Pregnancy complications

Pregnancy complications are health problems that occur during pregnancy. They can involve the mother's health, the baby's health, or both. Some women have health problems before they become pregnant that could lead to complications. Other problems arise during the pregnancy. Whether a complication is common or rare, there are ways to manage problems that come up during pregnancy.

Types of Pregnancy Complications

There are several types of pregnancy complications. Some of the most common include:

• Gestational diabetes: This is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes may have healthy pregnancies and babies if they follow a treatment plan from their health care provider.

• Preeclampsia and eclampsia: Preeclampsia is a syndrome that includes high blood pressure, urinary protein, and changes in blood levels of liver enzymes during pregnancy. Eclampsia includes the symptoms of preeclampsia and seizures.

• Preterm labor and birth: Preterm labor is labor that begins too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm babies are not as fully developed as babies who are born after 39 weeks of pregnancy. They may have health problems at birth and later in life.

• Miscarriage: This is the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention and treatment of pregnancy complications depend on the specific problem. Regular prenatal care can help catch many complications early and prevent or manage them effectively. Treatment may involve medication, bed rest, close monitoring of the mother and baby, and in some cases, hospitalization.

See Also

• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Obstetrics
• Gynecology

Pregnancy complications Resources
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