The first and second trimester is a very crucial duration of pregnancy. Apart from a little vaginal bleeding and cramps, there is a possibility that you may face some complications during pregnancy.
Following are some common complications that women should watch out during labor.
Miscarriage
One in five pregnancies can lead to miscarriage. An early miscarriage is when a woman loses her pregnancy in the first three months and may be accompanied by vaginal bleeding and pain.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when arteries carrying blood from the heart to the body organs are narrowed. This can cause the pressure to increase in the arteries. In pregnancy, this makes it hard for blood to reach the placenta, which carries out the function of providing nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. Reduction of blood flow can slow down fetal growth and place the mother at a greater risk of preterm labor and pre-eclampsia.
Women who have high blood pressure before they become pregnant will continue to have to monitor and control it, at times, with medications if needed, throughout their pregnancy. High blood pressure developing in pregnancy is called gestational hypertension. Usually, gestational hypertension occurs during the second half of pregnancy and goes away after delivery. Remember to get your blood pressure checked in your visits to a gynecologist or a pregnancy specialist.
Chromosomal abnormality
A chromosomal abnormality occurs when there is monosomy (i.e. one copy instead of two) or trisomy (i.e. three copies instead of two). This kind of abnormality can cause health and development issues. These chromosomal abnormalities could cause disorders like Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s syndromes. In cases like these, proper care and consultation will be needed for pregnant women and child. If there have been cases in your family involving any of these syndromes then you must talk about it to your pregnancy specialist.
Ectopic pregnancy
It is very important to diagnose this type of pregnancy from a pregnancy specialist in advance as it can be fatal. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus. They mostly occur in the Fallopian tube and may rupture the tube, causing internal bleeding.
Gestational diabetes
This condition occurs when a woman who didn't have diabetes before pregnancy develops the condition during pregnancy. Usually, the body digests parts of your food into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is the body's main source of energy. After digestion, glucose moves into your blood to give your body energy. To get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells, the pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. In gestational diabetes, hormonal changes from pregnancy cause the body to either produce insufficient insulin or not use it normally. Instead, the glucose builds up in your blood, causing diabetes.
Remember to visit your pregnancy specialist regularly to avoid increasing the chances of experiencing any of the complications mentioned above.
