The process of pregnancy is both a wonderful one, as well as one that is filled with doubts and questions. The moment someone finds out they are set to be a parent, the health of both the mother as well as the child becomes equally important.

Most often than not, pregnancies occur without any complications. But, certain pregnant women will encounter complications, affecting them or their baby’s health. In some cases, chronic disorders in expecting mothers, occurring before becoming pregnant, are responsible for causing complications during pregnancy. Some events also occur at the time of delivery. Early diagnosis and prenatal caution can minimize further risk to you and your baby even with complications.

What are these complications?

Pregnancy symptoms and complications can range from mild discomforts to severe, sometimes life-threatening illnesses. It can be difficult for a mother to determine which symptoms are normal and which are not. Problems during pregnancy may include physical and mental conditions that affect the health of the mother or the baby. Hence, proper precaution and doctor’s guidance is mandatory. Some of the most frequent complications of pregnancy include:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure:

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when arteries carrying blood from the heart to the body organs and the placenta are narrowed. During pregnancy, this can make it difficult for blood to reach the placenta, which provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. It also puts the mother at a higher risk of having a baby well before their due date. When such a premature delivery takes place, it is called a preterm delivery.

• Gestational diabetes:

At times, when a woman is pregnant, her body may not be able to process sugar effectively. This leads to higher-than-normal levels of sugar in their bloodstream. When such a thing happens, a woman may contract gestational diabetes. But even if it occurs, it should not be a big worry because gestational diabetes usually gets resolved after pregnancy. Still, it can cause problems during pregnancy, so women need to keep an eye out for it.

• Pre-eclampsia:  

When pregnant, it is pertinent a woman gets herself checked for Pre-eclampsia, which is also known as Toxemia. This condition generally occurs after the initial 20 weeks of pregnancy, and when it does, it causes symptoms such as hypertension or problems with the kidney. While Pre-eclampsia can lead to outcomes like preterm delivery, in some serious cases, it can even cause fatalities, so you must consult with your doctor and stay completely clear of it.

• Pre-term Labour:

At times, a woman may go into labor much earlier than expected. Ideally, 37 weeks is what can be considered normal delivery time, and anything before it can be called preterm. Preterm delivery can put the infant at higher risk because certain organs like the brain and lungs may not have completely developed as yet.  At such times, the infant may need to be put in an incubator or an intensive care unit for a while, till it develops fully functioning organs.

• Miscarriage:

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks due to natural causes. Signs can include cramping, vaginal bleeding, or fluid or tissue passing from the vagina. It is recommended to contact your health care provider if you experience these signs at any point during pregnancy.

• Stillbirth:

The loss of an infant after week 20 of pregnancy is called a stillbirth. Mostly, the cause of stillbirth is unknown. However, health conditions that can contribute to stillbirth include problems with the placenta or chronic health issues in the mother that affect the child.

• Anemia:

It is a condition in which a woman has a lower than the normal count of healthy red blood cells. This makes it hard to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. Having anemia can make pregnant women feel tired and weaker than usual, which may lead to complications when the pregnancy advances.

• Infections:

A variety of viral, bacterial, parasitic or sexually transmitted infections may occur during pregnancy and/or delivery which may lead to complications for the mother and the baby after delivery. Many of these infections can be prevented or treated with appropriate prenatal, pre-pregnancy along with postpartum follow-up care.

• Hyperemesis gravidarum:

Extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. Some women may experience more severe symptoms that last into the third trimester. It can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.

• Ectopic Pregnancy:

A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg settles and grows outside the uterus, generally in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg can’t survive outside the uterus. If left to grow, it may damage nearby organs and cause life-threatening loss of blood.

Can complications also occur during the time of delivery?

When a woman goes into delivery, certain pregnancy-related complications can arise. These include:

• Breech position:

A baby is considered to be in the breech position when it is formed head-up in the mother’s uterus. This means the feet are pointed toward the birth canal and can complicate normal vaginal delivery a bit.

• Placenta previa:

 It occurs when a fetus’s placenta partially or covers the mother’s cervix — the outlet for the uterus. It may cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.

• Low birth weight:

Babies who are born with low birth weight carry an elevated risk of respiratory infections, cardiac infections, learning disabilities or problems with vision.

How can you prevent pregnancy complications?

Not all complications are preventable. Following these guidelines may help promote a healthy pregnancy and lessen the chance of high-risk pregnancy complications.

• Attend doctor’s appointments regularly
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take prenatal vitamins daily
• Try Yoga and Meditation to stay fit

In the months of pregnancy, a lot of pregnancy complications can arise, even in healthy women. Most often than not, these health complications shouldn’t deter couples from planning for a child.

While pregnant, along with doctor visits, it is important to keep an eye on vital signs as well as any complications, no matter how small or inconsequential they seem. Stick to a regimen set by your doctor and while it may not resolve all complications, it will improve your chances of having a normal delivery which of course, will ensure your bundle of joy is as healthy as it is supposed to be!

