Fortunately most pregnancies go along without any real complications, but sometimes (about 10-20% of the time) problems do occur.

Below you will find information on or links to information on the following conditions

Gestational Diabetes- A form of diabetes directly related to pregnancy. For more on this topic go here.

Gestational Hypertension (PIH, Pre-eclampsia, Eclampsia, Toxemia)-
High blood pressure directly related to being pregnant. May be a hazard to both mother and baby.
For more on this topic go here.

Premature Rupture of Membranes-Many conditions of pregnancy can cause the amniotic membrane surrounding the baby to break too early, necessitating a quick trip to the hospital. This could be a gush of fluid or a steady trickle. If you think your water has broken it is very important to call your care provider right away.

Placenta Previa-In about 1 out of 200 pregnancies, the placenta develops abnormally low in the uterus. Because the walls of the lower third of the uterus are thinner than those of the upper uterus, the mother's blood supply is smaller there. If this situation develops you may notice spotting during the last trimester, usually after 30 weeks. In addition, the lower uterine walls may cover some or all of the cervix. Since this location would make a vaginal birth difficult or impossible, and the fetus needs a healthy blood supply, the doctor usually orders bed rest to prevent excessive bleeding. If the condition is discovered during the first 20 weeks, the placenta may migrate out of the way. Sexual intercourse is inadvisable. Ninety percent of the time, in early cases, the situation corrects itself; and the vast majority of women who develop this condition deliver perfectly normal babies with few complications. Placenta previa can be total, partial, or marginal. Risk factors include previous placenta previa, a previous cesarean section, scar tissue in the uterus, 5 or more pregnancies, and being more than 35 years old. Possible causes range from unusual fetal position or a multiple pregnancy to previous uterine surgery, advanced age, or congenital abnormalities.

The mother may suspect something is wrong when she experiences severe bleeding, which can lead to anemia and low blood volume. Or she may see a discharge of bright?red blood but have no pain or cramping. Even if placenta previa occurs without symptoms, the doctor may find it on a routine ultrasound scan or one performed for other reasons.

After delivery of the baby in placenta previa, the uterus may be unable to contract tightly enough to shut off the blood vessels shorn away when the placenta detached from the uterine wall. To prevent hemorrhage and the possibility of subsequent shock, the mother may need intravenous fluids and blood infusions as well as medication that will encourage the uterus to contract. Even if she does not hemorrhage, she may have to take oral or intravenous antibiotics after delivery of a placenta previa to prevent uterine infection.

Placental Abruption- In this rare emergency, the placenta shears partly or entirely loose from the uterus before delivery. About half the time, this occurs after the 36th week, when immediate cesarean section is safe. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding after the 20th week, nausea and vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. Abruption occurs more often in women who have had many previous pregnancies, particularly those with high blood pressure and preeclampsia.

Bleeding-Although between 25 and 50 percent of pregnant women experience some spotting, especially at the beginning, any bleeding during pregnancy is cause for concern. The doctor may tell you to go to bed and stay there until 48 hours after the bleeding has stopped. Very heavy bleeding (hemorrhaging) requires an emergency trip to the hospital. During the second and third trimesters, any bleeding is usually caused by the placenta (see the following pages). If you experience vaginal bleeding, call your doctor right away. Describe the color and amount of blood, any associated symptoms, the type of pain (if any), and what you were doing when you started to bleed.

Pre-term Labor- Pregnancy is considered to last approximately 40 weeks. If labor begins prior to the 37th week it is considered pre-term. See Warnings Signs for a list of possible signals that labor may be beginning early.

What to do if you suspect that preterm labor has begun If you think you are starting premature labor, drink two or three glasses of water and lie down on your left side. If the symptoms don't go away within an hour, or if there is fluid leaking from your vagina, call your doctor immediately. The sooner your doctor has a chance to examine you, the better the chances that labor can be halted.

