Complications in Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be threatened even when it is not expected. Some complications in pregnancy are severe such that you will need urgent medical attention. The complications develop from many factors such as diabetes, hypertension and even STDs (Sexually Transmitted Disease) such as syphilis, Chlamydia and other conditions such as virus, bacteria and parasites. The possible pregnancy complications that can harm you and your developing fetus are:
Gestational diabetes.

This is quite a common complication that develops; between 2 and 7% of women develop this condition. If this condition is not treated it can increase your risk miscarriage and even death of the fetus and also thyroid problems. This generally develops during the second trimester (14-28 weeks) This can be treated with insulin to manage your blood sugar levels.

Amniotic fluid

This is a complication that develops from a very high polyhydramnios (having too much amniotic fluid in the womb) It occurs in about 1in 250 pregnancies or very low Oligohydramnios (having too little amniotic fluid in your womb). Too much amniotic fluid causes pressure on your uterus and may lead to pre-term delivery puts pressure on your diaphragm, which leads to breathing problems.
Too little amniotic fluid leads to poor fetal growth, post-term delivery, birth defects such as urinary tract abnormalities.

Placental complications

Complications of placenta are placental abruption (wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. It is the most common cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth. It occurs in 1% of pregnancies) and placental previa ( your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix).
Premature detachment of a normally situated placenta is placental abruption where the exact cause for this condition is unknown. The detachment may be partial or complete. Placental previa is the condition where the placenta is located in lower segment of the uterus, partially or completely covering the opening of the cervix. It leads to severe bleeding during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The exact cause of placental previa is not known.

Preeclampsia (high blood pressure)

The development of high blood pressure. It generally occurs after about 20 weeks it is also known as toxaemia.

Ectopic pregnancy

This is a complication where the development of the fetus takes place outside of the uterus or even in the fallopian tubes. It is also known as a tubal pregnancy.

Rh Factor

The Rh factor in your blood type can cause harm to your baby. If the mother is Rh negative and her partner Rh positive, the combination results in a baby with Rh positive. In this condition, when the blood transfers from mother to the child, the red blood cells will break down leading to anaemia.

Miscarriage

Miscarriage is an unintentional or sudden loss of pregnancy. This type of pregnancy complication develops mostly due to age, gene factors, malnutrition, environmental hazards, hormonal problems, etc.

Ectopic Pregnancy - Causes, Symptoms and Cure

There are many pregnancy abnormalities known in medical science. Among these abnormalities, ectopic pregnancy is one of them. It is actually a type of pregnancy complication. In ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized ovum starts nourishing in some other tissues other than uterine wall. Mostly, the fertilized ovum starts developing in tubes. Due to this development in tubes instead of uterine wall, this abnormality is also called tubal pregnancy. It is not necessarily tubes where fertilized egg develops; it can be any other parts of the body. The common places for the fertilized egg to grow are cervix or abdomen. The egg keeps on developing and the time comes when it become mature enough to burst causing severe bleeding and ultimately can prove fatal for mother's health. If it is not treated properly then the it can have deathly consequences.

The symptoms of this disease are very subtle and are very difficult to identify. However, you can have grim prognosis of whether you have this abnormality or not by the early signs of this disease. The early symptoms of this disease include pain in lower abdomen and also pain while having bowel movements. The most threatening symptom of this disease is vaginal bleeding. This is quite obvious symptom of this disease. Ectopic pregnancy is actually nothing more than a failing pregnancy so it causes much vaginal bleeding. The patient suffers from internal as well as external bleeding in ectopic pregnancy. Internal bleeding can cause severe pain in backbone and pelvis regions. It also causes severe pain in shoulder and you are unable to do any daily chores.

As I have explained earlier that ectopic pregnancy is abnormal pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is unable to reach women's uterus due to certain blockage. This blockage can be caused by several factors. This blockage can either be caused by inflammation of tubes or endometriosis. The other things that can cause blockage of tubes are some past surgery. The blockage of tubes can instantaneously be checked with the help of urine test because this test gives results very fast and ectopic pregnancy must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed.

If ectopic pregnancy is in premature stages then an injection of methotrexate is given to the patient causing decease in the growth of the embryo. If the embryo has developed somewhat bigger in the tubes then surgical methods are used to remove the abnormally developed embryo. However the modern techniques such as laparoscopy can save the patient from complex surgical methods. Laparoscopy is a method in which the access to pelvis of the patient is gained and then the affected tube which is causing abnormal pregnancy is removed. This is a bitter fact that ectopic pregnancy can develop again. So the best practice is to get a regular check-up from some expert doctor to monitor the functioning of Fallopian tubes and minimizing the chances of getting ectopic pregnancy again. EzineArticles.com Bambang_Hermanto

