PARENTING PREGNANCY

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About

8 min read
10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About

7. Gestational Diabetes

Only around 9% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes, which happens when blood glucose levels during pregnancy of a woman with no history of diabetes goes up, although women with diabetes may have greater chances of getting this complication.

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About | Stay At Home Mum
via Things Health

Women who are diagnosed with GD will have to work with a dietician to keep their blood sugar levels stable.

High blood sugar levels among pregnant women may put her baby at risk of having high glucose levels as well and growing too big.

However, this complication can be treated with diet and exercise alone.

8. Preeclampsia

For pregnant women who have normal blood pressure, a spike in their BP while pregnant is a concern, as this can be considered preeclampsia. It happens on or after the 37th week, some during or after delivery, while some experience it at only 20 weeks. It affects only around 5% of pregnant women.

Its symptoms also include swelling of the hands and feet, protein in the mother’s urine and headaches.

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About | Stay At Home Mum
via Slideshare

Its treatment includes close monitoring for mums with a milder case, while some may be admitted to the hospital to make sure the symptoms don’t worsen.

This complication usually subsides and the blood pressure returns to normal after delivery, but if it persists, the mum must be monitored closely and may be given blood pressure medication after the birth.

9. Maternal Heart Disease

This is one of the main causes of maternal deaths, especially to mothers with undiagnosed heart disease, and happens to at least 1% of pregnancies.

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About | Stay At Home Mum
via Slideshare

During pregnancy, the heart pumps 50% more blood, which means it is put under extra strain, so pregnant mums must always check their heart health.

Some risk factors for maternal heart disease or heart attack include obesity, mothers older than 30 and previous heart problems.

10. Blood Clots

This is extremely rare in a pregnancy and happens to about 1 or 2 in every 1,000 pregnancies. Blood clots are ‘coagulated blood’ in the body which can complicate the pregnancy and result to stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) if left untreated.

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About | Stay At Home Mum
via GIPHY

Its symptoms include swelling or pain in one leg or pain that worsens while walking. Anti-coagulation medicine will be given to a sufferer to help thin the blood and get rid of the clot.

The risk of developing blood clots increases slightly in pregnant women and usually occur in the legs or pelvic region.

Treatment includes exercising and eating healthy.

How was your pregnancy? Did you experience any of these complications?

10 Unusual Pregnancy Complications All Women Should Know About | Stay At Home Mum


If you become concerned about any symptoms please seek immediate medical attention..

we have some hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice.

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information. All information provided is correct at time of publication.

stay at home mum - home logo
About Author

Sahm Community

Stories that have been written by mums, with a raw, honest, heartfelt sometimes tearful emotions put into words. Just so that we as a community know t...Read Morehat as mums you are not alone! Read Less

Ask a Question

Close sidebar