Understanding The Risk Factors That Develop During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is such a wonderful stage for women. For them, it symbolizes having reached the apex of womanhood and the beginning of the most satisfying and greatest journey she will undertake along with the child in her womb. Pregnancy is like having reached the finish line in a race, but unlike other races, this one serves as the beginning of a new life and not the end. For women, becoming pregnant is simply the fulfillment of the role they have to play in this world: introducing a new life. Pregnancies should be a happy and fulfilling journey.

Despite that pregnancy is described in the rosiest of descriptions, what is undeniable is that the process entails a multitude of risks that could undermine the health of both mother and child. This is why extreme care is taken to ensure that pregnancy will result in the safe delivery of a healthy baby without placing the mother in any form of danger.

Common Complications That May Arise during Pregnancy

For most pregnant women, pregnancy may become a burden, especially if complications arise that may place her under stress, physical or otherwise. Some of the most common complications that arise during pregnancy are the following:

Back pain. Back pain is the most common complaints of pregnant women. This is commonly experienced during the third trimester of pregnancy when the center of gravity has shifted due to the enlargement of the belly.

Constipation... Constipation is caused by the lack of water in the body, causing decreased mobility in the bowel and making it difficult to defecate. A pregnant woman may experience constipation because her body fluid is also shared with the unborn child.

Edema. Edema is characterized by swelling in the extremities of pregnant woman’s body. This is a common complaint especially in the advanced stages of pregnancy. It is caused by the compression of the pelvic veins and the uterus, resulting in an increased pressure in the extremities.

Varicose veins. Varicose veins may also develop in pregnant women. This is caused by the relaxation of the venous smooth muscle and an increase in intravascular pressure.

Increased urinary frequency. This is caused by an increase in the intravascular volume and in the compression of the bladder by the expansion of the uterus. If neglected, this may cause urinary infection and it is suggested that urinalysis should be done to diagnose if there is a possible infection arising from the disorder.

Ectopic pregnancy. This is defined as pregnancy wherein the fetus grows outside the uterus. Although the exact cause of ectopic pregnancies remain unclear, the common suspects are smoking, advanced age for conception, and damage to the fallopian tubes. If such is the case, surgery is recommended to terminate the pregnancy and avoid placing the mother in greater danger.

Placental abruption. This is the separation of the placenta from the uterus. The common causes of this complication are hypertension, trauma, and drug use. In cases wherein the fetus is 36 weeks old or more, immediate delivery is required. However, if the situation is not too serious, the situation can best be monitored without surgery, although the mother will have to remain in the hospital for possible treatment if needed.

By: James Pendergraft