3 Health Problems That Can Develop During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, your body goes through a number of changes while growing another human being. Pregnancy can take a toll on your body and leave you feeling exhausted, but it also puts you at risk of developing a number of pregnancy-related health complaints. These health complaints are often resolved once you've given birth, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be taken seriously, as some can potentially impact the health of your baby. Here's an overview of three health problems that can develop during pregnancy:
Iron Deficiency Anaemia
When you're growing a person, you need a larger than normal quantity of vitamins and minerals, and it's not uncommon for your stores of certain nutrients to become depleted. Iron plays a vital role in the transportation of oxygen around the body via the bloodstream. Iron deficiency anaemia is a relatively common health problem during pregnancy and can cause you to feel lethargic. It can also leave you feeling faint and experiencing shortness of breath. Iron deficiency anaemia can be diagnosed with a blood test and treated with iron tablets or an intravenous infusion of iron.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, but the condition resolves at the end of your pregnancy. Any woman can develop gestational diabetes, but your risk increases if you've developed the condition in a previous pregnancy or if you're overweight. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could grow larger than normal, which can compromise the safety of a vaginal delivery. Gestational diabetes can often be controlled by working with a dietician to make changes to your diet and getting some gentle exercise each day. If you're struggling to keep your blood sugar levels in check with dietary changes alone, medication, such as insulin, can be prescribed.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia tends to develop in the second half of pregnancy and causes very high blood pressure, which can be fatal if it's left untreated. You don't need to have a history of high blood pressure to develop preeclampsia, but it does increase your risk. Being overweight or being pregnant with multiples also increases your risk of developing preeclampsia. Symptoms of this condition include pain just below the ribs, visual disturbances and headaches. Women with preeclampsia need to be monitored closely and may be advised to deliver their baby early to negate the risk.
Regular check-ups during pregnancy should allow any health problems to be identified and treated promptly, but if you do have any concerns about your health during your pregnancy, contact your midwife or the women's health clinic at your medical centre.
Contact your doctor for more information about women's healthcare.