What are some common pregnancy complications?

Health problems are not uncommon amongst pregnant women. These complications can affect the health of the mother, fetus, or can affect both at the same time, even if the mother was in good health pre-pregnancy. This is where we get the term “high-risk pregnancy.”

Regularly checking in with a doctor in the form of prenatal care can reduce the risk of issues with the pregnancy by allowing health-care providers to track your progress.

Here are some common pregnancy complications:

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs as a result of pregnancy. This occurs in women who were not previously diabetic.

When our bodies are functioning properly, food is digested into sugar or glucose. Your body uses this for energy, and insulin is used to transfer the glucose from blood cells to the body. When a person is experiencing diabetes, the pancreas isn’t making enough insulin which results in high blood sugar.

Gestational diabetes is fairly common and can be managed with treatment. If not addressed, this complication can cause high blood pressure and a larger baby, which increases the likelihood of a cesarean section.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia can be life threatening for both baby and mother, causing premature delivery and death in some cases. Women who are at a greater risk for preeclampsia include those who meet the following:

• Over 35
• Previously experienced preeclampsia
• Have high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, or kidney disease
• First pregnancy
• Carrying twins or more than 1 child
• Obesity

High Blood Pressure

Those with high blood pressure are at higher risk for complications during pregnancy. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is defined as the narrowing of arteries which makes it harder for blood to flow. As a result, pressure in those arteries increases, which is why we call it high blood pressure or hypertension.

When a woman is pregnant, bloodflow to the placenta is reduced, and is the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. This can cause preeclampsia, and preterm labor. High blood pressure that starts when a woman is pregnant is called gestational hypertension. This goes away after the pregnancy is over.

Preterm Labor

Many women are unsure about what defines preterm labor. Labor that starts before 37 weeks is always classified as preterm labor. Children born before this period are at a higher risk for health issues. This is because the brain and lungs are still developing during weeks 38 to 40.

Risk factors that increase the risk of preterm labor include:

• Infections
• A shortened cervix
• Having previously experienced a preterm labor

In some cases, certain medications may be prescribed by your doctor to help prevent preterm labor.

Depression & Anxiety

Many women experience depression and/or anxiety during pregancy or postpartum. This is probably the most common complications associated with pregnancy, and can have a significant affect on the well-being of both mother and child. This is a treatable condition, and you should speak to your doctor about a health plan that best suits your needs.

Infections

Many infections can cause complications. These infections can cause complications in both mother and baby during and after pregnancy. These infections include sexually transmitted diseases. These infections can pass through to the baby while in the womb, or while exited the birth canal. Some can even pass while breastfeeding. Luckily, most of these infections can be treated by your health care provider in the form of prenatal and postpartum care.

Some infections in pregnancy can cause or contribute to:

• Reduced birth weight
• Preterm labor and birth
• Stillbirth
• Ectopic pregnancy, embryo grows outside of the uterus usually in the fallopian tube
• Birth defects like deafness, blindness, reduced mental acuity, physical deformities
• Sickness during the first month of life
• Death in the newborn
• Miscarriage
• Health complications in mother

Women who are likely or planning to bare children are advised to speak with their doctor about getting up-to-date on all vaccines. This includes boosters for rubella and chicken pox. Women who have sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) should also speak with their doctors about the risks of conceiving with their current condition. Testing for STIs is also available upon request and can help you and your doctor come up with a plan for the pregnancy.

Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage

A miscarriage occurs when a women experiences pregancy loss before she is 20 weeks pregnant. There are a few signs that a miscarriage is occuring, including:

• Cramping
• Fluid or tissue discharge
• Spotting or vaginal bleeding

80% of miscarriages occur before 12 weeks. It’s important to remember that bleeding does not always equal miscarriage, but women experiencing this should contact their doctor.

Stillbirth

After 20 weeks, pregnancy loss is classified as a stillbirth. Much of the time there is no known cause for stillbirth (about 50 percent). Risk factors for stillbirth include:

• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Placental issues
• Fetal growth problems
• Chronic health problems
• Infections. 
• Lifestyle factors

Placental Abrubtion

Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before the baby is ready to be born. The placenta is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to your baby, so losing this connection puts the fetus in significant danger.

There are many risk factors for placental abruption, including:

• Smoking
• Carrying more than one baby
• Abdominal trauma
• Problems with your amniotic sac
• Getting pregnant later in life
• Cocaine or other drug use
• High blood pressure

Placental abruption can occur suddenly and symptoms set in rapidly. These include:

• Tenderness in the uterus
• Pain in the belly or back
• Baby heart rate issues
• Contractions

Placental abruption can also happen slowly. This is called “chronic abruption.” You might notice:

• Light vaginal bleeding
• Low amniotic fluid.
• Baby’s growth is behind

Once the placenta comes loose it can’t be reattached, so treatment will be depend on the severity of the abruption. Women who are less than 34 weeks may be admitted to the hospital for monitoring to make sure the baby’s heart rate is isn’t abnormal, there isn’t bleeding, and the abruption isn’t severe. Steroids may be administered to help the baby develop faster.

Women who are more than 34 weeks pregnant can sometimes carry the baby to term if it isn’t causing issues. If it is putting the mother or baby’s health at risk, a c-section may be performed.

Other Complications

Other complications of pregnancy:

• Iron-deficiency anemia. When a women is pregnant, she needs additional iron for the additional blood their bodies produce while pregnant. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs when the body can’t produce enough iron. This is relatively common during pregnancy, and can be treated with an iron supplement. If untreated, it may lead to other complications like preterm birth.
• Persistent nausea and/or vomiting. Vomiting is fairly normal during a pregnancy, but for some women it is a lot more severe and they rarely get relief. This is known as hyperemesis gravidarum, and can also cause weight loss and chronic dehydration. This sometimes requires the mother to be hospitalized to replenish fluids and nutrients.