1. Hypermeresis Gravidarium
It all begins with an idea.
Source: NSW Government
This is severe vomiting in pregnancy.
Some women experience very bad nausea and vomiting many times a day, and unable to keep food/drinks down. This often leads to dehydration and/or malnutrition; thus requiring hospital admission and treatment to correct it.
2. Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH)
It all begins with an idea.
Source: Mount Elizabeth Hospitals
Also known as Gestational Hypertension.
This is high blood pressure in pregnancy (=>140/90) without any signs of organ damage or protein in the urine.
It is often seen after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and its cause is yet unknown.
Once diagnosed, it is important to follow the care pathway advised by your Consultant to ensure you achieve good pregnancy outcome.
If the condition remains stable, delivery between 37-39 weeks is generally recommended.
May or may not develop into Preeclampsia which is a more serious condition.
If well-controlled in pregnancy, usually goes away after child birth.
Management to improve outcomes:
Attend all your prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.
Take your blood pressure medications and/or Aspirin tablets as prescribed.
Eat a healthy diet.
Stay active.
Get adequate rest/sleep.
3. Preeclampsia (PET)
It all begins with an idea.
Source: SOG Health
PREECLAMPSIA (PET):
This is high blood pressure in pregnancy with presence of protein in the urine (proteinurea), and/or evidence of damage to body organs like the kidneys, liver, severe headaches, vision changes or shortness of breath.
Often seen after 20 weeks, but might persist through pregnancy.
It is a serious condition that unless managed well, can complicate the life of the mother and baby.
Once diagnosed, it is important to follow the care pathway advised by your Consultant to ensure you achieve good pregnancy outcome.
The condition may persist throughout pregnancy, and may reappear within a year after birth.
Many cases may go undiagnosed as the problem tends to surface mostly at night.
High blood pressure in pregnancy poses both short and long-term complications like heart disease, diabetes, seizures or coma.
Preeclampsia usually resolves within 6 weeks from birth, but could persist up to a year after birth if not well managed.
**NB: If you have high blood pressure in pregnancy along with severe headaches, blurred vision, pains along your ribs, sudden swelling of your feet/hands/face – seek urgent medical attention **.
Management to improve outcomes:
Attend all your prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.
Take your blood pressure medications and/or Aspirin tablets as prescribed.
Eat a healthy diet and keep well hydrated.
Stay active.
Get adequate rest/sleep.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
4. Eclampsia
It all begins with an idea.
Source: Healthline
This is onset of seizures or coma during pregnancy in a woman with Preeclampsia.
It is characterised by high blood pressure, high protein levels in the urine, organ dysfunctions and Oedema.
If left untreated; it can progress to long-term complications like cardiovascular diseases, cerebral haemorrhage, kidney failures, pulmonary oedema, HELLP syndrome, coagulopathy, placental abruption and cardiac arrest.
Management to improve outcomes:
Requires admission to hospital for close surveillance and treatment regimes.
Eat a healthy diet.
Get adequate rest/sleep.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
5. Gestational Diabetes Melitis (GDM)
This having high blood sugar during pregnancy that usually goes away after child birth.
It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the increased needs of pregnancy, leading to high glucose levels in the blood.
Poorly managed GDM increases the risk of having a large baby (Fetal Macrosomia).
Such babies might become “stuck” in the birth canal (Shoulder Dystocia), have birth injuries or require C-section delivery.
Management to improve outcomes:
Attend all your prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.
Adhere to the Care Pathway developed for you to manage your pregnancy.
Comply with the treatment regime commenced all through your pregnancy.
Eat a healthy diet; avoid foods like: potatoes, white rice, white bread, candy, soda/other sweets that will cause a spike on your blood glucose once eaten.
Stay active.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
6. Anaemia
This is a common condition in pregnancy where there is low level of red cells in the blood (haemoglobin).
It occurs when the red cells in the blood/haemoglobin levels drop, sometimes to very dangerous levels that require immediate treatment to normalise the levels to sustain the normal progress of the pregnancy.
