Common Pregnancy 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.

·    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.

·    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.

·    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.

·    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.