Every year, approximately 875,000 women encounter one or more complications during their pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Some of these complications are minor and may require simple monitoring. Other complications can lead to serious health risks for both baby and mom.
Bleeding During Your First Trimester
It’s not uncommon to experience some bleeding during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Many women who experience bleeding go on to deliver healthy babies. If you have spotting that lasts for less than one day, be sure to tell your doctor about it at your next appointment. If you experience spotting that lasts more than one day or moderate to heavy bleeding at all, contact your health care provider right away.
Bleeding at any time during your first three months may not be cause for concern but could also be caused by something more serious such as cervical cancer, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
Bleeding During Your Second and Third Trimesters
You should contact your doctor if you have any bleeding at all during your last two trimesters. Pregnancy complications that could result in bleeding during your second and third trimester include placenta previa, miscarriage or placental abruption. If bleeding occurs after 37 weeks, it could mean you are going into labor.
Miscarriage
Fifteen to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage although the actual percentage is probably higher since in many cases, miscarriage occurs so early during pregnancy that many affected women don’t realize they are even pregnant. Over and over it's stated that miscarriage is nature’s way of dealing with an unhealthy pregnancy. Whether or not that is true, it is still difficult for many women to deal with the anguish and dashed hope that miscarriage leaves behind.
Most miscarriages happen before the 12th week and symptoms include abdominal cramping, heavy bleeding or vaginal discharge including tissue or blood clots. Light or heavy bleeding doesn’t necessarily mean that you are having a miscarriage, but you should contact your doctor’s office if you have any bleeding or vaginal discharge of fluid.
Placenta Previa
This complication is relatively uncommon. During pregnancy, the placenta attaches to the uterine wall. If the placenta attaches too close to the cervix, it can result in marginal to complete placenta previa. With proper prenatal care, placenta previa is usually diagnosed with ultrasound early enough that it can be monitored.
The most common symptom is bright red bleeding without cramping. The bleeding usually stops, but then starts again days or weeks later. If you are diagnosed with placenta previa, your health care provider will probably tell you that you need to refrain from intercourse for the duration of your pregnancy. You will probably need to limit exercise and you may even be assigned to bed rest. In some cases, and depending on the severity of the condition, placenta previa may correct itself and move away from the cervix. In other cases, safe delivery requires a caesarean section.
Ectopic Pregnancy
When a fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than the uterus, it is considered ectopic and the egg cannot develop properly. In most cases, an ectopic pregnancy takes place in the fallopian tubes. It is a very serious condition. Without immediate treatment it can lead to severe complications and even death. Symptoms include bleeding, abdominal pain and cramping.
If an ectopic pregnancy continues long enough without diagnosis, the affected fallopian tube may burst, causing sharp, severe abdominal pain sometimes accompanied by dizziness. If you have symptoms such as heavy vaginal bleeding accompanied by stabbing pain; dizziness and nausea; shoulder pain or the urge to have a bowel movement without proper results, you need to seek emergency medical assistance.
Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
This is a condition that only lasts for the length of your pregnancy. High blood sugar levels that normally don’t pose problems for mom can cause serious problems for baby. Gestational diabetes does not have many symptoms and doesn’t usually present itself until the third trimester. Women at higher risk of this condition are women over 25, women with a family history of type 2 diabetes or women who have previously had gestational diabetes. If diabetes is present in your medical history, be sure to let your doctor know.
Being overweight canalso increase your chances of developing it and also for unexplained reasons, women who are Hispanic, Asian, African American or American Indian are more predisposed. If you develop this condition, your doctor will probably give you a diet to follow, suggest regular moderate exercise and closely monitor your blood sugar levels. In more serious cases, insulin injections are required. Developing gestational diabetes can increase your chances of developing diabetes later in life.
It is imperative that you see your health care provider for regularly scheduled visits during your pregnancy so that you can be closely monitored for any health concerns that might affect you or your baby.
TLE101
Sources:
MayoClinic.com. "Gestational Diabetes; Placenta Previa: Bleeding During Pregnancy; Miscarriage" (accessed November, 2010).
March of Dimes. "Ectopic Pregnancy" (accessed November, 2010).
Nancy Morrish - Nancy Morrish has been writing since 2005. She began her freelance career in 2010 after moving to the Hudson Valley with her husband and ...
