Signs and symptoms
In most cases, pregnancies show a problem-free course without major complications. However, there are various risk factors and diseases that can lead to complications for mother and child during pregnancy. Risk factors can result from the medical history (pre/illness history), as well as from the examination of the expectant mother or during the entire pregnancy.
However, pregnancy complications can also occur suddenly and without previously known risk factors. Existing risk factors that can lead to pregnancy complications include : Mother’s age (under 18 years of age, over 35 years of age) Diseases of the mother or within the family, e.g. diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, epilepsy, severe obesity, infections Pre-surgery, malformations or fibroids (benign tumors) of the uterus Condition after one or more caesarean sections More than five births in the past and a rapid succession of pregnancies (less than one year between pregnancies) Complications in previous pregnancies or births, such as abortions, miscarriages or premature births Taking medication or drugs Alcohol or nicotine consumption
- Age of mother (under 18 years, over 35 years)
- Illnesses of the mother or within the family, e.g. diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, epilepsy, severe overweight, infections
- Pre-surgery, malformations or myomas (benign tumors) of the uterus
- Condition after one or more caesarean sections
- More than five births in the past and a rapid succession of pregnancies (less than a year between pregnancies)
- Complications of previous pregnancies or births, such as abortions, miscarriages or premature births
- Taking medication or drugs
- Alcohol or nicotine consumption
During pregnancy, various risks can occur which make intensive care of mother and child necessary.
These include : Occurrence of anemia, bleeding, blood group incompatibility (rhesus factor incompatibility) or thrombosis Incorrect position of the placenta, so-called placenta praevia) weakness of the cervix (so-called cervical insufficiency) reduced blood flow in the placenta with the following undersupply of the child (so-called placental insufficiency) infections pregnancy diabetes pregnancy hypertension and possibly pre-eclampsia (pregnancy poisoning), eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (see below) premature labor or premature rupture of the bladder
- Occurrence of anemia, bleeding, blood group incompatibility (rhesus factor incompatibility) or thrombosis
- Malposition of the placenta (Latin placenta, so-called placenta praevia)
- Cervical weakness (so-called cervical insufficiency)
- Reduced blood flow to the placenta with the following undersupply of the child (so-called placental insufficiency)
- Infections
- Gestational Diabetes
- Gestational hypertension and possibly pre-eclampsia (pregnancy poisoning), eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (see below)
- Premature contractions or premature rupture of the bladder
Another pregnancy complication is the so-called ectopic pregnancy, also called tubal pregnancy (see below). Signs or symptoms of a pregnancy complication can be severe malaise or feeling of illness (including high fever, strong vomiting, weight loss) any form of bleeding (including spotting) sudden loss of fluid from the vagina (indication of amniotic fluid loss) pain when urinating (indication of urinary tract infection) pain in the abdomen, in the groin area or back less or no noticeable child movements during the day headaches, visual disturbances, dizziness water retention (so-called edema), especially in the face, hands and legs/feet very rapid weight gain In this case pregnant women should always consult a gynecologist or or their attending physician in any case.
- Severe malaise or feeling of illness (also high fever, strong vomiting, weight loss)
- Any form of bleeding (including spotting)
- Sudden loss of fluid from the vagina (note for loss of amniotic fluid)
- Pain when urinating (note for urinary tract infection)
- Pain in the abdomen, groin or back
- Less or no perceptible child movements during the day
- Headaches, vision problems, dizziness
- Water retention (so-called oedema), especially on the face, hands and legs/feet
- Very fast weight gain
All articles in this series:
