organs. They
may be born with very weak resistance systems and it is not
uncommon for just one of the twins to survive.
Keeping this information about pregnancy complications in
mind, you should visit an OB/GYN as soon as your pregnancy is
confirmed. In fact, nowadays, it is recommended that you meet
with a doctor before you get pregnant. This will allow your
doctor to understand what risk factors you have, advise you on
what steps to take to counter these risk factors and monitor
you accordingly during pregnancy. All these precautions will
reduce the chances of any complications arising during your
pregnancy and ensure that you have a safe
pregnancy.
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