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5 Common Pregnancy Complications

June 28th, 2010

All pregnancies are not smooth. a few are marred by pregnancy complications. here are 5 common problems -

1. Ectopic Pregnancy – This condition usually crops up when the fertilized egg decides to implant itself outside the uterus. Most of the times this happens in the fallopian tube. This is also known as tubal pregnancy. One of the first signs is a dull ache or pain spreading from one end of the abdomen to the other. there could also be spotting or a brown bloody discharge. Women with a history of pelvic inflammatory diseases or those who have had an ectopic pregnancy before are at risk as are chain smokers.

2. Gestational Diabetes – This is a kind of temporary diabetes that lasts only till the end of pregnancy. here the body does not produce enough insulin to deal with the increased. Frequent trips to the bathroom, tiredness and thirst are some of the common symptoms of gestational diabetes. This kind of diabetes is common in older mothers or someone with a family history of diabetes.

3. Placenta Previa – This refers to a placenta that is unusually low in the uterus. The placenta here could be partially or wholly covering the mouth of the uterus. a low lying placenta does not usually pose a problem in the first trimester and can be expected to move up as the pregnancy progresses. If this movement does not happen there could be a case of bleeding in the later stages and even at childbirth. Women carrying multiple fetuses, those who smoke or those with a history of placenta previa in early days are at a higher risk of developing this pregnancy complication. Constant monitoring of the pregnant mother and the fetus is important.

4. Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membrane – This means that the membrane that holds the baby has got torn before term that is earlier than 37 weeks. usually there is a gushing of fluid from the vagina. a poor diet or vaginal infections can lead to this rupturing. usually, total bed rest is prescribed to the woman in such a scenario and she is needs carefully monitoring. in case, the baby is too premature to be delivered, medication can be given to stop the delivery for sometime. there is a need to keep a vigil for these vaginal infections and get them treated immediately.

5. Preterm Labor – Labor which usually begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy is labelled as Preterm. Smoking, a history of induced abortions, urinary tract infections, multiple fetuses, age of the pregnant woman being above 40 or below 18 are some of the reasons for a premature labor. it consists of most of the signs of a normal labor like nausea, indigestion, cramps, pinkish or brownish discharge, and actual contractions. Immediate medical attention is required to ensure the safety of the mother and the child. Medication can be administered to delay the childbirth, if the mom-to-be and her unborn baby are in the safety zone.

Is it Normal to Experience Spotting During Pregnancy?

April 15th, 2010

If you notice light spotting during your pregnancy, get to your doctor as soon as you can, even if the bleeding stops. More than likely this is just a normal sign of pregnancy, however it could be something more serious.

Different women may need different treatment, so the first thing your doctor should do is give you an evaluation.

This could mean you need to take a few tests like a physical, an ultrasound, and blood tests. When these tests come back normal, your doctor will know for sure you and your baby are healthy and make sure there are no complications.

Go to the Emergency Room right away if your bleeding and/or experiencing any kind of pain.

Whats the difference between bleeding and spotting?

Spotting is very light bleeding, similar to what you may have at the very beginning or end of your period. It can vary in color from pink to red to brown (the color of dried blood).

What causes this spotting during pregnancy?

Sometimes, even your doctor won’t be able to tell you the reason for your prenatal spotting or bleeding.

These are the most common causes of bleeding or spotting during pregnancy:

Sex

When you have intercourse, more blood goes to your cervix, so it’s normal if you see some light spotting after sex. Some women could develop a cervical polyp (a benign growth on the cervix), and not even know about it, but this could be the reason you are seeing blood after intercourse.

Pap smear or internal exam

After a pap smear or other kinds of internal exams, you may also notice this light spotting, and for the same reason – more blood is flowing to the cervix.

Implantation bleeding

Before you even take a pregnancy test, its possible to experience bleeding, even this early in a pregnancy. Doctors aren’t for sure but they believe this is caused by the fertilized egg trying to burrow into the uterus.

Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy

If spotting is followed by abdominal pain and cramping, this may be a sign you are having a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Its important to let your doctor know about any signs of blood or spotting, because a miscarriage could be life threatening, not only for you but also the baby.

