Most women have a healthy pregnancy throughout with just certain issues that are considered to be part of the package. Like heartburn, back pain, morning sickness and constipation. It is pertinent to know the risks and the symptoms that can occur during pregnancy.
Most of the issues like heart burn, morning sickness and constipation can be treated at home through home remedies. However, it is wise not to buy over the counter medicines for cold, cough and other illness. The medicine taken by the mother may not be safe and can pass onto the baby. The effects could end up being fatal to the baby. It is therefore best to consult the doctor during pregnancy before treating yourself.
Common issues during pregnancy:
- Morning sickness: Drinking lot of fluids and eating small meals helps you maintain your energy levels.
- Constipation: Eating food rich in fibre, drinking lot of water and exercising helps relive constipation.
- Fainting: Due to excess of hormones in the body and reduced oxygen supply to the brain, you may feel faint once in a while. Take plenty of rest and avoid getting up fast.
- Incontinence: Due to the pressure of your baby on the bladder, you may lose control. Practice pelvic floor exercises.
- Heart burn: Eat small meals and drink plenty of fluids to reduce heart burn.
Certain issues and symptoms that have to be taken seriously during pregnancy are as below.
- Gestational diabetes: If you have a family history of diabetes, it is important to do periodic checks of your blood sugar level. Your doctor will otherwise also order for the tests during your pregnancy.
- Miscarriage: Symptoms are abdominal pain, back pain and bleeding.
- Ectopic pregnancy: The baby formed in the fallopian tubes and treatment is either surgery or medication. The symptoms are bleeding and abdominal pain.
- UTI?s: Urinary Tract Infections are common during pregnancy and can be treated with medicines. Symptoms are itching of private parts, redness, swelling, bad smell and coloured discharge. Left untreated, it can infect the baby as well.
- Preeclampsia: High levels of blood pressure during pregnancy which can be fatal to both the mother and the baby. Symptoms are swelling in feet, face and hands, pain in the stomach, headache, nausea and vomiting.
- Depression: Mood swings, feeling sad or anxious can be signs of depression. When left untreated it can be fatal for both mother and baby.
- Premature birth: Rush of water discharge from the vagina, contractions and sometimes bleeding are signs of preterm labour (baby born before 37 weeks).
- Hypothyroidism: Fluctuation T3, T4 and TSH levels especially hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid) during pregnancy can affect the baby. Until the baby?s thyroid can function on its own, it is dependent on the mother?s thyroid function.
- Placenta previa: Low lying placenta is called placenta previa. It causes bleeding and can lead to complications. Ultrasound helps identify the severity of the situation and sometimes c-section is recommended.
- Low amniotic fluid: When the fluid in the amniotic sac is low, the condition is called Oligohydramnios. Scans reveal the levels and it mostly occurs in the third trimester. Close monitoring is required.