Midwives & Women's Healthcare professionals in our region are knowledgeable regarding the risks that are known in their particular counties. As an Advanced Nurse Practitioner I have treated illnesses related to local plant life to fish from particular habitats and more.
Being pregnant can put your body through many changes and sometimes issues that were unnoticeable before may become apparent and manifest in dangerous ways. As always, read through the following information to heighten your awareness of these potentially harmful conditions and please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your health.
BLEEDING EARLY IN PREGNANCY
Many things can cause you to start bleeding. Vaginal bleeding can be temporary and go away as the pregnancy progresses normally. But early pregnancy bleeding caused by a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy can be very serious.
MISCARRIAGE:
Most common serious cause of early bleeding
Happens in 15-20 of every 100 pregnancies
Usually happens within the first 3 months
Most miscarriages cannot be prevented
Signs are bleeding more than what may occur during a heavy period, abdominal cramping, passing tissue
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY:
Pregnancy outside the uterus, usually in a Fallopian tube
Happens in fewer than 1 of every 100 pregnancies
Can cause severe pain and internal bleeding
Can be life-threatening because internal bleeding is not obvious
May or may not have any vaginal bleeding
Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience bleeding early in you pregnancy, especially if you are also having abdominal pain.
BLEEDING LATE IN PREGNANCY
Bleeding late in pregnancy (third trimester) can be serious. The most common cause is one of the first signs of labor, called bloody show. This is caused by the thinning of the cervix and usually includes thick mucous. Cervical irritation from intercourse and pelvic exams can also cause some bleeding. The most serious late pregnancy bleeding is caused by either:
Placenta previa
The placenta is partially or completely covering the cervix. As your cervix thins to get ready for labor, heavy bleeding can occur.
Placental abruption
The placenta separates from the inner lining of the womb too early. This is usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain.
Either of these conditions, if not addressed immediately, may lead to the death of the unborn baby and serious health problems for the parent. If bleeding is serious or an abnormal fetal heartbeat is detected, a cesarean birth may be required.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy (gestation). Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). Insulin is a hormone that regulates the body's glucose level. When your body does not make enough insulin or your body cells do not absorb the sugar appropriately, the level of sugar in your blood becomes too high. This can be dangerous for you and your baby.
This condition usually goes away after pregnancy. But if you have had gestational diabetes you are more likely do develop permanent diabetes later in life that will require medication. You are more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you are obese, have given birth to a large (more than 9 pounds) infant, or have a family history of diabetes.
Eating fewer calories at smaller meals during the day can help. Eating more complex carbohydrates like corn, beans, whole-grain rice, wheat pasta, and whole-grain bread is also a better choice. Avoid foods with simple carbohydrates (sugars) that break down too quickly such as breads and tortillas, as well as pastas made with enriched white flour, potatoes and of course, sugary sweets. Careful screening and treatment for gestational diabetes can improve your chances of having an uneventful pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby.
GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS
The group B streptococcus (GBS) bacteria is very common in both men and women, and present in one out of every three pregnant people. It is usually found in the vagina or the rectum. GBS is usually harmless to the mother but potentially it can be passed to the baby during childbirth. Some babies can develop a GBS infection immediately after birth or within a few weeks of being born. These infections can be very serious and even life-threatening to a newborn.
Vaginal and rectal cultures taken between 35-37 weeks of pregnancy can determine if you carry the GBS bacteria. If you test positive, you will receive antibiotics during labor to protect your baby. You may also receive antibiotics during labor if you have other symptoms that could cause problems for your baby.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Even if your blood pressure was normal before you became pregnant, you may develop high blood pressure during your pregnancy. It doesn't usually cause any symptoms. Your health care provider will check you blood pressure at every checkup and may prescribe a medication to keep it under control.
If you had high blood pressure before you became pregnant, keep taking your medications as directed and tell your provider about your condition at your first prenatal visit. You can have a healthy baby even if you have high blood pressure, although you may be a higher risk for:
Placenta abruption
Breathing problems
Side effects from medications
Needing to change medications
Blood pressure tips:
Eat healthy, limit sodium (salt)
Don't gain too much weight
Take your medication regularly
Go to all your prenatal visits
Stay active, get out for a walk
Even when managed well by medication and lifestyle choices, high blood pressure may still lead to a very serious and life-threatening condition called preeclampsia.
PREECLAMPSIA
Preeclampsia is a type of high blood pressure that can develop in the second half of pregnancy. No one knows what causes it and the only cure is to deliver the baby. How severe your symptoms are and the earlier in your pregnancy that you develop this condition, the higher the risk to you and your baby.
Health complications of Preeclampsia
Because the only cure for preeclampsia is delivery, it puts the baby at risk for premature birth and other potential health complications including placental abruption (separation few from the placenta from the womb), liver damage, kidney damage, bleeding problems, and seizures. Any of these problems can be life-threatening for you and your baby.
High risk factors:
You have high blood pressure
You have kidney disease
You have diabetes or obesity
You are over age 40
You are carrying twins
This is your first pregnancy
You (or a family member) had it before
Symptoms:
High blood pressure
Sudden weight gain and swelling of your hands and face
Dull or severe, throbbing headaches
Vision changes: flashing lights, auras, light sensitivity, etc.
Sudden onset of nausea or vomiting
Upper abdominal or shoulder pain
Shortness of breath, confusion or anxiety
Lower urine output than usual
WARNING !!
Preclampsia is a very dangerous condition, but it can be treated if caught early. If you have ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS or something just doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and call your health care provider right away!
PRETERM LABOR
Labor usually begins sometime after 37 weeks of pregnancy (40 weeks is full term). A baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature. These infants may need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care nursery to breathe and keep themselves warm. Premature birth can be a serious risk to your newborn. The earlier that preterm labor occurs, the greater the risk to your baby. Premature babies can have organs that are not fully developed, leading to breathing, hearing and visual problems. They may also have long-term learning or behavioral disabilities.
Many risk factors have been linked to preterm birth. But not everyone who experiences preterm labor has risk factors. You are at the highest risk if you have already had at least one preterm birth, other high-risk factors include twins, a fetal birth defect, problems with the cervix, uterus and placenta, and others.
Feeling contractions does not always mean you are in labor. I will discuss "Braxton Hicks Contractions" in another post.
Your contractions must be strong enough to dilate the cervix. Your health care provider may do a pelvic exam to see if your cervix is thinning and opening, then decide how to manage your preterm labor based on how far along you are and what is best for the health of both you and your baby.
Warning signs of preterm labor may include:
Uterine contractions (more than 10 per hour)
Menstrual cramps that come and go or are constant
Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea
Low backache that comes and goes or is constant
Pelvic pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down
A sudden increase in vaginal discharge that is watery, mucous-like, or slightly bloody
Many of these symptoms can be normal and are not actually premature labor, but if they are not relieved with routine comfort measures....
Call your healthcare provider immediately-you may be in premature labor!
RH DISEASE
During your first prenatal visit, your blood type and Rh factor will be checked. Your blood will be one of four types (O,A,B or AB) and your Rh factor will be either Rh positive (Rh+) or Rh negative (Rh-) Most people are Rh+. If both parents have the same Rh factor (Rh+ or Rh-), their baby wont have a blood compatibility disease, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition.
Fortunately, your health care provider can prevent this disease most of the time. A special injection of Rh immunoglobulin (Rhig) can protect your baby from developing blood problems. This injection is routinely given at 28 weeks of pregnancy. It is also given within 72 hours after birth if your baby is Rh+ (the baby's blood type is tested after birth). This injection also prevents Rh disease issues in future pregnancies.
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