Treatment
Treatment for premature labor varies, depending on how far along the pregnancy is and how far labor has progressed. Bed rest and extra fluid are often successful in stopping premature labor. At other times, a variety of medications may be used. In some instances, surgery to close the cervix (cerclage) may be an option. Even if labor advances and preterm birth appears inevitable, medications can often be given to the mother to help prepare the baby for birth. For example, corticosteroids such as dexamethasone or betamethasone can enhance the maturity of the fetus' lungs in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Premature babies who receive corticosteroid treatment in utero are likely to be healthier. Finally, if preterm labor is suspected, the obstetrical caregivers can determine the best location for the birth should it occur. It may be appropriate for the woman in preterm labor to be transported to a medical center that's well-equipped to care for a premature baby.

Oligo or Polyhydramnios-When there is too much fluid in the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby inside the uterus, the mother has polyhydramnios. The condition can develop suddenly or gradually. The extra fluid can prevent normal chest expansion, thus causing shortness of breath. Premature labor and delivery may result as well. The doctor may perform amniocentesis (withdrawing amniotic fluid with a long needle) one or more times to remove some of the excess fluid. Hospitalization may be necessary. Oligohydramnios is the term for low amniotic fluid. It can be associated with Intrauterine Growth Retardation (if they find the baby is smaller than it should be for 37 weeks this may be the case-this does not mean the BABY is retarded, just that his growth is). It can also be associated with certain kidney conditions or obstructive conditions that prevent the baby from voiding (peeing) to help produce the amniotic fluid. It can also mean that a pregnancy has gone past it's due date (not true in your case) or that membranes are leaking fluid. One of the main issues with oligohydramnios is that without enough fluid in the uterus there is a greater likelihood that the cord might be compressed. In addition prolonged oligohydramnios can cause a lung condition that will make it harder for the baby to breathe on it's own after birth.
If it is a problem during labor sometimes we infuse warmed saline fluid into the uterus to act as amniotic fluid. If it is very low and the mom is not in labor she may be induced or have a c-section (in rare cases). If we know a mom has oligohydramnios we are very careful to watch for any signs of distress in the baby that might indicate that the cord is being compressed.

Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR)-When a newborn measures less than 18 inches or weighs less than 5 pounds, it has IUGR. Small babies are weaker than larger ones and require more medical help. If your baby doesn't seem to be growing enough, the physician may prescribe bed rest to increase its oxygen supply and nutrition. Remember, though, that smaller mothers tend to have smaller babies.

Rh Incompatability- If the father's and the baby's blood contains a component called Rh factor, but the mother's does not, the baby can develop Rh disease. (In the United States, only 15 percent of whites and 5 percent of blacks are Rh negative.) Problems occur, usually in a second pregnancy or later, if a few cells of fetal blood leak into the mother's, typically at the time of delivery. The mother's Rh?negative system treats these cells as foreign objects, producing antibodies against them. If the baby is still in the uterus?and in future pregnancies?antibodies can enter and destroy some of the baby's red blood cells, leading to anemia, heart failure, and death.

The doctor may decide to deliver early if amniocentesis?evaluation of a sample of the amniotic fluid? reveals too much bilirubin, an orange?yellow pigment formed when blood cells break down. A substantial amount of bilirubin suggests that Rh antibodies from the mother have destroyed the fetal cells, and that there is an Rh incompatibility problem.

A drug called RHo(D) immune globulin (Gamulin Rh, RhoGAM, others) prevents Rh antibodies from forming. It is given to Rh?negative women within 72 hours of delivering an Rh?positive baby (or having a miscarriage, abortion or amniocentesis), to protect future pregnancies from Rh incompatibility. Some doctors also inject RHo(D) immune globulin at 28 to 32 weeks of gestation. The fetus or newborn can also receive blood transfusions directly, if necessary.

Infections- (Rubella, Chicken Pox, STD's, Group B Strep, UTI's, Toxoplasmosis, Hepatitis AID's) For information on these go here.

DES-From about 1941 to 1971, many women with a history of miscarriage, premature delivery, moderate bleeding during pregnancy, or diabetes took a drug called diethlystilbestrol (DES). Years later, evidence showed that these women had increased their own risk for breast cancer and their daughters' risk for miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and premature delivery?among other problems. If your mother took DES when she was pregnant with you?and you should check all available medical records if you're not sure?be sure to discuss the situation with your gynecologist, preferably before becoming pregnant.