What are the most common pregnancy and labor complications

What are the most common
pregnancy and labor
complications?
The normal symptoms of pregnancy and the symptoms of
complications are sometimes hard to distinguish. Although many
problems are mild and don’t progress, you should always contact
your doctor if you have any concerns during your pregnancy. Most
pregnancy complications are manageable with prompt treatment.
These are the most common complications women experience
during pregnancy:
High blood pressure
High blood pressure occurs when the arteries that carry blood from
the heart to the organs and the placenta are narrowed. High blood
pressure is associated with a higher risk of many other
complications, like preeclampsia. It puts you at a higher risk of
having a baby well before your due date. This is called preterm
delivery. It also increases your risk of having a baby who’s small. It’s
important to control your blood pressure with medications during
pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs when your body cannot process sugars
effectively. This leads to higher-than-normal levels of sugar in the
bloodstream. Some women will need to modify their meal plans to


help control blood sugar levels. Others may need to take insulin to
keep their blood sugar levels in control. Gestational diabetes usually
resolves after pregnancy.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is also called toxemia. It occurs after the first 20 weeks
of a pregnancy and causes high blood pressure and possible

problems with your kidneys. The recommended treatment for
preeclampsia is delivery of the baby and placenta to prevent the
disease from progressing. Your doctor will discuss the risks and
benefits regarding timing of delivery. Your doctor may induce labor if
you’re 37 to 40 weeks pregnant.
If it’s too early to deliver your baby, your doctor will need to monitor
you and your baby closely. They may prescribe medications to help
lower your blood pressure and help the baby mature if you are not
full term. You may be hospitalized for monitoring and care.
Preterm labor
Preterm labor occurs when you go into labor before week 37 of your
pregnancy. This is before your baby’s organs, such as the lungs and
the brain, have finished developing. Certain medications can stop
labor. Doctors usually recommend bed rest to keep the baby from
being born too early.
Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy during the first 20 weeks.
According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), up to 20
percent of pregnancies among healthy women will end in a
miscarriage. Sometimes, this happens before a woman is even


aware of the pregnancy. In most cases, miscarriage isn’t
preventable.
A loss of pregnancy after week 20 of pregnancy is called a stillbirth.
Many times the cause for this isn’t known. Issues that have been
found to cause stillbirths include:
•

problems with the placenta

•

chronic health issues in the mother

•

infections

Anemia
Anemia means that you have a lower-than-normal number of red
blood cells in your body. If you have anemia, you may feel more
tired and weak than usual, and you may have pale skin. Anemia has
many causes and your doctor will need to treat the underlying cause
of the anemia. Taking supplements of iron and folic acid during your
pregnancy may help since most cases of anemia occur due to a
deficiency.
Infections
A variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections may complicate
a pregnancy. Infections can be harmful to both the mother and the
baby, so it’s important to seek treatment right away. Some
examples include:
•

a urinary tract infection

•

bacterial vaginosis

•

cytomegalovirus

•

group B Streptococcus

•

hepatitis B virus, which can spread to your baby during birth

•

influenza

•

toxoplasmosis, which is an infection caused by a parasite found
in cat feces, soil, and raw meat

•

a yeast infection

•

Zika virus

You can prevent some infections by washing your hands often. You
can prevent others, such as hepatitis B virus and influenza, by
vaccination.

Labor complications
Complications can also occur during labor and delivery. If there’s a
problem during labor, your doctor may need to change the way they
proceed with the delivery.
Breech position
A baby is considered in a breech position when their feet are
positioned to be delivered before their head. According to the APA,
this occurs in about 4 percent of full-term births.
Most babies born in this position are healthy. You doctor will
recommend against a vaginal birth if your baby shows signs of
distress or is too big to pass safely through the birth canal. If your


doctor finds out that your baby is in the breech position a few weeks
before delivery, they might try to change the position of the baby. If
the baby is still in the breech position when labor starts, most
doctors recommend a cesarean delivery.
Placenta previa
Placenta previa means that the placenta is covering the cervix.
Doctors will usually perform a cesarean delivery if this is the case.
Low birth weight
Low birth weight usually occurs due to poor nutrition or the use of
cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs during pregnancy. Babies who are born
at a low birth weight have a higher risk of:
•

respiratory infections

•

learning disabilities

•

heart infections

•

blindness

The baby may need to stay in the hospital for a few months after
birth