Pregnancy problems are health-related complications that take place during pregnancy. Such issues are associated with either a baby’s or the mother’s health, or both. While some women confront these challenges before becoming pregnant, for others complications may arise during pregnancy. In this regard, it is of prime importance for women to have a comprehensive knowledge of their health care, prior and during pregnancy, as this may prevent the risks of having pregnancy complications.
Health Complications Before Pregnancy
Every woman needs to consult a specialist to understand heath issues and problems getting pregnant. In case, a woman is receiving a treatment for any health issue/s, your doctor may prescribe some medicines to avert any possibility of developing complications during pregnancy. Some of these complications include:
| Condition | Complications |
| Asthma | May intensify the risk of preterm birth, abrupt weight increase in the foetus, preeclampsia, cesarean birth, etc. |
| Diabetes | Harm foetus, worsen the mother’s diabetes complications |
| Depression | Postpartum depression |
| Epilepsy/Other Seizure | Harm foetus, increase miscarriage risk/stillbirth |
| Eating disorders | Premature birth, birth defects, Postpartum depression, unwanted body changes |
| High blood pressure | higher risk of placental and preeclampsia abruption causing low birth weight and preterm birth |
| Migraine | Migraine symptoms generally improve during pregnancy |
| Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) | Transmission of dangerous infection from mother to baby, low birth weight, brain damage, deafness, blindness, stillbirth, or liver problems |
| Obesity | Loss of mother’s weight during pregnancy |
| Uterine fibroids | Miscarriage (rarely), preterm birth, fibroid blocking the birth canal |
| Thyroid | Uncontrolled hyperthyroid, abrupt weight gain in the foetus, and/or birth defects |
Heath Complications & Solutions During Pregnancy
At times, pregnancy may cause complications in women (even in heathier females). These may include:
| Complications | Symptoms | Treatment |
| Anaemia | Paleness, Lethargy, Breathlessness, Dizziness | Taking folic acid and iron supplements |
| Ectopic Pregnancy | Shoulder and abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and dizziness | Surgery or drugs to confiscate ectopic tissue |
| Depression | Intense sadness and helplessness, loss/increase of appetite, irritability | Medicines and emotional therapy |
| Foetal problems | Abrupt baby movement, size of baby smaller than normal, other symptoms found in prenatal tests | Bed rest for mother, and medications prescribed per the condition detected |
| High Blood Pressure | Preeclampsia symptoms | Close monitoring of the baby and mother’s health |
| Gestational Diabetes | Extreme hunger, thirst, and fatigue with high sugar levels in the blood | Control sugar consumption, and insulin injections (rarely) |
| Hyperemesis gravidarum | Constant nausea, weight loss, multiple vomits in a day, dehydration, loss of appetite, dizziness | Bland fluids and food, medicines |
| Miscarriage | Vaginal bleeding, vaginal fluids, abdominal cramping | May not be treated |
| Placental abruption | Vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramps | Bed rest, and early delivery of the baby |
| Placenta previa | Vaginal bleeding without pain during 2nd or 3rd trimester | Bed rest, hospitalization, cesarean section |
| Preterm labor | Pelvic pressure & cramps, vaginal discharge, abdominal & back pain, contractions | Medicines, early delivery |
| Preeclampsia | High BP, stomach pain, swelling in face and hands, dizziness, blurred vision, and headaches | Medicines and bed rest |