Dealing With Advanced-Age and Pregnancy

In today's world, there is a growing trend of women who are choosing to have children later in life. Reasons being are that women have decided to further their education and advance more in their careers unlike their predecessors. Today's woman desires to be more independent and settled before starting a family. Along with any benefits, there are risks! Even though a woman maybe more shelf assured and confident mentally, her body may not be as confident as she ages without proper guidance and prenatal care. In this article, we will be discussing how to deal with advanced aging and pregnancy as well as the risks and benefits involved.
First, let's define advanced aging when it comes to pregnancy. Women who conceive after the age of 35 are considered a higher risk as well as an advanced age for pregnancy. Although many women who conceive at an advanced age are at a higher risk, that certainly does not mean that she won't have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. It just means that she should take a few more precautions and her doctor should monitor her and the baby a little more closely. The fact of the matter is that as we age, our bodies become weaker - but only if we allow it! As our bodies become weaker, our eggs become older, hormonal changes occur and so on. Contrary to what some people believe, including doctors, our eggs do not have a shelf life. Chinese medicine believes that as long as your hormones are in balance and you are in good health, you can become pregnant naturally in your late thirties, forties or even in your fifties.
Women who are considered to be of advanced age when becoming pregnant have higher risk of multiple births, down syndrome and pregnancy related complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that the odds of women who are in their 20's to have a Down Syndrome baby is 1 in 10,000, a women is her mid thirties is about 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 for women in their forties. The reason being is because through the years both the man and woman have probably been exposed to radiation (such as x-rays), illnesses and drugs that may have damaged his sperm or her eggs. But again, regardless of age, women who are in good health and condition can have a healthy baby, especially if they receive good prenatal care before and after conception.
Even though the risks are somewhat higher for women over the age of 35 to conceive a healthy baby,Chinese medicine, modern medicine and technology have lowered that same risk through the years. Because of the known risks associated with advanced age pregnancy, older mothers tend to take better care of them selves than younger mothers. Older mothers tend to be more stable in their relationship with their partner, have achieved their career goals, are better financially set and are more mature.
Studies have also shown that mothers who have waited to have children later in life tend to have more patience and demon straight better parenting. I am not saying that younger mothers are not good parents or just as good, but what I am saying is this. Women who have had a chance to experience life such a career, more time with her partner and especially time to her self, she is more likely not to feel confined and stressed. Parenting at any age is not always easy, but being secure with who you are and your surroundings makes it a lot easier.

What You Need to Do If You Suspect You're Having a Miscarriage

If you are experiencing miscarriage, go to the hospital. If you cannot make it to the hospital call emergency help lines. The responding paramedic will have you rest quietly and may give you medications as directed by the Emergency Room physician at the base hospital by phone. Bring all prescription drugs, herbs, and supplements you may be taking to the hospital, and be honest with the ER doctor if you drink or use drugs.
A nurse or midwife will record your vital signs, and if you have been bleeding excessively, will take your pulse twice:
• First when you have been lying down quietly for 5 minutes
• Second when you have been standing fairly still for 1-3 minutes
You will require a vaginal exam during which the doctor inserts a clean clamp (speculum) to hold your vagina open and shines a bright light on your perineum to see well. If you have not had a pap smear in the past year, the doctor scrapes your cervix with a wooden Popsicle stick, smears the sample on a slide, and sends it to the Pathology Lab.
Some miscarriages are inevitable, so remember, if your membranes break and you go into labor, a baby can only survive outside the uterus if it is at least 24 weeks old. If you have a molar pregnancy, remember that a proper fetus does not form, and the cellular mass cannot survive outside your body. If this is the case, your doctor may suggest a cervical dilatation and evacuation with suction (D&E) to remove the products of conception by the end of your first trimester (Week 12 of pregnancy).
For unavoidable miscarriages, the choice method is dilatation and curettage (D&C). The surgeon places a black "matchstick" of seaweed (a laminaria tent) to gently open your cervix overnight. In the operating room, the surgeon gradually makes the opening of your cervix bigger, spinning a series of increasingly larger dilator wands. Grasping your uterus with a tenaculum clamp, the surgeon scrapes clean the lining of your uterus with curettes.
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, surgery will be necessary to remove the fetus and products of conception from the fallopian tube. In some cases, the surgeon will be unable to salvage the fallopian tube and must remove it (salpingectomy).
In all cases, you will be taken to a Recovery Room for the anaesthetic to wear off. You will be encouraged to get up and walk soon after any surgery. This prevents pooling of body fluids and pneumonia. You cannot drive yourself home, so arrange for a friend to pick you up and monitor you overnight for complications. You can take a shower the day after your surgery, but avoid baths, douching, swimming, and intercourse for a month. Avoid heavy lifting. Wear absorbent sanitary napkins for a few days up to several weeks after surgery to catch the drainage. Do not use tampons because of risk of infection. Breast discomfort and leaking milk may last a week. If you develop fever, heavy bleeding or a foul-smelling discharge, you may need antibiotics to fight infection or ergometrine to stanch bleeding. Barring complications, you can return to work in two days, but book the week off work as a precaution. Most women can resume exercising in three weeks.
Miscarriage is often treatable if addressed immediately. Not every woman who spots during the first trimester has a miscarriage. If you are pregnant and spot or bleed, go to your doctor or the nearest Emergency room as soon as possible. Bring any tissue you pass with you in a clean container for the lab to test for abnormalities and to pinpoint your problem.