Studies show about 25% of pregnant women show some spotting during early pregnancy. About half of those end up being a miscarriage. You should get an ultrasound between your 7th and 11th week of pregnancy. And if it shows a strong heartbeat in the baby now, the chances of your pregnancy continuing normal are higher than 90%.

Infections

Sometimes your spotting may be totally unrelated to your being pregnant. Your cervix may get irritated and become inflamed because of vaginal infection (yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis) or even an STD. An inflamed cervix is known to cause spotting after sex and certain tests.

Placental problems or premature labor

Bleeding or spotting in the 2nd or 3rd trimester could be a sign of a more serious problem like placenta previa, placental abruption (placenta separates from uterus), late miscarriage (week 13 to mid-pregnancy), or premature labor.

Even if you see bleeding in the 1st trimester, this could be a sign of some other problem with the placenta. In studies, there has been a bigger chance of later complications in women who experience early pregnancy spotting, such as early delivery or placental abruption, especially if there is a lot of bleeding.

Nearing labor

When you get close to giving birth your cervix dilates and you may pass your mucus plug. It may be colored red from blood, this is why they call it the “bloody show.”

Anytime past 37 weeks you may pass your mucus plug, and this is normal. But if it looks red like there’s a lot of blood, make sure you call your doctor.

Note: If your blood is Rh-negative, you’ll need a shot of Rh immune globulin if you have vaginal spotting or bleeding unless you know for sure that the baby’s father’s blood is also Rh-negative or it’s clear that the bleeding is not coming from the uterus.

Is it Normal to Experience Spotting During Pregnancy?

Ectopic Pregnancy – An Ectopic Pregnancy May Prove Fatal!

April 14th, 2010

Pregnancy by itself can be a very stressful time for the mother-to-be. Add to that, all the complications that can occur during the gestation period, and it all becomes too much to handle! One complex situation that can arise is an “ectopic pregnancy” or a “tubal pregnancy”, which if left untreated for long, can prove to be a life-and-death situation for the mother with child.

Neither of the couple is responsible for the ectopic pregnancy; it is just a mysterious quirk of nature. The pregnancy has to be terminated and this news brings grief to all concerned – the parents-to-be, other family members, relatives and friends. All the same, it is important that proper care is taken to ensure that the woman continues to remain healthy and fertile.

But before we go into the details of uncommon symptoms to watch out for, let us define an ectopic pregnancy, at least for the benefit of first-time pregnant women. When the egg is fertilized, it has to naturally implant itself in the uterus. In this case, it gets implanted either in the cervix or ovaries or fallopian tubes. The commonest ‘outside place’ for the fertilized ovum is the fallopian tubes; hence, another name for ectopic pregnancy is “tubal pregnancy”.

This unusual condition can herald problems even before the woman is aware that she is carrying a child. For instance, she can experience such intense abdominal pain that she has to rush to a doctor for treatment. Other signs she can present with are low back pain, dizziness, and breakthrough bleeding or spotting. A sample of her urine is therefore taken to test for different hormones and chemicals present in the body. This is sufficient to reveal a positive pregnancy.

Now that the doctors know that the woman is pregnant, they have to look for the cause of her present symptoms. A pelvic exam is in the offing. An ultrasound can only be attempted after one and a half months or after six weeks. Of course, once the doctors suspect an ectopic pregnancy, the patient is put under close surveillance for they are well aware that the mother-to-be could lose her life if she is not careful, or possibly lose her fertility. A live birth is simply not possible! It is therefore imperative that close family members and friends understand the mother’s agony and treat her with utmost respect.

As far as treatments go, the advancement of medical science has made ectopic pregnancy easier to deal with. Depending on how far advanced the pregnancy is, a suitable method of treatment is chosen.

If the problem is detected early, an injection is given to dissolve the fertilized egg; it is then reabsorbed into the woman’s body. The reproductive organs are neither harmed nor scarred, ensuring that fertility is left intact. Surgery may be warranted for a long-term problem. Laser treatment is popular today as it can lessen the damage caused to the pregnant woman’s body. Even after treatment, the patient’s hormone levels are monitored for at least 3 months to ensure that no signs of an ectopic pregnancy have remained.

