Complications of Pregnancy

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It is common for pregnant women to experience several of the following conditions:Â·

anaemia,
constipation,
haemorrhoids,
heartburn,
hypertension (high blood pressure,
hypotension (low blood pressure),
gum disease (gingivitis),
genital infections such as thrush (candida) and trichomoniasis,
mood changes,
nausea and vomiting, and
urinary tract infections.

It is very important to attend all antenatal appointments with your midwife, GP or consultant. Conditions such as pre-eclampsia can be detected only through regular antenatal checks. Symptoms include sudden swelling of feet and ankles, rapid weight gain, vision problems (blurring or flashing lights in front of the eyes), abdominal pain and headaches.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is usually called morning sickness because the morning is when most pregnant women experience it, but in reality it happens any time during the day or night. Whilst some few women never get it at any time in the pregnancy, most experience at least some mild morning sickness. In a few women it can be severe - this condition is called hyperemesis gravidarium and may require treatment in hospital.

Bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge or loss of fluid from the vagina, lower back pain and/or abdominal pain, and (from the second trimester onwards) changes in foetal movement should also be acted upon quickly, so that the health of the baby can be monitored.

Approximately one pregnancy in four ends in miscarriage, most of these occurring in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. For many women, the first indication of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding or discharge, sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain or backache- rather like period pains. Some women may notice that pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or breast tenderness disappear. Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy is called 'threatened miscarriage', but does not necessarily develop into a miscarriage. Many women will go on to have a normal pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg (ovum) becomes implanted in an abnormal site inside the body instead of in the womb lining. It is a potentially dangerous condition, as it can cause severe internal bleeding. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are essential.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition which occurs only during pregnancy, or immediately after delivery of the baby. Women develop high blood pressure together with protein in the urine and fluid retention (oedema). Pre-eclampsia develops in about 1 in 10 pregnancies, usually after the sixth month of pregnancy. Most cases are mild, develop towards the end of the pregnancy, and are easily treated. However, in a severe form it can be life-threatening for both mother and baby.

Placenta praevia occurs when the placenta covers part or all of the cervix. It may cause bleeding in the pregnancy, and if the placenta does not move up as the pregnancy progresses, a caesarean birth will be necessary. In most women, the placenta moves out of the way before birth, but additional ultrasound scans may be required to monitor the situation.

Other tests during pregnancy can detect any chromosomal conditions, such as Downâ€™s Syndrome. This occurs when one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes (inherited from each parent) has an extra chromosome attached, resulting in learning disabilities and sometimes health problems. Women at higher risk of carrying a baby with such conditions may opt for testing procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS).