 While most women have perfectly healthy
pregnancies with only minor discomforts, it never hurts to know the warning signs of
conditions that can cause serious health problems for you and your baby. There is a range
of different symptoms you can experience during and after pregnancy, from minor
discomforts like nausea and leg cramps, to more severe problems like bleeding. Every woman
and every pregnancy is different though, and some women even have a problem-free
experience. But, you should be prepared to notice any changes in your body as your
pregnancy blossoms.
Click here for a list of some of the most serious problems
that you might face during or right after pregnancy.
Problems Without Symptoms
Some health problems you might have during pregnancy do not have symptoms. One of these
is Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. GBS is a common infection that rarely
makes adults sick. The bacterium lives in the gastrointestinal system, along with many
other harmless bacteria. Between 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women carry GBS in their
vagina and rectums. But, if GBS is passed to the baby during delivery, it can cause
serious health problems in your newborn, such as pneumonia, blood infection, or infection
of the tissues around the brain.
Because there are no symptoms of GBS, you will be tested by your health care provider
at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. The simple test involves swabbing the vagina and rectum
for a sample of cells that are sent to a lab to look for GBS. If you are infected, you
will be treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor and delivery to make sure
the baby is protected.
Another problem is anemia, or having below-normal levels of iron in the blood.
Iron is needed for hemoglobin (a protein in blood that helps take oxygen to body
tissues for energy and growth) for you and your baby. Iron also helps build bones and
teeth. Most women do not have symptoms of anemia, but some might have extreme fatigue.
Your health care provider will check for signs of anemia through the routine blood tests
that are taken in different stages of your pregnancy. If you have anemia, you will be
given iron supplements to take once or twice a day. Help prevent anemia by eating more
iron-rich foods, like potatoes, raisins, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, whole-grain
breads and iron-fortified cereals.
This page last updated: June 2003 |