Ectopic Pregnancy – An Ectopic Pregnancy May Prove Fatal!

What Are the Risks of Female Sterilization (or Having Your Tubes …

April 11th, 2010

Many women decide that they do not want to have any children or that they are finished having children at a certain point. This is when they usually make the decision to pursue female sterilization, otherwise known as having their tubes tied. While most people believe that this is a permanent fix, did you know that a tubal ligation is not necessarily a 100% guarantee that a woman will not get pregnant?

More than 15 million women in the United States in the age group of 15 to 44 are considered to be surgically sterile (this includes women whose partner has a vasectomy too). 26% of this same age group have had tubal ligation. This is usually a highly effective method of preventing pregnancy. It is also very convenient and eliminates the need for the woman to use additional contraceptive methods. Most doctors would tell you that the effect of having your tubes tied is permanent.

The failure rate of tubal ligation is less than 1% within the first year following the surgery. However, it might surprise you to know that 10 years after having female sterilization performed, there is still an overall pregnancy rate of 1.8%. Your chances of getting pregnant are actually greater 10 years after the surgery than in the first year. For women who are 33 years old or younger, they are more than three times likely to get pregnant than women above that age. This is called unintended pregnancy and can occur after getting your tubes tied.

Getting pregnant after a tubal ligation is cause for concern. The reason why it is a concern that a woman gets pregnant after having her tubes tied is because the chance of it being a tubal, or ectopic, pregnancy can be as high as 50%. Obviously, this can put the mother’s life in danger. The best way to handle this is using a drug to remove the embryo from where it is in the fallopian tubes (the usual spot for an ectopic pregnancy though not the only one).

If the pregnancy cannot be removed in this manner or the woman was too late in getting to her doctor, then surgery will be needed and she will lose the fallopian tube where the embryo is stuck/implanted. The best thing to do if you start having symptoms of being pregnant after having your tubes tied is to get to your doctor as quickly as you can.

While there can be arguments on both sides when it comes to female sterilization, there is some evidence that getting your tubes tied may help protect against getting ovarian cancer. Researchers do not know why there is such a protective effect after female sterilization.

Beyond the risks of getting pregnant and that pregnancy being ectopic, there are risks as with any surgery such as infection and bleeding. You would be better informed to also learn about the possibility of post tubal ligation syndrome and the potential for guilt and remorse following the surgery as well.

It is important that a woman really think through her options before getting her tubes tied. If she has any inclination to ever get pregnant again, the simplest method is to wait before getting female sterilization and use some other type of birth control.

What Are the Risks of Female Sterilization (or Having Your Tubes …

Spotting During Early Pregnancy – Is it Normal?

April 10th, 2010

The first thing that you have to know is the difference between bleeding and spotting during early pregnancy. Simply put, spotting is just very light bleeding, this is the same with what you may have at the very beginning or end of your period. The color may vary from pink to red brown. If the spotting is accompanied by bright red blood, fever, chills and cramping, contact your doctor at the soonest time possible.

There is no definite or single cause of spotting and it’s often confusing for pregnant women to tell if this should be a cause for panic. In general though, spotting is normal during pregnancy but being aware of what’s normal or not is crucial.

What are the causes of spotting during early pregnancy?

1.) Implantation Bleeding- this takes place when an egg has been fertilized and implants into the uterus’ lining and since the lining of the uterus is made up of blood, there can be a little blood expelled. This is usually not a flowing type of blood.

2.) Sex- yes even sex can cause you to experience spotting. Blood flow tends to increase in your cervix during pregnancy so it’s not uncommon to notice a little blood after intercourse. Go see your doctor to make sure you do not have a cervical polyp, this is a benign growth that can cause bleeding or spotting after sex.

3.) Infections- there are times that spotting occurs due to conditions not related to pregnancy. Yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection like trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and herpes can cause the cervix to become irritated or inflamed. In this case, you are particularly prone to spotting after sexual intercourse or pap smear.

