The Dark Side of Pregnancy You Must Be Aware Of

Nothing is more satisfying than being finally told that you’ll be the newest mom in town a few months down the line, of course, if you’ve been planning it for a while. As soon as they get the good news, most women immediately want to know the gender and start shopping for baby stuff… some can’t wait to pass the information to the soon-to-be father. But just like anything else in life, pregnancy can be filled with lots of anxiety, uncertainties, and outcomes that could make the bearer believe life is indeed unfair. However, knowing what’s at stake and understanding the various unpleasant outcomes can increase the chances of a successful birth or ensure your wellbeing, that of your unborn baby or both of you. Simply put, childbearing has a dark side to it that every mom-to-be has to understand before, during, and even after pregnancy. On this note, here is a brief overview of the dark side of pregnancy, you must be aware of if you’re expectant or you intend to be.

Childbirth May Not Always Be “Good News”

When pregnant, you’re always eager to be the first person to meet your newborn bouncing being, kiss them on the forehead and give them the most adorable name in your mind. It’s natural and motherly. But remember one thing ladies, a successful childbirth depends on a wide range of factors, including your own health, how you take care of yourself, your diet, and most importantly, the medical practitioners that carry out the procedure or take care of you during the entire 9-month journey. Therefore, it is crucial to do thorough research and click for gynecological services offered by your area’s top medical facilities before deciding where you want to deliver. If complications arise, having experienced and qualified medical practitioners by your side can make all the difference.

 

There’s always a possibility of a child being born blue or with disabilities, and you could also suffer certain injuries yourself if your health care team is negligent or reckless. According to Tommy Gillaspie, one of the attorneys for obgyn malpractice from Terry Bryant, it’s possible for your child’s birth injury was caused by your obstetrician or gynecologist’s negligence or carelessness, and you deserve compensation for that under the Injury Law. However, there’s also a chance of birth defects, which normally result from conditions or circumstances above your Ob-Gyn’s control. Birth defects are often linked to external, non-medical, hereditary factors.

Stealth Pregnancy

Synonymous with cryptic pregnancy, stealth pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that may not be initially detected by conventional testing methods. While they aren’t so common, cryptic pregnancies have been known to wreak emotional havoc in families they affect. Finding out that you’re pregnant a good 7 or 8 months into it is the last thing any aspiring mom would want to deal with. But ladies, don’t get scared… your chances of dealing with cryptic pregnancy are minimal, even though it pays to be informed.

Pregnancy-Related Health Problems

Many women deal with various health problems throughout the 9-month gestation period, which may range from mild to severe from one woman to the other depending on factors such as diet, weight, age, genetics, and overall health, among others. Some common health problems women face as a result of pregnancy include:

1. Cramps – Especially during the second half of the pregnancy period, most women experience cramps in their feet or legs.
   However, these mostly subside with self remedies such as stretching, gentle heat massage, or pulling the toes back towards the knees with the legs lying on a straight surface.
2. Urinary stress incontinence – Simple reflexes such as coughing or laughing may be enough to cause a urine leak during pregnancy. It’s a common issue known as urinary stress incontinence. However, it can be prevented or controlled by engaging in Pelvic floor exercises, ensuring you consult your doctor if the issue becomes persistent.
3. Increased urge to urinate – This is a problem more common in pregnant women in the first 12-14 weeks and a few days or weeks before delivery. It’s good to note that this is purely a natural phenomenon that you will want to get used to. However, talk to your doctor if you find it uncomfortable or extraordinarily unusual.
4. Backache – Pregnancy often comes with increased weight and the softening of ligaments. This is why many women experience back pain. However, maintaining proper posture, avoiding high-heeled shoes, and engaging in safe antenatal exercise can be helpful. Talk to your doctor if your backache become too much of an issue.

Decreased Defenses to Infections

In many women, pregnancy comes with a decrease in immune defenses that protect the body from infections. During pregnancy, women are thus more vulnerable to a range of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, which could also be transmitted to the newborn before or during birth. This is why medical care is important before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as alter birth.

Pregnancy Complications

1. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)– While morning sickness is one of the first signs of pregnancy, it’s a thousand times more severe in women with HG. It’s not that common and its causes are definitely not well understood, but even her royal highness Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge had it.
2. Gestational Diabetes – This is like the sugar disease, except that it occurs during pregnancy. The biggest risk with GD is that it may cause fetal macrosomia, a condition where the baby grows larger than normal., which may force your obstetrician to recommend a CS during delivery.
3. Preeclampsia – This is a pregnancy-related condition that causes high blood pressure, which can be life-threatening to both the mother and her unborn baby. It’s often seen in women who are past 20 weeks of pregnancy, especially those who’ve had a history of HBP. If you’ve experienced HBP before, it’s only nibbling on you to talk to your doctor before you even get pregnant. However, your caregiver should be able to detect the risk during prenatal or antenatal care

Losing a child during pregnancy or birth can be an overwhelming and deadening situation, physically and emotionally. Miscarriage is when you lose your baby before or when it’s 20 weeks old in the womb. Some call it pregnancy loss, fetal demise, or spontaneous abortion loss. When you lose your unborn baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy, however, this is often referred to as a stillbirth, which may occur without a clear cause in most cases. Nonetheless, stillbirths may be contributed to by the mother’s chronic health conditions, placental problems, genetic abnormalities, infections, and poor fetal growth, among other things.

Unlike pets, friends, and even siblings, having a kid or kids of your own is one of the best legacies you can leave behind. Especially for a mom, they bring happiness and give purpose to your life. But you have to carry them for nine whole months in your womb before you can gaze at the adorable eyes and sometimes annoying cries you’re always vulnerable to. Being aware of the various pitfalls associated with pregnancy will not only make you a better mom-to-be, but a stronger and more optimistic one, which is all any newborn would need from a mother.