Complications of Pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy

• DEFINITION: Most ectopic pregnancies implant in one of the fallopian tubes

• Ectopic = “in the wrong place”• May cause internal bleeding• Pregnancy cannot survive

and cannot be moved to

the uterus• Fallopian tube may burst

Rh Factor• DEFINITION: occurs if a woman

has a Rh-negative blood and her baby has Rh-positive blood.– To be considered when the mother is

Rh- and father is Rh+– The mother’s blood will create

antibodies against the Rh factor, thus treating an Rh positive baby like an intruder in her body.

– These antibodies will then attack an Rh positive baby's blood, causing it to break down the red blood cells of the baby and anemia will develop. In severe cases this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and even death.

Toxemia/Pre-Eclampsia

• DEFINITION: characterized by pregnant mom’s sudden weight gain and high blood pressure.– May be from undernourishment during pregnancy– Affects 6-8% of pregnant women– 1 in 1,500– Generally occurs in last trimester– Can prevent placenta from getting enough blood,

which causes baby to get less oxygen and food (low-birth weight)

Gestational Diabetes• DEFINITION: pregnancy

hormones block insulin from doing its job.– Not an immediate threat– If you have gestational diabetes,

you're more likely to need a caesarean delivery

– After pregnancy ends, body returns to normal but is more likely to develop gestational diabetes in future pregnancies

– at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Placenta Previa

• DEFINITION: Placenta low in the uterus, next to or covering the cervix– Occurs in 1 of 200

pregnancies– May cause bleeding which

leads to complications (may deliver early)

– Placenta blocks opening or – Detaches first—depriving

baby of oxygen– Most likely to need a c-

section

Low-Birth Weight

• DEFINITION: When fetus (baby) weighs less than 5.5 lbs.

Premature Delivery

• DEFINITION: takes place more than 3 weeks before baby is due

• Less than 5½ pounds• Can be caused by

birth defect• Common in multiple

births (twins, etc.)• Require special care

http://www.today.com/slideshow/today/baby-love-preemies-in-pictures-53944831

Stillbirth• DEFINITION: birth of an infant that has

died in the womb after having survived through at least the first 20 weeks of pregnancy– Fetus develops normally– Carried for full term (past 20 weeks)– Most still births or ones that are full term, but

born dead– Sometimes reason can be diagnosed– Sometimes problem is never diagnosed

Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion)

• DEFINITION: any pregnancy loss that takes place before the 20th week (5th month) in pregnancy– 1 in 4 conceptions fail (Miscarriage is

common)– Usually occurs before month 6– Most frequently occurs in first 3 months– 3 out of 4 miscarriages are due to an

imperfect embryo

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

• Can harm you and your developing baby depending on type of infection1. Herpes: is safe until woman ready to deliver – active

lesions on the genitals are highly contagious and can infect the infant as he/she is born

2. Gonorrhea: very common – untreated gonorrhea has increased risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery.

– Baby can develop blindness, joint infection, life threatening blood infection

3. HPV (Genital Warts): very common – treatment may be delayed until after birth, but if they grow large enough they may block the birth canal

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

• Can harm you and your developing baby depending on type of infection1. Chlamydia: may cause increased risk of miscarriage

and preterm delivery– Baby can get severe eye infection and pneumonia

2. Syphilis: easily passed onto your unborn child. Can cause fatal infection to baby.

– Problems in organs: brain, eyes, ears, heart, skin, teeth, and bones

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

• Can harm you and your developing baby depending on type of infection1. Hepatitis B: can pass to baby through placenta or to

newborn

2. HIV/AIDS: transmission of HIV to an infant is almost completely preventable through powerful medications

DONE

Anemia• Your iron requirements go up significantly

when you're pregnant.

• Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells.

• During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases until you have almost 50 percent more than usual.

• Symptoms include: feeling tired, weak, and dizzy. (Of course, these are symptoms that many women experience during pregnancy, anemic or not.) Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, headache, irritability, and trouble concentrating.

Effects of Smoking

• Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide cross the placenta

• Fetal heartbeat raises• More miscarriages• Low birthweight • More health problems• More infant deaths

                               

Breech Delivery• A breech delivery is when a baby

is born feet or bottom first.• A feet first delivery is especially

worrisome due to broken bones or displaced joints.

• Breech delivery is a concern because the cord and head must come at the same time pinching off the oxygen supply as the baby descends through the birth canal.

• Most breech babies use cesarean delivery.

Cesarean Delivery Used When:• The labor is long and difficult

and the life or the baby or mother is threatened.

• The fetal monitor shows a drop in heart rate.

• Placenta Previa• The woman’s bone structure is

too small to allow vaginal delivery.

Paige – How Babies are Born