4.) Miscarriage or Ectopic Pregnancy- if your spotting is in conjunction with abdominal pain or cramping, this can be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (the embryo implants outside the uterus). 25% of pregnant women experience bleeding or spotting during early pregnancy and about half of them miscarry. If you have an ultrasound though that shows a normal heartbeat of your baby around seven to eleven weeks, you have more than 90% chance to continue with the pregnancy.

Spotting During Early Pregnancy – Is it Normal?

Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy: What's Normal, What's Not

April 8th, 2010

Q. What are some causes of normal vaginal bleeding during pregnancy?

A. There are a few normal reasons for vaginal bleeding.

* Implantation of your fertilized egg causes slight spotting in a minority of woman. If it happens, it will be near the time you would normally have your period. This bleeding should be very light spotting and last for a day or two. [Spotting: very light bleeding similar to the end of your period.]

* Cervix is more prone to bleed as blood flow is naturally increased during pregnancy. That said, anything that may touch or irritate the cervix can cause bleeding. Sex, gynecological exam, pap smear, physical work, exercise. This bleeding should only spot and last for a day or two.

* If you notice spotting after exercising or working, ease off a bit and see if the spotting stops. Keep a log of your workouts and spotting frequency. This way you know how much you can work or exercise.

* If you are spotting for more than two days, or see an increase in the amount, or do not see a cause of the bleeding, contact your health provider.

* At around 37 weeks, a mucous plug may come out tinged with blood. This is an early sign of labor.

Q. What are some causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding during pregnancy?

A. As the cervix is more engorged, STD’s or any type of vaginal infection may cause bleeding. Infections irritate the cervix causing bleeding or spotting for more than a day or two. Bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, Chlamydia, Herpes are some common infections that may cause prolonged bleeding. See your health provider. They will do a pap or wet mount slide prep to see if an infection is present and treat accordingly.

Spontaneous abortion is a cause of abnormal bleeding. Of the 10% to 25% of women who report spotting during the 1st trimester, 20% to 50% of those will spontaneously abort. If you cannot pin-point a cause of the spotting or it progresses, see your health provider.

Pain with spotting may indicate an ectopic pregnancy or early signs of miscarriage. Pain and spotting is not normal. An ectopic pregnancy must be terminated for the woman’s safety. Ultrasound can confirm or rule out an ectopic pregnancy. This occurs in the first trimester and occurs in 1.5% of all pregnancies.

Abnormal bleeding in pregnancy may indicate placenta problems (eg. placenta previa during any trimester which presents as painless bleeding) or premature labor. Again, if bleeding is more than spotting, increasing in amount or duration, call your health provider.

Q. What is too much bleeding?

A. Duration or quantity are the keys here. If spotting is happening for more than two days and you cannot pin-point a normal cause, contact your health provider.

If bleeding is increasing beyond spotting, it is necessary to contact your health provider. There does not have to be pain associated. If painless bleeding is present, do contact your provider.

If you think it is too much bleeding and you need reassurance, call. Relaxation is very important for a healthy mom and baby. One cannot relax when unsure. Don’t be tough. Call. Your health provider is there to assist and educate you during this amazing time.

GOOD NEWS! ;) An ultrasound that shows a heartbeat between 7 – 11 weeks, the chances of continuing the pregnancy are better than 90%

Disclaimer: This is information only. Seek the advice of a trained healthcare professional. Bleeding during pregnancy can be life-threatening to the woman and/or the baby. Do not delay professional assistance.

Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy: What's Normal, What's Not

Cramping During Late Pregnancy – Four Possible Reasons Why …

April 6th, 2010

Bleeding and cramping during pregnancy do not always indicate severe pregnancy issues even though no woman wants to see or feel them. Although keeping your health care provider in the loop at all time is highly advisable, it is also recommended that you endeavor to thoroughly understand what the causes of these signs and symptoms may be before actually experiencing them. This article will reveal four of the most common causes of cramping during late pregnancy.

