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Pregnancy! The mere mention of this word pops up images of mommies with big tummies and adorable little babies, in our minds. However, this 9-month-long journey is full of shocks and surprises that can catch you unaware at every turn. And, no matter how much you try to gauge the possibilities from fellow new mothers, it remains an experience that is unique to each woman. Medically speaking too, there are a few things that may happen to you, either during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth, for which you may be totally unprepared. We do hope that no such concerns come up during your gestation period. However, if they do, here are a few of them that you should probably know about:
1. Episiotomy
This is a surgical procedure which involves making a little cut to your lady bits at the time of a vaginal delivery. This procedure is generally carried out in an emergency or if your baby has a big head, making it difficult to pass through the birth canal. It helps expedite the process of delivery while also minimizing the pushing effort from the mother. However, episiotomies can also cause rectal muscle tears or tear the rectum itself (1).
2.我lasma
Also known as ‘Pregnancy mask.’ During pregnancy, there is an increase in the estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. This leads to hyperpigmentation in some women. It is generally characterized by dark brown patches on face and body, especially around the cheeks and forehead. However, this generally goes away after delivery (2).
3. Amniotomy
当你的医生给你估计的预产期,it means that your water should break somewhere around the weeks before or immediately after the given date. However, there may be times when you may go into labor, but the amniotic fluid remains intact. It is necessary to remove the fluid so you can push the baby out. This is when your doctor might perform this procedure where a needle or probe is used to puncture the amniotic sac and remove the fluid (3)!
4. Meconium Staining
Generally, newborns pass their first stool (meconium) only after they are out of the womb. However, a small percentage of them might poop inside the womb itself during the birthing duration. Now, as we all know, meconium is thick, blackish-green, and pretty unsightly. Aside from staining your little one and your lady bits, it also poses the threat of meconium aspiration syndrome – caused by breathing in the poop (4).
5. Placenta Previa
The placenta is an important organ that forms only during pregnancy to provide nutrition and oxygen to the fetus. The placenta generally attaches itself to the side or top of the uterus. However, when the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix of the mother, it is called as placenta previa. This may cause trouble to your baby at the time of coming out of the birth canal since the placenta covers the cervix, which is the outlet of the uterus. This may result in a C-section delivery (5).
6. Placenta Abruption
Placenta abruption, though not very common, is a serious condition. It occurs when the placenta, instead of staying attached to the uterus, separates partially or completely from the inner wall of the uterus just before delivery. This could cause a serious loss of oxygen supply to the baby and heavy bleeding in the mother (6).
7. Rh Incompatibility
The Rh factor, or the Rhesus factor, is a blood protein that plays a crucial role during pregnancy. It is possible for a mother to give birth to a baby whose blood group is different than her. However, it becomes increasingly complicated if the baby has an Rh factor opposite to her. If a mother has a positive Rh factor and the baby has a negative one, then her body will release antibodies to counter effect the fetus’ blood. This can prove fatal to the baby if not monitored on a regular basis (7).
These are some of the complications that may arise during pregnancy. We hope that this compilation has helped increase your awareness. If you have any doubts about any of these, do not hesitate to discuss them with your doctor. Having said this, here’s wishing you a happy, complication-free, and a healthy pregnancy! And an equally safe childbirth!
