COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY
MISCARRIAGE
Most miscarriages occur in the first three month of
pregnancy and usually begin with vaginal bleeding, followed by pain low down in
the abdomen. It is important to contact your doctor if you experience any
vaginal bleeding. You may have to go into hospital for a D and C (dilatation
and curettage) to ensure that any remnants of placenta have been removed and in
order to avoid further bleeding and possible infection.
Losing
your baby, even early in pregnancy, can be very upsetting. Many women feel a
deep sense of loss and blame the miscarriage on something they have done; but
it is in fact a natural way of dealing with a problem that cannot be solved, so
try not to feel guilty. The next time you become pregnant your risk of
miscarriage is only very slightly increased, but many women take things easy in
the first few month. Unless your doctor advises against it, there is also no
reason to avoid sexual intercourse.
Sometimes
a threatened miscarriage occurs;
bleeding begins, but by lying down and resting for a few days the pregnancy
stabilizes and continues as normal.
A few
women have a missed abortion. The
usual signs of pregnancy such as tender breasts and sickness are no longer
present and the woman does not feel pregnant. The uterus may be smaller than
usual and an ultrasound scan can confirm that there is a lack of the fetal
heartbeat or that no fetus is present.
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY
This is thankfully quite a rare condition in which the
fertilized egg implants and begins to grow outside the uterus, usually in one of
the fallopian tubes. As it grows the tube begins to stretch, causing a sharp
pain on one side of the abdomen. Other symptoms include vaginal bleeding and
feeling faint or dizzy. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your
doctor immediately. The pregnancy must be