1. Ectopic pregnancy may be the reason why you are cramping and bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy is characterized by the development of the embryo in the fallopian tube instead of the uterine wall. Ectopic pregnancy is a life threatening condition and should not be treated lightly. Its symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following; pain on one side of the abdomen, and cramping in the pelvis, and so on.

2. Having a miscarriage may also cause you to cramp during late pregnancy; this type of cramping is often accompanied by bleeding. It may also be possible for you to have a miscarriage without cramping therefore the importance of knowing what the signs of a miscarriage are cannot be overstated; these signs include, but are not limited to; bleeding from the vagina, cramping around the pelvis, and tissue that proceeds from the vagina.

3. If you experience your cramps after the first trimester, it may be indicative of placenta problems. These include; placental abruption (which is when the placenta separates from the uterine wall), Pre-term labor (this is characterized by any labor beginning before the 37th week of pregnancy), and Placenta previa (which occurs when the uterus covers your cervix partially or completely due to the placenta being positioned too low).

4. The process whereby the embryo embeds itself into the wall of the uterus is referred to as implantation. It is normal and common for this process to cause cramping and bleeding. The APA (that is, the American Pregnancy Association) says that bleeding due to implantation may occur within the first 6 – 12 days after fertilization of the egg – which is a process commonly referred to as conception. This bleeding, which may last for a couple of hours or up to two days, appears as a light spotting. Ironically some women may not experience cramping caused by this condition at all or may only experience very light cramping.

Note that you must endeavor to keep your health care provider in the loop (that is, knowledgeable) concerning your experiences during pregnancy especially as it pertains to cramping or bleeding in particular. Avoid inserting anything into the vagina while bleeding including tampons. If possible, try to abstain from sexual intercourse until you have ascertained the cause of your cramping during late pregnancy. You could monitor the frequency and volume of bleeding by wearing a pad, that way you will be able to let your health care provider know what your observations are.

Cramping During Late Pregnancy – Four Possible Reasons Why …

Early symptoms of Tubal pregnancy

April 2nd, 2010

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting change in women’s life and its also the most wonderful time in couple’s life.

However, during pregnancy we need to take due care and keep a check on oneself, so that no complications that can occur. Woman’s body when she is pregnant undergoes daily changes, it may at times cause stress and with pregnancy there are some life threatening conditions, some possible risks and even some abnormalities which may at times happen to a pregnant woman. Being aware of the risk factors, early signs, symptoms etc can be very helpful to minimize the risk, alleviate the problems, avoid stress etc.

One such condition is of Tubal Pregnancy which is also known as ectopic pregnancy.

As we all know, the baby grows in mother’s womb and that is uterus. as the fertilized egg travels to uterus and then implants itself in its walls and then the baby starts growing and developing in uterus for next some thirty eight weeks or so.

But in case of Tubal or Ectopic pregnancy, or the pregnancy which occurs anywhere outside the uterus. In this the fertilized egg generally implants itself not in uterus, but in fallopian tube, abdominal cavity, ovary etc. But most of the cases of Tubal pregnancy that is ninety five percent of the tubal pregnancy have been found in the fallopian tube. This kind of abnormality and risk happens when egg takes some long time to travel to uterus, where in it implants in fallopian tube only, also due to some structural defects which prevent egg from reaching uterus or some sought of scar tissue.

Dangers could be unfolds, and could be life threatening, but timely detection of tubal pregnancy helps to avoid the risks and further harm to women’s body. Therefore it’s better to know about the Early Symptoms of Tubal Pregnancy. Tubal pregnancy when goes undetected, develops, in the fallopian tube, and eventually rupturing the fallopian tube, which causes massive bleeding and thus endangering the life of that woman. But with the knowledge of early signs of tubal pregnancy and with proper and regular check up, ninety percentage of tubal pregnancies are detected early in stage and can be removed and minimizing the risk and saving the woman.

