Knowing you are pregnant is one of the most memorable and exciting moments of your life as a woman. If you have been waiting for this for a long time and it is your first time to have a baby, the feelings of bliss and thankfulness are incomparable. You are bringing a new person into this world!
Almost 92% of pregnancies go on without problems. But the remaining 8% of women sometimes develop complications. And if these complications are not reported to a doctor immediately, the complication might become dangerous to the fetus, the mother, or both.
Complications are pregnancy-related health problems that affect the mother, the fetus, or both. Pregnancy problems can happen even to women who are physically fit before having the baby and especially to those who have previously experienced complications or have existing conditions before getting pregnant.
It is always advisable to discuss any pain or specific concern with your obstetrician-gynecologist on your next prenatal visit. What are the different pregnancy issues that you need to report to your doctor? Here are possible conditions you can watch out for:
- Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. It is one of the earliest pregnancy complications that a woman can experience. Almost 2% of pregnancies turn out to be ectopic. Because of the frequency of implantation in the fallopian tube, this condition is also commonly called a tubal pregnancy.
This pregnancy complication can usually be caught during your first ultrasound which is scheduled in the first few weeks of your pregnancy. The early symptoms of this problem include pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. If you are experiencing any of this, contact your physician immediately to avoid the growing embryo from rupturing your fallopian tube. The pregnancy will unfortunately be terminated because there is no existing transplant procedure available from the fallopian tube to the embryo and the fetus will not live outside the uterus.
- Subchorionic Hemorrhage
Another early pregnancy problem is subchorionic hemorrhage. As with ectopic pregnancy, one of its main symptoms is bleeding, usually in the early trimester. It can be detected through ultrasound, which your physician will most probably prescribe after a bleeding episode. No one knows exactly why a subchorionic hemorrhage develops. The good news is, this condition is entirely treatable and manageable. Report it immediately to your doctor to avoid miscarriage. For medium to large hematomas, your physician may prescribe dydrogesterone or progesterone tablets. Your doctor may also recommend bed rest and prohibit you from standing for a long time, having sex, or engaging in exercise.
- Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy issue characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine or proteinuria. Symptoms start manifesting after the 20th week of pregnancy. If it is not treated, more symptoms can arise going to the third trimester including:
- Fluid retention or edema, which usually happens around the face, hands, feet, and ankles;
- Blurry vision and noticing flashing lights;
- Severe headaches;
- Shortness of breathing
- Vomiting
- Weight gain because of edema
- Pain below the right side of the ribs
- General feeling of discomfort
- Liver malfunction
- Decreased platelet
- Restricted fetal growth because of limited blood supply to the placenta
If preeclampsia is not treated, it could progress to eclampsia, a dangerous and life-threatening condition. Besides the symptoms of preeclampsia, eclampsia is also characterized by seizures, agitation, and loss of consciousness. The only thing that will put a stop to this condition is pre-term delivery. However, the baby may be born with low weight or other birth problems. On rare occasions, this pregnancy condition can cause stillbirth.
- Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that only happens during pregnancy. A healthy woman with no diabetes issues can develop this disease in the second or third trimester. It is detected during the routine laboratory scan of gestational diabetes in 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Women who are overweight or have previously experienced the condition are more at risk of contracting this.
As a result of gestational diabetes, your baby may become bigger than normal, making natural delivery a difficulty. Your doctor will usually tell you to undergo a cesarean operation to deliver the baby safely.
- Placenta Previa
Placenta previa happens when the placenta partially or totally blocks the cervix – the passageway of the baby out of the uterus. Placenta previa can trigger extensive bleeding throughout your pregnancy or during delivery. Doctors will recommend you to avoid strenuous physical activities like exercising, using tampons, and even having sex. Bed rest is mandatory to prevent contractions. If you reach full term, it is highly possible that your obstetrician-gynecologist will proceed with a caesarian delivery because of the cervical blockage.
If you experience any of these issues while being pregnant, contact your physician or obe-gyne. If you do not have one yet and you wish to talk to a specialist immediately, try talking to an online doctor BC. Online clinics provide one-on-one talks to doctors at the comfort of your home – avoiding waiting times and the risk of traveling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting pregnant is not just a walk in the park but the path to motherhood is worth all the pain and discomfort.