Pregnancy is an exciting time for an expecting couple, especially if it is their first child. Most couples wish to have a normal delivery as it is the safest way to have a child. But many times, a woman or the infant inside her may suffer from certain ailments that can cause complications during the pregnancy. At such times, doctors may recommend opting for surgical delivery method, which is a Caesarean delivery.

A caesarean or C-Section delivery is a surgical delivery process that is usually performed when normal vaginal delivery isn’t safe for either the mother or the child.

To start, What is a C-Section or Caesarean delivery?

When you put it across simply, a C-Section delivery, also known as Caesarean delivery is when the doctor makes a cut over the skin and on the lining of the uterus to make the delivery process a bit easier. Different types of incisions, either vertical or horizontal are done. It is a quick, often painless and effective surgical delivery method that doctors choose for women who have complicated pregnancies.

What types of C-Sections can one undergo?

During pregnancy, visits to the doctor for prenatal care need to occur frequently. In these sessions, the doctor may spot a complication for which you may need to forego the natural or normal delivery route and in its place, opt for a C-Section (Caesarean) delivery. Largely, the decision to undergo a C-Section is taken by the doctor when the actual delivery is taking place. Such intervention is called an Emergency C-Section.

But, in a few cases, the doctor may tell the expecting woman beforehand that she has to undergo a caesarean to avoid any complications that may arise if a normal delivery is attempted. Sometimes, there may not even be any complications. A woman may just want to avoid the pain that comes with labour and opt to go for a C-Section delivery instead. But of course, the decision to undertake any type of delivery surgery eventually lies with the doctor.

What C-Section is recommended for women?

Some couples may want to go for a planned C-Section, but the decision to do so lies with the doctor, who decides in the best interest of both mother and child. The few instances where a C-Section is the preferred choice include:

1) Instances of multiple births, where the women give birth to either twins or triplets. While doing so, the doctor may go for a caesarean as normal vaginal delivery can get quite complicated or tiring.

2) Instances where the expecting mother has an underlying chronic medical condition such as diabetes or hypertension, which can lead to serious problems, especially while delivering the child.

3) Some women may suffer from an infection or sexually transmitted disease such as HIV. In such cases, the yet to be born infant may also be afflicted and as such, a normal delivery may not be the safest option.

4) A C-section may also be needed in some situations, such as delivering a very large baby in a mother with a small pelvis, or if the baby is in a feet-first position.

5) Sometimes the doctor’s decision to perform a C-section is not planned, and it is performed for emergency reasons as the health of the mother, the baby, or both of them is at risk because of troubles during pregnancy or after a woman has gone into labour.

What happens after a C-Section Surgery?

Though C-sections are generally safe and help in overcoming a lot of complications during the delivery, there is always a possibility of complications arising from it. Unlike a natural vaginal delivery, the recovery time for caesarean delivery is much higher, both in hospital and afterwards. Certain complications can arise from a C-Section surgery. These include excessive bleeding, bowel injury or the chance of contracting an infection. Fortunately, serious complications from caesarean deliveries are rare.

Are there any effects on the infants?

While a C-Section surgery is done in the best interest of both the mother and the child, there are certain issues that the infant may face as an outcome of caesarean delivery. Some of these effects include:

1) Altered Gut Bacteria: This can create problems in the development of a healthy immune system in babies which makes them susceptible to illness.

2) Delayed skin-to-skin contact:  Usually after caesarean delivery, the infant is kept in an incubator. The lack of touch causes problems in the transfer of healthy bacteria from the mother’s skin to the baby, maintenance of body temperature and delayed breastfeeding initiation. Along with these physiological effects, there is also the psychological brunt of delayed parent to baby bonding.  

3) Excessive fluid accumulation: A complication that takes place during delivery that can cause obstructions in breathing for the newborn infant.

4) Non-molding of baby’s head: If your baby is born breech (buttocks or feet first) or by caesarean delivery (C-section), the head is most often round and not moulded.

5) Formation of Organs: A caesarean delivery can occur pre-term, which is, before the normal 37 week period. Due to this, the infant’s organs may not be fully formed and lead to complications post its birth.

6) Risk of asthma, obesity and delaying of developmental milestones later in life.

In today’s time, both science and medicine has evolved exponentially. So, if your doctor does suggest you to go through a C-Section delivery, there isn’t much that you need to be worried about.

If we look purely at statistics, about one-third of the deliveries worldwide are taking place via C-Section, with quite a good chunk of them being planned C-Section surgery. Of course, natural vaginal birth is always the most preferred choice, but it is always good to look at your options if complications arise. If you are still in the planning stage, it is also advisable to get yourself checked for any pregnancy-related complications, and when a woman does get pregnant, prenatal follow-ups with a doctor is a must. While the choice of delivery, either natural or surgical is best left in the hands of your doctor, there should be no reason to worry about C-Sections, as it will enable you to have a healthy delivery, and more importantly, your much-awaited offspring!