Some women experience a healthy pregnancy while some women face many complications. No women experiences the same pregnancy symptoms, as they rightly say that every pregnancy is different. Do you want to know more about the most common complications during pregnancy? The complications during pregnancy could involve the mother’s health, the fetus health or both. Women who have been totally healthy before pregnancy can also have some complications. These complications can make the pregnancy a high-risk pregnancy. Although all pregnancies require monitoring and care, but in case of a pregnancy with complications, a very regular monitoring and utmost care is to be taken. Getting an early and regular prenatal care helps in decreasing the risk or complications and also in taking proper care of the health of the mother and the fetus. There are certain pregnancy complications that are very common but need to be taken care of. Here are some common pregnancy complications. Also read: Tests & Scans Before & During Pregnancy

Common Complications During Pregnancy 

#1. Miscarriage

Any pregnancy loss that happens within 20 weeks of gestation is termed as ‘spontaneous abortion’. This loss is due to natural causes and nothing you or your doctor could have done to avoid it. The signs include vaginal spotting, bleeding, cramps and fluid or tissue passing through the vagina. It should be noted that bleeding from the vagina does not necessarily mean there is a miscarriage. Some women suffer bleeding throughout their pregnancy and still have a healthy pregnancy. But any type of bleeding should be immediately checked by your doctor. Tests are carried out to confirm a miscarriage.

#2. Gestational diabetes

This is one of the most common pregnancy complications and can occur in women who never had diabetes before. Thus it is known as gestational diabetes because women develop it during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause the blood sugar level of the pregnant women to become too high cause some serious problems for the unborn baby. A treatment plan is always outlined by the healthcare provider to ensure that it does not affect the baby. Usually sugar levels come down after the woman delivers the baby.

#3. Preeclampsia

If a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, protein in the urine, liver and has kidney abnormalities even after 20 weeks of pregnancy, then it is a preeclampsia situation. Preeclampsia can start anytime after the second half of pregnancy or the second trimester. Obesity, women above 35 years of age, high blood pressure, carrying two or more fetuses are all risk factors of preeclampsia in pregnancy. Also read: How Do Low Levels Of Vitamin D Affect Pregnancy?

#4. Premature labor and birth

A full term baby is delivered between 36 to 38 weeks of pregnancy. Some women experience contractions and labor pains even before 36 weeks of pregnancy. This is called preterm birth and babies born under such circumstances are called premature. Early labour pains and preterm births can cause health problems and may even be fatal if the preterm birth is way too early. The more mature the child is at birth, the more likely it is for the baby to survive or be healthy.

#5. Stillbirth

One of the most common pregnancy complications is the loss of pregnancy after 20 weeks and is known as stillbirth. There is no cause that researchers have found for a sudden loss of pregnancy. However health conditions like chromosomal abnormalities, poor fetal growth, placenta problems, serious health issues of the mother or even serious infections and illness can be the reasons behind stillbirths.

#6. Ectopic pregnancy

This type of pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implant itself outside the uterus. This is a life threatening condition and should be dealt with immediately. Such pregnancies should be terminated immediately since there is no way to remove the embryo and put it inside the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies occur inside the fallopian tube and are also termed as tubal pregnancies. If not treated in time, such a pregnancy can result in ruptured fallopian tubes causing severe internal bleeding, tube damage and abdominal pains. Also read: Common Infections During Pregnancy And How To Avoid Them

#7. Hypertension

Often known as High blood pressure is a very common pregnancy complication and can be associated with preeclampsia situation or other independent medical condition- if the mother suffers from blood pressure problems before conception. High blood pressure during pregnancy makes it hard for the blood to reach the placenta which provides food and oxygen to the baby. Reduced flow of nutrients and oxygen and slow the growth of the baby and put the mother at risk of preeclampsia as well.

#8. Placenta Previa

This is one of the most common complications during pregnancy. It is  when the placenta lies unusually low in the uterus, next to or covering the entire cervix. The placenta, in normal pregnancies, is located above the uterus and supplies nutrition to the baby through the umbilical cord. During early pregnancy days placenta previa is not a problem. But as the pregnancy progresses and the placenta remains unusually low, it can cause bleeding and premature deliveries.

#9. Low Amniotic Fluid

The Amniotic fluid fills up the amniotic sack which protects and supports the baby throughout the pregnancy. The amniotic fluid keeps increasing as the pregnancy grows and decreases gradually after 34 to 35 weeks of pregnancy. The pregnancy is deemed to be a complicated pregnancy if the amount of amniotic fluid is less than the required rate. Low levels of amniotic fluid can cause foetal abnormalities in the first and second trimester. Every visit to the doctor will check the level of a woman's’ amniotic fluid. Also read: Weight Gain During Pregnancy (Trimester By Trimester)

#10. Infections

Certain infections like STD’s, UTI’s, bacterial vaginosis, group B strep etc may occur during pregnancy or during the delivery of the baby and may lead to complications during pregnancies. They may also be present in the new born baby and can be a health risk for the baby. Some infections can pass from the mother to the baby during pregnancy. Some infections can cause stillbirths, pregnancy loss, defects in the baby, illness in newborn and maternal health complications. Want to share your experience as a mom with other moms through words or images? Become a part of the Moms United community. Click here and we will get in touch with you

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