If the cause is dietary, eating iron-rich foods like: beans, lentils, green-leafy vegetables or taking iron supplements will correct the anaemia.
Sometimes iron levels might continue to drop irrespective of diet, supplements or other effort to correct it, in which case iron infusion may be advised in severe deficiency.
Management to improve outcomes:
Attend all your prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.
Adhere to the Care Pathway developed for you to manage your pregnancy.
Comply with the treatment regime commenced all through your pregnancy.
Eat a healthy diet rich in iron; limit or avoid caffeine as can inhibit iron absorption especially from plant-based foods.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
7. Obstetric Cholestasis (OC)
This is a liver disease that can develop late in pregnancy, often from 28weeks but can develop earlier in pregnancy too.
The symptom is severe topical itching usually on the hands, feet, abdomen or all over body – often worse at night.
Symptoms may present worse on the palm of hands and soles of feet.
Other symptoms include dark urine and pale poo.
Having a robust antenatal monitoring system in place will optimise pregnancy outcomes.
Cholestasis usually goes away after baby is born.
Management to improve outcomes:
Urgently call your health professional if you notice such symptoms.
Attend all prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.
Adhere to the Care Pathway developed for you to manage your pregnancy.
Comply with the treatment regime commenced all through your pregnancy.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
8. Sepsis
Source: William Kwong (AS)
A life-threatening condition where the body’s response to infection during pregnancy, childbirth or post-partum period injures its own tissues and organs.
Can develop rapidly and potentially fatally if not identified and treated promptly.
Pregnancy women are at greater risk of sepsis due to naturally occurring immunological changes in the body.
The common cause is severe bacterial infection of the uterus during pregnancy and/or immediately following birth.
Early warning signs include: high/low temperature, shivering/chills, dizziness, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, chesty cough, pain when passing urine, feeling unwell, confusion, disorientation, feeling like something is seriously wrong.
Effects of sepsis:
Reduced blood flow to your placenta and baby.
Possible reduced movements of and/or stress to baby.
Possible infection to baby, hypoxia and acidosis.
Possible death of baby whilst in the uterus if slow/no prompt action is taken.
Possibility of requiring C-section to expedite the delivery.
Possibility of Baby requiring admission to Neonatal Unit for a period.
Management to improve outcomes:
Urgently call your health professional if notice symptoms or go straight to TRIAGE (Maternity A&E) for immediate attention/treatment.
Comply with the treatment regime commenced and complete all treatment recommended.
Get plenty of rest.
Stay well hydrated.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
9. Obesity
Too much weight gain, resulting to Body Mass Index equal to/more than 30.
In pregnancy most women gain between 10 – 12.5kg; putting most of the weight after 20weeks.
Much of the extra weight is due to your baby growing; part of the weight-gain is due to the body storing fat; ready to make breast milk after your baby is born.
Too much weight gain in pregnancy can lead to all sorts of health problems like: high blood pressure, diabetes, symphysis pubis dysfunction and general fatigue in pregnancy.
Too much weight gain in pregnancy can also increase risks of complications like: big baby, shoulder dystocia, birth trauma to mother and baby, significant perineal tears and post-partum haemorrhage (PPH).
Management to improve outcomes:
Adhere to the Care Pathway developed for you to manage your pregnancy.
Comply with advice given by your health professionals through your pregnancy.
Eat a healthy diet; cooperate with advice of your Dietician.
Stay active and well hydrated.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.
10. Anorexia And Pregnancy
Women with anorexia are 2.3 times more likely to deliver babies with low birth weights (less than 2.5kg) and 1.5 times more likely to have their babies die.
Babies of Anorexic mothers have the following risks: higher rate of miscarriage, birth defects, congenital malformations, premature birth, respiratory distress, feeding difficulties and other perinatal/developmental complications.
Management to improve outcomes:
Adhere to the Care Pathway developed for you to manage your pregnancy.
Comply with advice given by your health professionals through your pregnancy.
Eat a healthy diet and cooperate with advice of your Dietician.
Stay active and well hydrated.
Read and inform yourself about the condition and management and take ownership of it.