Complication during pregnancy is more common than most people

think. Even for those who are healthy and have had children

before, early pregnancy complications could arise, at no fault

to anyone. This article explains some of these complications

and what to watch out for.

Early pregnancy complications

When you find you are pregnant, the first thing you must do is

go see your obstetrician/gynecologist. They will perform an

ultrasound to make sure that your pregnancy is advancing as it

should. Regular visits to your OBGYN will prevent early

pregnancy complications or at the very least, help identify

them at an early stage. The two most common pregnancy

complications are:

Ectopic pregnancies

Ectopic pregnancies are one of the most common early

complications. Ectopic pregnancies refer to pregnancies in

which the egg is fertilized outside the womb so the fetus

begins to develop in the ovary or in the fallopian tube. This

can be very dangerous not only for the fetus but also for the

mother. If surgery is not performed, the tubes could burst and

result in internal bleeding and in some cases, even death.

Miscarriages

Complication during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, another

common early pregnancy complication. Sometimes the cervix can

open causing heavy bleeding with intense cramping pains. Other

times, the baby can die in early pregnancy. When this happens,

the mother can either wait for a miscarriage to occur or have a

D&C. There are many different complications during pregnancy

that can cause this to happen: blood clotting, infection,

structural problems, or lifestyle choices such as smoking,

alcohol or high caffeine intake.

High risk pregnancy

A pregnancy that is categorized as high risk is one which has a

higher chance of complications arising. You may be considered

high risk if you are carrying multiple babies, have a long term

illness such as diabetes, or are over the age of 35. If you are

high risk, you may be asked to visit your obstetrician more

regularly as the pregnancy will need to be more closely

monitored than usual.

Pregnancy over 35

It is not uncommon for a woman’s fertility to be affected over

the age of 30 and once you are pregnant, you must be aware that

it is more common for complications to arise. The chances of

your child bearing birth defects are significantly higher than

those women who are under 30 and miscarriages also become more

common in the first trimester of older pregnant women. For

those over 35, there will also be an increased risk of diabetes

and high blood pressure. Don’t worry, as with today’s

technology, almost all these complications can be treated as

long as they are spotted early on.

Multiple pregnancies

A multiple pregnancy is one in which there are two or more

fetuses. It’s considered to be high risk because with more than

one fetus, it has a higher chance of developing complications.

Almost half of twins that are born are premature with extremely

low birth weights and underdeveloped organs. This makes them

very vulnerable and it is not uncommon for only one twin to

survive. Twins who share a placenta could result in high

amounts of amniotic fluids.

It is important to keep this information regarding early

pregnancy complications in mind during pregnancy and to

regularly consult your doctor.