Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy Disorders to Watch Out for

Complaints or pregnancy disorders experienced by pregnant women during pregnancy are normal, but they can lead to severe problems and complications if left unchecked. Please note that pregnancy disorders are health problems that involve the mother, baby, or both during pregnancy.

Generally, the emergence of pregnancy disorders is caused by hormonal changes in the mother’s body and the baby’s development in the womb. Some pregnancy disorders are considered normal, such as nausea, back pain, and constipation. But there are also pregnancy disorders that should be wary of. To avoid complications during pregnancy, you need to be aware of the following signs and disorders of pregnancy.

1. Hyperemesis Gravidarum

One of the first-trimester pregnancy disorders to watch out for is hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition causes pregnant women to experience nausea and vomiting that is unnatural and uncontrollable. Nausea and vomiting that occur frequently and continuously cause pregnant women to lose their appetite and can’t even eat and drink at all.

If not treated, pregnant women and fetuses are at risk of dehydration due to nutritional deficiencies. Furthermore, pregnant women cannot carry out their usual activities because they are too weak. The fetus in the womb also cannot grow properly and perfectly. Therefore, pregnant women need medical care if they have hyperemesis gravidarum.

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2. Anemia

The following signs and symptoms of pregnancy disorders are anemia in pregnant women. Anemia is a condition in which the body lacks iron and red blood cells. In comparison, red blood cells function to distribute oxygen throughout the body. If this happens, the oxygen supply will be reduced, causing a threat to the fetus. Pregnant women also experience symptoms of fatigue.

Anemia generally occurs due to increased blood volume during pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women need to be prescribed blood-boosting supplements to minimize the occurrence of anemia. Pregnant women can do laboratory tests to determine Hb levels in the blood and consult a doctor to get treatment if they have anemia.

3. Urinary Tract Infection

Next, pregnancy disorders to watch out for are urinary tract infections or UTIs. Pregnant women are prone to UTIs because of the increased frequency of urination during pregnancy. UTIs can cause several conditions such as premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, and infection in the fetus.

Some of the symptoms of a UTI include fever, fatigue, pain when urinating, nausea, back pain, frequent urination, and reddish urine. However, some pregnant women often do not feel any symptoms during UTI. This is what needs to be watched out for. Therefore, you need to do a urine test early in pregnancy to determine how significant the risk of UTI during pregnancy is.

4. Placenta Previa

Placenta previa is also one of the most common signs and disorders of pregnancy. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta lies in the lower part of the uterus until it wholly or partially covers the cervix. Placenta previa can cause heavy bleeding in pregnant women.

To overcome this condition, pregnant women need total bed rest and receive monitoring from medical personnel. If a pregnant woman experiences total placenta previa until delivery arrives, she will perform a cesarean section.

5. Bleeding

Some pregnant women experience light bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy. This is normal and does not require medical treatment. However, pregnant women need to be vigilant if they experience bleeding during pregnancy with the following symptoms:

• Bleeding in the early trimester is accompanied by cramping, severe abdominal pain, and fainting. This condition can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.
• Heavy bleeding with pain in the second trimester of pregnancy. You should go to the hospital immediately if you experience this because it is one of the signs of a miscarriage.
• Heavy bleeding in the third trimester with severe abdominal pain. This condition can be a symptom of the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall.
• Bleeding with dilatation at less than 37 weeks gestation. This is a sign of premature labor.

6. Infection

Although minor infections such as coughs and colds are safe for pregnant women, several types of infections are dangerous and even threaten the life of the mother and fetus. Some pregnancy infections to watch out for include:

• Toxoplasmosis: a parasitic infection in infants transmitted by the mother due to contact with pets. This infection causes congenital disabilities with visual and hearing impairments and other disorders.
•  Bacterial Vaginosis: vaginal infection that causes premature birth and low birth weight.
• Group B Steps: bacterial infection of the birth canal that causes infant death if it passes through it.
• Cytomegalovirus: a parasitic infection transmitted from mother to baby and causes visual impairment in infants.

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7. Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition of an increase in blood sugar in pregnant women. Generally, gestational diabetes is experienced by pregnant women who have a family history of diabetes.

Because there are no symptoms, pregnant women need to check blood sugar in the second trimester of pregnancy. If blood sugar is high, a glucose tolerance test will be performed at 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes needs to be treated because it can cause excess weight in the baby and pregnancy complications.

Read more: Effects Of Obesity On Fertility

8. Preeclampsia

The next pregnancy disorder to watch out for is preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by symptoms of high blood pressure and positive protein in the urine. Preeclampsia cannot be underestimated because it can cause blood vessels to narrow and interfere with the performance of the kidneys, liver, and brain.

Those are some pregnancy disorders that cannot be underestimated and need to be watched out for by pregnant women. Pregnancy disorders need to be detected fast so that they can be treated properly and immediately so that they do not continue to become complications. For this reason, it is recommended for pregnant women to have regular pregnancy checks according to schedule.