Common Pregnancy Complications and How to Manage Them

While in many cases a pregnancy progresses without many issues and problems, there are cases when complications can develop at any time of the pregnancy. If you’re getting regular prenatal care, these problems could be detected early on, giving the doctor more time to find treatment or remedy for the issue. There are different pregnancy complications and they all vary in severity. Some are not that threatening at all while in rare cases, it could put the pregnant woman and her baby at high risk.

It can be scary at first if you get diagnosed with a pregnancy complication. However, your doctor will help you through it every step of the way to keep you and your baby as safe as possible. In case you have a high risk pregnancy, be sure to follow all the doctor’s recommendations and see the doctor on your scheduled appointments to help monitor your pregnancy and keep the baby safe.

Here are some of the common pregnancy complications and how to manage them.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It is a risky condition since it could make the baby to grow larger than usual, making it harder to have a safe vaginal delivery. Overweight women and those who have a history of gestational diabetes in their previous pregnancy are at high risk for this condition. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and losing weight before pregnancy can help lower the risk of developing gestational diabetes. Controlled diet and medications are used to treat this condition.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition that involves dangerously high blood pressure. It is life-threatening it is left on its own. Women who have a history of high blood pressure and obesity are at high risk for this condition. However, even those who have no history at all can still develop this. Although this condition goes away immediately after delivering the baby, it is important to manage the blood pressure of the mother during pregnancy to keep her safe.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a type of severe morning sickness and it is the most common cause of hospitalization for pregnant women.

Morning sickness is one of the most common pregnancy complications. It usually starts in the first trimester and can last up to the end of the second trimester. There are many different causes for this type of morning sickness, but it typically happens when your body has a lot to process with a new life growing inside you.

Placenta Previa

The placenta is typically located at the upper part of the uterus, providing the baby with all the nutrients and oxygen it needs for healthy development. However, in placenta previa, the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix. Vaginal bleeding is usually the common symptom but your doctor can detect it early on during a routine prenatal check-up. It could cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and throughout delivery, putting the mother and the baby in danger.

Although there is nothing you can do to prevent placenta previa from developing, close monitoring with your doctor is enough to keep you and your baby safe in case you are diagnosed with this condition. Women with this condition are usually scheduled for caesarean delivery so the placenta won’t push through the cervix and cause severe bleeding.

Whether it is a life-threatening complication or not, what matters most is that you follow regular prenatal check-ups set by your doctor for a safe pregnancy and delivery.