Early signs of Tubal Pregnancy:

1. Pain in abdominal2. Pain in pelvic area3. Signs of early pregnancy4. Vaginal bleeding that’s not due to menstruation5. Dizziness6. Nausea7. Fainting8. Low Blood Pressure when bleeding is severe

Do contact your doctor if you experience any of these:

1. Early signs of pregnancy,2. Developing any abnormal vaginal bleeding: it could be while you are pregnant or even in between your periods3. Fainting experience- during pregnancy or during your menstruation cycle4. Dizziness5. Also one important sign is pain in shoulder- the left one especially when you are pregnant6. If you suspect any problem or infection while pregnancy, infection in urinary tract etc.

Though rare, a Tubal Pregnancy Symptoms is a life endangering condition that women preparing and planning for pregnancy must be aware of, specially if they might be at danger from fallopian tube abnormalities, sexually transmitted diseases and a past occurring of ectopic pregnancy. Tubal pregnancy can simply be detected in time, as not only for protection of the woman’s life, but for also preserving her fertility. In spite of the emotional and physical trauma, the greater number of women goes on to have a pregnancy which is normal within time pan of a year also after recovering from an tubal/ectopic one. Pregnancy is a phenomenal time in a woman’s life and through knowledge and awareness, along with modern treatments, the baby which is a miracle and life’s most precious gift can be preserved.

Early symptoms of Tubal pregnancy

Ectopic Being pregnant – Indicators, Causes And Treatments …

March 26th, 2010

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Ectopic is derived from Greek term “ektopos,” meaning “out of place”. Ectopic being pregnant was initial found inside the 11th century and by the end of 18th century, it took a lethal kind. these days, with breakthroughs within the field of medicine, death due to ectopic being pregnant is rare.

What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Ectopic being pregnant is not a normal being pregnant, the sperms achieve the egg inside fallopian tube, wherever fertilization happens, and then, this fertilized egg travels on to accomplish the womb and implants itself there to complete the gestation time period. The fertilized egg fails to reach the uterus for the gestation time period and instead implant itself anywhere outside uterus, like cervix, fallopian tube, abdominal cavity. In general, the fertilized egg implants itself inside fallopian tube.

The embryo implants itself outside the uterus, it begins drawing blood for its growth, rupturing the organs and creating hazard to existence. As only the uterus is created to maintain the fetus, so ectopic being pregnant doesn’t last for more than 3 months. It always outcomes inside the death with the embryo.

* there are signs and symptoms that assist in deducing the ectopic pregnancy. even though it is also not required that all these pregnancy indicators will be observed.

* lower abdominal pain, which boosts about a period of time, accompanied by reduce back pain

* Shoulder discomfort, which occurs, because the fetus draws blood for its growth, hampers the functions of diaphragm.

* Vaginal bleeding, that is different from standard bleeding, can be heavier or lighter and the blood is dark colored.

* Nausea and vomiting

* Weakness and pale skin, followed by fainting induced due to the fact of bleeding

* Reduced blood pressure when the bleeding is heavy.

* A number of big factors trigger ectopic pregnancies. some of them are listed beneath:

* Previously, if the woman had undergone any fallopian tube surgery

* Occurrence of a number of abortions

* Intake of medicine for stimulating the procedure of ovulation

* Increase of age; enhance in age results from the loss of tubular mobility, because of lack of myoelectrical activity

* Infections in fallopian tube and womb.

* when the ectopic pregnancy is at initial stage then it can be destroyed by a drug methotrexate, which has very minimum side results.

* At advanced degree, it may only be dealt with with the aid of surgery, through which the pregnancy will probably be removed.

After-effects Of Ectopic Being pregnant

* As a result of doses of methotrexate, there is going to be a little nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

* when the surgery is actually performed at advanced stage, there might be a lower inside the woman’s fertility

You should realize that your pregnancy is normal or not. You may know the early indicators when you monitor your being pregnant week by week. Should you find something unusual, see a health practitioner at once.

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Ectopic Being pregnant – Indicators, Causes And Treatments …

What are the early signs of a ectopic pregnancy?

March 13th, 2010

I just found out that I’m pregnant, I have not had my 1st ultrasound yet. I think I’m about 5 weeks pregnant.this is my first pregnancy. I wanted to hear some of your experiences (mostly early signs). Thanks so much!

What are the early signs of a ectopic pregnancy?