Complications during Pregnancy, you should know about (Part 1)
The journey towards motherhood is filled with anticipation and anxiety, but is almost always awarded with the arrival of your little one! We always wish that you and your child remain happy and healthy throughout this journey but there are always issues and complications that might arise during this adventure of yours. So keeping them in mind we have listed a few problems that might occur during your pregnancy and how to cope with them.
Miscarriage:
Miscarriages are one of the most common issues that occur during pregnancies. But do not fret too much as this takes place mostly in 10-20% of known pregnancies. Even out of these miscarriages, most of them happen before the 3rd month ends. So the moment you complete your first trimester, the chances of having a miscarriage fall! The most common cause of having a miscarriage in the 1st trimester is because of chromosomal anomalies. This occurs in the fertilized egg and results in the retardation of the embryo growth.
The very first sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding or spotting! Though spotting and light bleeding is common in the early weeks of your pregnancy, talking to your doctor about your concerns will not hurt you. If your doctor, however, does suspect a miscarriage, then she may advise you to have blood tests and ultrasound done.
Unfortunately miscarriages are seldom preventable, and that’s not anyone’s fault! All you can do is look out for warning signs and get help in time!
Gestational Diabetes:
Gestational diabetes is quite common, occurring in almost 1 out of 6 pregnant women and it basically occurs when your blood sugar levels are too high during the time of pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that controls the blood sugar levels in your body, and when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, then the chances of your blood sugar level going up are quite high. During pregnancy, your body is in need of more insulin than the usual amount since the hormones from the placenta end up making your body less responsive to insulin.
Incase your body isn’t able to produce the right amount of insulin to control the blood sugar levels, then your risk of developing gestational diabetes rises. Controlling the amount of sugar in your blood during your pregnancy is of utmost importance since this could cause problems for both you and your baby. But don’t worry, unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes goes away after you have your little one. Some of the most common symptoms you may experience if you have gestational diabetes can vary from feeling really thirsty and tired to wanting to go to the bathroom more often and having blurred vision. Nothing very distinct, but getting a blood test done during your pregnancy is advisable.
There are a few factors that might contribute to your chances of getting gestational diabetes. Things like having a BMI of over 25 or if you have had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy or even if a close relative of yours has diabetes, could all increase your chances of catching the disease yourself.
Prevention is always better than cure, so remember to follow a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy and do light exercises to keep yourself fit and active and your blood sugar level in check!
Preeclampsia:
Essentially, during your pregnancy, if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and high amount of protein in your urine; you can be categorized as having Preeclampsia. This can also cause abnormalities in the liver and kidney and usually occurs after the 20th week of your pregnancy,
Symptoms of preeclampsia usually show themselves more prominently when the mother is nearing her delivery time and if taken proper care of, both the mama and the baby do brilliantly. The only problem is that preeclampsia progresses very quickly and if it becomes severe, it can affect many organs quite seriously.
Preeclampsia has some signs that shouldn’t be ignored. Things like swelling, weight gain and nausea, might seem like normal symptoms during pregnancy, but getting your doctor’s opinion on this is also a good idea! But the symptoms can vary, so getting a clean bill of health from your doctor is of utmost importance all though your journey.