few niggles along the way or some less pleasant times. One of the most essential and helpful things you can do to ensure that you have a normal, happy, healthy pregnancy is to believe that this is not a medical condition but, rather, a life experience. Take your responsibility to live as healthily as possible seriously, and in most instances you can indeed influence the outcome of this momentous new phase of your life for the good. It is so distressing when expectant couples seem to hand over their role in this prime human experience to the medical world. Yes, there are sometimes complications and risks, there are times when you may need treatment or intervention – however, many interventions and complications are like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted; or interventions may even lead to complications. Needlessly worrying about pregnancy and birth is simply using up your emotional energy which could translate into the best medicine of all – optimism! So, read this section carefully but take particular note of the sections that will help you achieve natural, healthier, better pregnancy and birth outcomes.
WARNING SIGNS IN PREGNANCY
If you experience any of these seven signs, you should bring them to the attention of your midwife or doctor as soon as possible:
1.Bleeding and other abnormal vaginal discharge: This could be an indication of any number of possible pregnancy complications, some more serious than others.
2.Excessive or very poor weight gain, especially after week 20: This may indicate abnormal swelling on your part, or that your baby is not receiving sufficient nutrients via the placenta.
3.A significant change in your baby’s movement pattern after week 25: Generally, you should feel no fewer than 10 periods of movement from Baby each day. It is most important that Baby does move and that you don’t sense any marked change in pattern – Baby’s movements are the single most important way you can tell that all is well.
4.Headaches with nausea and visual disturbances: This might indicate that you have pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that will need very careful treatment.
5.Burning leg pain: This is different to leg cramping and could be an indication of embolism (blood clots). See a doctor as soon as possible.
6.Excessive shortness of breath: If it’s more than you would expect from carrying the extra pregnancy weight, it might be serious.
7.Exceptional swelling, especially if accompanied by visual disturbances, headaches, dizziness and nausea: See a doctor as soon as possible as these are symptoms of the serious condition pre-eclampsia.
SOME IMPORTANT COMPLICATIONS
1.Cholestasis of pregnancy
If you are itching like crazy, you may have a condition called cholestasis of pregnancy, which could be dangerous for your baby. Although many women are told that itching is a normal pregnancy symptom, it could also be a symptom of a more serious condition.
Your liver produces a yellow-green liquid known as bile. Bile is important for digestion, so once it’s been produced it is stored in the gall bladder, ready to flow into your gut. If you have cholestasis, the flow of bile from your liver is reduced significantly, causing the salts found in bile to build up and “leak” into the bloodstream.
More about it:
•Cholestasis usually occurs in the third trimester.
•The cause is uncertain but the condition sometimes runs in families, so there may be a genetic component.
•It is also possible that the increase in pregnancy hormones may cause the flow of bile from the liver to slow down.
•If you’ve had cholestasis before, you have an increased chance of getting it again with your next pregnancy.
•Intense itching, often on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, although it can occur anywhere, is the main symptom. Itching may get worse as your due date approaches.
•Other possible symptoms that you should be aware of:
–A yellow tinge to your skin and the whites of your eyes.
–Nausea and a loss of appetite.
–Dark urine.
–Light-coloured faeces.
Is cholestasis serious?
Itching is a fairly common pregnancy symptom, so it is not necessary to see your doctor for every itch. However, if the itching becomes persistent or unbearable, it’s best to be on the safe side and make an appointment. This is especially true if you notice any of the other symptoms, or if someone in your immediate family also had cholestasis of pregnancy or another type of liver disease.
Other than driving you absolutely crazy, cholestasis is unlikely to be harmful to you. However, it can be quite dangerous for your baby, causing preterm delivery, fetal distress and in extreme cases even stillbirth. Because of this, you should monitor Baby’s movements carefully and inform your doctor if you notice a change in the usual pattern. Many doctors will recommend an early delivery, around 37–38 weeks, for Baby’s safety.
The itching will disappear a few days after you give birth and it’s unlikely you’ll experience any more liver problems.
2.Diabetes
Diabetes in pregnancy can lead to increased risk of infections, especially candida and urinary tract infections, a greater possibility of miscarriage, a higher likelihood of hypertension and pre-eclampsia, increased cases of excessive amniotic fluid and a higher incidence of newborn deaths. Diabetes can also cause the placenta to function poorly, which in turn can lead to growth retardation of your unborn baby. There is greater risk of abnormalities too.
Type-2 and gestational diabetes is on the increase across the world, due to increasingly unhealthy lifestyles. This is also true for pregnancy or gestational diabetes (GD). Apart from the increased risks of your baby being over 4.5kg at birth (macrosomia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in your baby after birth, many health professionals seem not to be too concerned about GD in pregnancy as it mostly disappears after delivery without long-term effects.
And yet, research shows that women who develop GD are at an increased risk for also developing type-2 diabetes. There are also studies showing a link between raised glucose levels reaching Baby in pregnancy, and the development of diabetes and obesity later in life. One very big risk factor for the development of this disease is obesity. Research has also shown a link between gaining excessive weight between pregnancies and GD in a following pregnancy.
Many women remain overweight (or pick up more weight) after the births of their babies – possibly due to lifestyle changes. This highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle in pregnancy and after birth – not always easy with a new baby in the house, but well worth it.
Self-help tips:
✓Cook all healthy meals in double or triple batches and freeze them for future use. This will ease your domestic burden and make it easier to eat healthily.
✓Mother Nature’s fast food – whole fruit – allows fructose to be released more slowly than processed, cooked or juiced fruits and can help provide a healthy diet for women with moderate symptoms of diabetes.
✓Take a brisk walk
