Problems in Pregnancy

While most pregnancies occur without complications, some women may experience problems during their pregnancy. These complications can affect your health, your baby’s health, or both. They may even occur during delivery.

Some complications may be out of your control, such as a miscarriage, but most risk factors can be reduced with early detection and prenatal care.

Some of the most common complications of pregnancy include:

Miscarriage

The most important thing to remember about miscarriages is that it is seldom anyone’s fault. A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy, and the term simply suggests that something went wrong in the carrying or development of the fetus. Miscarriages are far more common than people realise.

They usually occur before the 20th week, and it is estimated that about 1 in 8 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. However, some women don’t even realise they’ve had a miscarriage because it often occurs before they are even aware that they are pregnant.

Here are some signs that may have experienced a miscarriage:

  • Vaginal spotting or bleeding
  • Pain or cramping in your abdomen or lower back
  • Weakness
  • Fever with any of these symptoms
  • Fluid discharge from the vagina
  • Tissue or clotted discharge from the vagina
What are the causes of a miscarriage?

About half of all miscarriages occur in the first trimester and are usually the result of chromosomal abnormalities. While these chromosomal abnormalities can occasionally be inherited, they usually happen by chance, unrelated to the parents’ health.

Miscarriages are also caused by several unknown and known factors, such as:

  • Infection
  • Hormonal irregularities
  • Improper implantation of a fertilised egg in the uterine lining
  • Uterine abnormalities
  • Immune system disorders
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Thyroid disease
  • Lifestyle factors such as smoking or drinking alcohol
  • Maternal age

What does NOT cause a miscarriage?

  • Exercise, including activities such as jogging and cycling
  • Stress
  • Sexual intercourse
  • Working on the condition that you are not exposed to harmful chemicals or radiation

If you feel like you are having a miscarriage, call your doctor immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.

High blood pressure & preeclampsia

Having high blood pressure will put you at risk of developing other complications such as preeclampsia or having a preterm delivery during pregnancy.

Several factors could cause you to have high blood pressure during pregnancy, such as:

  • Being overweight
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol
  • First-time pregnancy
  • A family history of pregnancy-related hypertension
  • Carrying more than one child
  • Age (over 35)
  • Having diabetes or certain autoimmune diseases
What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a complication that occurs during pregnancy and is caused by high blood pressure. It often results in fluid retention and begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If not monitored or untreated, it can lead to serious - sometimes fatal - complications for both mother and baby.

How is preeclampsia treated?

The best treatment is to deliver the baby to prevent the disease from progressing when diagnosed with preeclampsia. However, if it is too early for you to deliver, your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. This treatment method will allow your baby to mature if they are not at full term yet.

Anaemia

Anaemia is when your blood does not produce enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues and your baby if you are expecting.

It is considered normal to develop mild anaemia when pregnant, but it could increase your risk of developing serious complications if the condition becomes severe.

What puts you at risk of developing anaemia in pregnancy?

Most women are at risk of developing anaemia when pregnant because they need more iron and folic acid. However, you have a greater risk if you:

  • You are pregnant with multiple children
  • Have had two pregnancies close together
  • Vomit a lot due to morning sickness
  • Don’t eat enough iron-rich foods
  • Were anaemic before becoming pregnant
What are the symptoms of anaemia during pregnancy?
  • Pale skin, lips, and nails
  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Trouble concentrating
What are the risks?

If you develop severe anaemia during pregnancy and it is left untreated, it could increase your risk of having:

  • A preterm or low-birth-weight baby
  • Significant blood loss during delivery
  • Postpartum depression
  • A baby with anaemia
  • A child with developmental delays
Gestational diabetes

During pregnancy, a change in hormone levels can make it harder for the body to process blood sugar properly. This usually causes a condition known as gestational diabetes, and for most women, it is often the first time they have been diagnosed with diabetes. However, it can also develop if you had diabetes before conceiving.

If you develop gestational diabetes and it is left untreated, it could put your baby at risk of:

  • Having an excessive birth weight
  • Having a preterm delivery
  • Being born with severe breathing difficulties
  • Being born with hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar
  • Having an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life
  • Being stillborn