John Christian B.

Sagudo 8-Netwon

Health 8 October 8, 2019

Diseases 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 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

Diseases After Pregnancy:

Uterine Infections

Normally, the placenta separates from the uterine wall during delivery and is expelled from the vagina
within 20 minutes after giving birth. If pieces of the placenta remain in the uterus (called retained
placenta), it can lead to infection.

An infection of the amniotic sac (the bag of water surrounding the baby) during labor may lead to a
postpartum infection of the uterus. Flu-like symptoms accompanied by a high fever; rapid heart rate;
abnormally high white blood-cell count; swollen, tender uterus; and foul-smelling discharge usually
indicate uterine infection. When the tissues surrounding the uterus also are infected, pain and fever can
be severe. Uterine infections usually can be treated with a course of intravenous antibiotics, which are
used to prevent potentially dangerous complications such as toxic shock

Kidney Infections

A kidney infection, which can occur if bacteria spread from the bladder, includes symptoms such as
urinary frequency, a strong urge to urinate, high fever, a generally sick feeling, pain in the lower back or
side, constipation and painful urination. Once a kidney infection is diagnosed, a course of antibiotics --
either intravenous or oral -- usually is prescribed. Patients are instructed to drink plenty of fluids, and are
asked to give urine samples at the beginning and end of treatment to screen for any remaining bacteria.
Be sure to report any unexplained fever that develops in the early weeks after delivery to your doctor.
This could be a sign of postpartum infection.

Perineal Pain

For women who delivered vaginally, pain in the perineum (the area between the rectum and vagina) is
quite common. These tender tissues may have stretched or torn during delivery, causing them to feel
swollen, bruised and sore. This discomfort may also be aggravated by an episiotomy, an incision
sometimes made in the perineum during delivery to keep the vagina from ripping.

Vaginal Discharge (Lochia)

A bloody, initially heavy, discharge from the vagina is common for the first several weeks after delivery.
This discharge, which consists of blood and the remains of the placenta, is called lochia. For the first few
days after childbirth, the discharge is bright red and may include clots of blood. The flow will eventually
lighten, as will its color -- gradually turning pink, then white or yellow before stopping altogether. The
bright red discharge may return at times, such as after breast-feeding or too-vigorous exercise, but its
volume generally slows considerably in about 10 to 14 days.

Swollen (Engorged) Breasts

When your milk comes in (about two to four days after delivery), your breasts may become very large,
hard and sore. This engorgement will ease once you establish a breast-feeding pattern or, if you're not
breast-feeding, once your body stops producing milk (usually less than three days if your baby is not
suckling).

You can ease the discomfort of engorgement by wearing a well-fitting support bra and applying ice packs
to your breasts. If you are breast-feeding, you can relieve some of the pressure by expressing -- either
manually or with a breast pump -- small amounts of milk. If you are not nursing your baby, avoid hot
showers and expressing any milk. This will only confuse your body into producing more milk to
compensate. Oral pain relievers can help you endure the discomfort until your milk supply dries up.

Mastitis

Mastitis, or breast infection, usually is indicated by a tender, reddened area on the breast (the entire
breast may also be involved). Breast infections -- which can be brought on by bacteria and lowered
defenses resulting from stress, exhaustion or cracked nipples -- may be accompanied by fever, chills,
fatigue, headache and/or nausea and vomiting. Any of these symptoms should be reported to your
doctor, who may recommend treatment with antibiotics.

If you have a breast infection, you may continue to nurse from both breasts. Mastitis does not affect your
breast milk. It's also important to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Warm, wet towels applied to the
affected area may help alleviate discomfort; and cold compresses applied after nursing can help reduce
congestion in your breast. You may also want to avoid constricting bras and clothing.
Clogged Ducts

Clogged milk ducts, which can cause redness, pain, swelling or a lump in the breast, can mimic mastitis.
However, unlike breast infections, caked, clogged or plugged ducts are not accompanied by flu-like
symptoms.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are the striations that appear on many women's breasts, thighs, hips and abdomen during
pregnancy. These reddish marks, which are caused by hormonal changes and stretching skin, may
become more noticeable after delivery. Although they may never disappear completely, they will fade
considerably over time. While many women purchase special creams, lotions and oils to help prevent and
erase stretch marks, there is little evidence that they work. About half of women develop stretch marks
during pregnancy, regardless of whether or not they have used any topical ointments.

Hemorrhoids and Constipation

Hemorrhoids and constipation, which can be aggravated by the pressure of the enlarged uterus and
fetus on the lower abdomen veins, are both quite common in pregnant and postpartum women. Over-
the-counter ointments and sprays, accompanied by a diet rich in fiber and fluids, usually can help reduce
constipation and the swelling of hemorrhoids. Warm sitz baths followed by a cold compress also can
offer some relief. An inflatable, donut-shaped pillow, which can be purchased at any drugstore, can help
ease the discomfort caused by sitting.

Urinary and Fecal Incontinence

Urinary incontinence and, less commonly, fecal incontinence, plague some new mothers shortly after
giving birth.

The inadvertent passage of urine, especially when laughing, coughing or straining, usually is caused by
the stretching of the base of the bladder during pregnancy and delivery. Usually, time is all that's needed
to return your muscle tone to normal. You may hasten the process by doing Kegel exercises.

In the meantime, wear protective undergarments or sanitary napkins. If the problem persists, talk to your
doctor, who may be able to prescribe medication to relieve the problem. If you experience pain or
burning, or have an uncomfortable urgency to urinate, tell your doctor. This could be a sign of a bladder
infection.

Lack of bowel control often is attributed to the stretching and weakening of the pelvic muscles, tearing of
the perineum, and nerve injury to the sphincter muscles around the anus during delivery. It is most
common in women who have had a prolonged labor followed by a vaginal birth.

Although fecal incontinence usually disappears after several months, talk with your doctor about
exercises to help you regain control of your bowels. Fecal incontinence that does not resolve itself over
time may require surgical repair.