Every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. Even if you already had a baby there is a great chance that your second pregnancy will be different. When it comes to complications that may occur during the pregnancy, not all women experience the same things. For some women pregnancy is easy as a breeze, and a very joyful and exciting experience. Well, apart from the morning sickness if they have it! Unfortunately, there are some women that experience complications from day one.
Complications can happen at any time during the pregnancy and can last for any period of time. There are some normal complications that may occur throughout the pregnancy and there are some fatal complications that may occur to both the mom and baby.
Ectopic pregnancy
“Ectopic” is a term used for something that is misplaced. Ectopic pregnancy is a common complication. The egg does not arrive in the uterus, but instead attaches itself outside the uterus. If the egg attaches itself to the fallopian tubes then it is considered a tubal pregnancy. The egg could attach to many areas inside the female. If it attaches to anywhere outside of the uterus it means that the pregnancy cannot continue. There is no way to take the egg from another part and place it in the uterus. If this condition is not detected early then the woman would experience great pain. This pain would be caused by the fallopian tube rupturing. Whether detected early or late during the pregnancy, the pregnancy must be terminated.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is one of the common complications. This is when the baby is born within the first-trimester. There are various causes for this to happen, and even causes that cannot be explained. Usually spotting may occur when this happens, but spotting does not necessarily mean that you are going to miscarry. If a woman notices that she is spotting she should contact her physician right away.
Couples are often very discouraged when they have a pregnancy that ends with miscarriage. Statistics show that over half of those couples that go through this, whether planned or not will conceive again within a year.
Preterm labor
Preterm labor is another of the more common complications. This is when the baby is born before the due date, but not in the first-trimester. Again there are many assumptions and theories why a preterm labor may occur. As for symptoms, a woman may see spotting or even have a heavy bleeding. She may even feel cramps as if getting her period. If a woman has contractions she is considered to be in premature labor. How the baby is going to be will be determined by the week when it is delivered. The closer the woman is to her due date, the better the chance for a healthy baby. In today’s world of medicine it is fascinating how the small babies can survive being delivered prior to due date. Well trained and professional neonatal units and specialists give babies the chance to survive. With the advancement in technology it is possible for premature born babies to have a healthy life and grow to be of normal size.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is another complication that may occur. A woman is tested for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of her pregnancy. The test is to see how high her glucose level is. If the woman’s test is positive, she will have to pay extra attention on her health and diet. Those daily cravings for chocolate ice-cream and pizza will have to stop. Regular checks will be done to keep this condition in check. In some cases, women that test positive for gestational diabetes will later in life develop diabetes.
Low amniotic fluid
Low amniotic fluid is another complication that may occur. The amniotic fluid surrounds the baby and it shouldn’t be too low since it is needed for baby’s growth, moving, kidney function and to protect baby from any bumps. An ultrasound should be the first means of confirming if this complication occurred. During the ultrasound, the fluid level can be measured.
Minor complications
There are also plenty of minor complications that may occur during pregnancy. The day to day ailments could be considered as a complication as well and same goes for back pain and bloating/swelling a woman endures during her pregnancy. There are many variants of uncomfortable and painful states that a woman may go through during her pregnancy and of course, it all depends on an individual and how she takes it.
Every pregnancy brings many happy times but also some hard days and emotions. These emotions vary woman to woman, and pregnancy to pregnancy. With the help of today’s technology all of the potentially dangerous situations can be avoided since any potential complications can be diagnosed early enough to be treated properly.
Once you find out that you are pregnant, do regular ultrasounds and tests in order to prevent any possible complications that may occur.