Pregnancy support and advice » premature rupture of membrane

5 Common Pregnancy Complications

Albertin Abelmont — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:56:15 +0000

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.

Author: Albertina Belmont
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Pregnancy Complications – Minimize Complications With Vitamin C

Saurabh K Jain — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:55:30 +0000

Pregnancy consists of two very common and strongly felt effects for expectant mothers – the joy of giving birth on the one hand and the fear of pregnancy complications on the other. Most women fear if their pregnancies end up with negative outcomes like premature birth of babies etc. As per the recommendations of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin C plays a role in reducing the intensity of various types of complications that may arouse during pregnancy. A small quantity of vitamin C contributes a great deal in alleviating complications that may affect both baby and mother in the second trimester of pregnancy.

What Is Premature Birth?

Premature birth is commonly known as delivering of the baby prior to the due date. Normal pregnancy is said to end at about forty weeks. In clinical language, a premature birth marks the delivery of the baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature delivery takes place when the membranes or the wall of the sac that supports growth of the baby and contains amniotic fluid appears to break or ‘rupture’. Across the world, about 10 to 20 percent of the pregnancy cases may end up in this Premature Rupture Of Membrane or PROM.

Premature birth implies delivery of baby before complete pregnancy development in the womb. Therefore, babies delivered prematurely show several complications in them. First of all, due to premature delivery the baby feature improperly developed legs, lungs and other limbs. This is why those underdeveloped organs may not function as they do and cause various health complications such as infections. The main reasons to contribute to the increase in the risk of PROM are smoking habit, lack of proper nutrition, infections in vaginal areas during the months of pregnancy.

How Far Is Vitamin C Beneficial In Minimizing Pregnancy Complications?

Inadequate amount of Vitamin C in the pregnant woman’s body is supposed to be the main cause of pregnancy complications. The cells in the bodies of expectant mother are not supposed to be deficient of vitamin c as it is an important ingredient to produce and repair connective tissues in the body. Moreover, vitamin c plays a vital role in restoring the membranes or the walls of the sac to prevent PROM. This is the reason why medical experts advise adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables enriched with vitamin C. Vitamin C is also a good source of antioxidants to fight against free radicals and environmental damages.

Several studies have been conducted to establish the significant contribution of vitamin c to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy complications. Studies prove that women who consumed vitamin c in sufficient amounts have been found to have a lower risk of premature birth than those with lower vitamin C intake. This conclusion related to vitamin C were made after studies were undertaken that observed notable changes in 120 women with random intake of 100 mg of vitamin c supplements or use of placebo. All these 120 women were healthy and were pregnant for 20 weeks. The evaluations were taken every four weeks starting from their twenty week of pregnancy. Women with this vitamin c intake lessened their incidence of pregnancy complications by 74 percent in comparison to those who did not consume vitamin C.

Author: Saurabh K Jain
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Overcome Pregnancy Complications

Apurva Shree — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:43:21 +0000

Pregnancy complications can often adversely affect the pregnancy outcome, putting an end to your dream of starting a family. However, awareness about the complications and related pregnancy symptoms can help minimize complexities during childbirth.

Pregnancy complications can arise due to various reasons anytime during your pregnancy week by week development. The most common complications like premature birth are often diet and health related. Quite a few are triggered, if conception happens after the age of 30 years.

Preventing Premature Delivery

Quite often, serious problems have simple solutions. Prevention of premature birth, you will be surprised to know, calls for just an increased intake of Vitamin C.

A normal pregnancy usually stretches over 40 weeks. Pregnancy complication arises, if delivery happens before 37 weeks. This occurs when the foetus membrane ruptures untimely. Premature rupture of membrane (PROM) is the most common cause of premature birth and happens in about 10-20% pregnancies worldwide. Studies indicate that while vaginal infection, improper diet, etc., increase PROM risk, the deficiency of Vitamin C is a major contributor. Vitamin C, found in fruits and vegetables, is critical for the maintenance of foetal membrane. Further fortifying the significance of Vitamin C, a recent study revealed that women with high intake of Vitamin C are less susceptible to PROM.

Hence, by simply supplementing pregnancy diet with Vitamin C rich content, you can say good-bye to one of the most common pregnancy complications.

Minimizing Pregnancy Complications After The Age Of 30

In recent times, more couples are deciding to start their family little late in life, once they have settled well in their career. This has led to a rise in pregnancy complications, as age and fertility are closely related. However, taking a few precautions during the pregnancy period will put an end to many pregnancy complications.

Fertility drugs are to be avoided and taken only on doctor’s advice. Other than increasing the incidence of multiple births, such drugs can become a major health hazard and can cause a number of pregnancy complications.

Medical check-up before and after conception are a must, to deter any kind of pregnancy complication arising due to age, diet, health, etc. As with any regular pregnancy, smoking, alcohol and other drugs should be shunned. Follow a regular exercising routine, as suggested by your gynaecologist, to strengthen your body against the regular pregnancy aches.

To sum up, the secret to happy pregnancy and delivery lies in following a simple lifestyle, which involves a wholesome diet, regular exercise and consistent medical counselling?

Author: Apurva Shree
Article Source: EzineArticles.com