Common Pregnancy Complications Explained
Having a baby on
the way is an exciting time, but it's also stressful. Add in the possibility of complications and anxiety can go through the roof. When you think of
complications that can happen, you might think of
things that can go wrong at the beginning or end of a pregnancy. However, it's best to break them down by the three main parts of a pregnancy: the first, second and third trimester. The first trimester of
pregnancy can be a time of major adjustment for many people. Your body starts to go
through small changes while your mind wraps around
the idea of parenthood. In those first 14 weeks, there are several
complications that can happen. Some of these can be more severe, like having a pregnancy that
develops in the wrong place, or one that ends early
called a miscarriage.
Sometimes a complication can be a symptom that's more severe than expected. Nausea is a common symptom
that many women experience during the first trimester, but nausea can be more
than an upset stomach. It can pair with vomiting
and this can make it tough to keep down food or water. One of the concerns with
severe nausea is dehydration.
If your nausea is so severe
that you have trouble keeping down food or liquids,
it's time to seek help. You might hear people say
that the second trimester is the best part of pregnancy. For many people, this is the time when the bothersome symptoms
of the first few weeks are a thing of the past, and the discomforts of the third trimester are a distant worry. One of the big moments
of the second trimester is the anatomy scan. This is an imaging test where
your healthcare provider will look at your baby and
check the development so far. Many people decide to
learn their baby's sex during this appointment. The majority of the time
we can identify the sex, but keep in mind that there
may be reasons it can't or it's misidentified. Most of the time, this is a
joyful and happy experience as you look at your baby, but sometimes the provider
doing your scan sees an issue. Possible birth defects can be discovered during the second trimester ultrasound. You might hear the phrase
structural abnormality, which means that something doesn't look as it typically would.
It can be scary to see something like this on an ultrasound. But if this happens, your
provider will talk you through each step of the issue
and help you develop a plan. When you enter the third trimester, you're in the homestretch. It's almost time to meet your baby. But on the way to that, there are still several
complications that can happen. Pre-term delivery is one of them. That's when your baby is
born before it's ready. A baby can be ready to be born anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks. Any earlier and risks of
complications increase. During the final weeks of pregnancy, you can also develop
certain medical conditions. One thing that can happen is
your blood pressure can rise. High blood pressure during
pregnancy is something that your provider will monitor carefully throughout your entire pregnancy.
If it goes up significantly, you can develop a condition
called preeclampsia. When you have preeclampsia, your blood pressure is higher than 140/90. You might experience
symptoms like headaches, blurry vision, puffiness
in your hands and face, and shortness of breath. Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition that requires evaluation by
your healthcare provider. If you're experiencing any of
the symptoms of preeclampsia, it's important to contact your provider. A lot can happen throughout pregnancy. Your body is actively changing as your baby grows and develops.
Because there's always a chance that a complication can happen, it's important to find a
healthcare provider you trust. As a team, you can face
any issue that comes up. (gentle music).
