Placental abruption (abruptio placentae) is a pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine wall prior to delivery. The placenta can separate partially (partial placental abruption) or completely (complete or...
Placental abruption (abruptio placentae) is a possibly severe complication of pregnancy in which the placenta detaches from the uterine wall prior to delivery. If a doctor has diagnosed a mild placenta abruption, in which vaginal bleeding is...
It can be difficult to identify placental insufficiency, as there are generally no symptoms. However, there are some signs that can indicate a potential problem. A small uterus is one example. At your prenatal checkup, your doctor will typically...
When placental insufficiency can be linked to certain risk factors, such as substance abuse or untreated health conditions, these causes need to be addressed to prevent further deterioration. If you smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs, you will...
Placental insufficiency can lead to poor fetal growth, so your doctor will want to monitor your baby carefully to make sure all is well inside. Doctors use multiple tests to monitor fetal growth and look at varied aspects of your baby's health,...
When you are pregnant, everything you're exposed to also affects your developing baby. By maintaining a healthy diet and abstaining from smoking, alcohol and drugs while pregnant, you can help ensure that your baby will be born healthy and strong....
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when blood pressure reaches or exceeds 140/90. Hypertension affects 10 percent of pregnancies, according to OBGYN.net. While it can be dangerous for the mother and may necessitate bed rest...
Pregnancy is an exciting time for parents-to-be. Some mothers find it difficult to quit smoking prior to or during their pregnancies. Cigarette smoke contains over 2,000 chemicals, with two of the most dangerous substances being nicotine and...
If you smoke while you are pregnant, you put both yourself and your unborn child at risk for significant health complications, according to the American Cancer Society. Your unborn baby relies upon you for necessary oxygen, nutrients and blood....
Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, notes BabyCenter.com, including cyanide and lead, as well as at least 60 cancer-causing compounds. During pregnancy, all these things enter your bloodstream, which is your baby's only source of...
Crystal meth is a stronger version of the drug methamphetamine. The National Drug Intelligence Center indicates that there are several detrimental risks to the user such as increased blood pressure and heart rate. Damage to the blood vessels in...
A mother's normal instinct is to protect her child, including when he's in the womb. Learning about the stages of development during each trimester can help you know what to expect during each week or month of your pregnancy. Educating yourself...
Cigarettes contain many dangerous chemicals, with nicotine and carbon monoxide being among the most hazardous to your health. If you're pregnant, these poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects you to your baby and sends...
When carrying your child in your womb, what you eat becomes the nutrition your child receives. The fetal life-support system relies on several key organs to help your baby grow and develop in the womb. Knowing the right foods to eat to nourish...
In previous centuries, women got married and had babies at a young age. Now many women wait until they have settled into their careers or waited to get married before starting a family right away. There are some risks associated with having a baby...
Falls occur commonly in pregnant women, due to changes in the center of gravity and the relaxation of joints and soft tissue that occur in pregnancy. The constant shift of body mechanics plus inner ear changes cause around 27 percent of women to...
Having chronic hypertension that starts before pregnancy or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause complications. Chronic hypertension can have harmful effects on a fetus, and it also increases the risk of developing other diseases in...
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Expectant mothers with a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, which occurs two or more times after 20 weeks of gestation, are usually diagnosed as having...
High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is associated with increased risk for diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Hypertension during pregnancy poses additional risks that affect the mother and her infant, including low...
Cigarette smoke contains many harmful chemicals, with nicotine and carbon monoxide being among the most hazardous to your health. If you smoke during pregnancy, these poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects you to your...
Pregnancy is an exciting time to think about a new baby, but pregnancy also causes an increase in some illnesses and disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, increases in blood clotting occur during pregnancy because...
Babies in-utero do not use their lungs to breathe or their mouths to eat. So how do they get the necessary nutrition and oxygen to grow and thrive? A womb has a complex support system sustaining the fetus with the necessary nutrients and oxygen...
Hypertension is defined by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as blood pressure readings greater than 140/90 mm Hg. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, hypertension occurs in 6 to 8 percent of all...
Stillbirth is the premature delivery of a deceased baby after the 20th week of gestation. This is often a painful and emotional experience for the parents, and it usually comes with questions of what went wrong in the pregnancy. There are quite...
Nicotine is a known carcinogenic connected to a variety of health problems, yet people, including pregnant women, continue to smoke. Nicotine is highly addictive, and many women are unwilling or unable to give up their dependence on nicotine...
Abdominal pain and light bleeding occur frequently in pregnancy. As many as 20 to 30 percent of women bleed in early pregnancy, the American Pregnancy Association states. The significance of these symptoms can range from normal and harmless to...
Smoking and alcohol are contraindicated during pregnancy, but unfortunately, many women continue to smoke and drink alcoholic beverages throughout their pregnancy. Smoking and alcohol are dangerous in and of itself as they can lead to heart...
If you're worried that exercising during pregnancy will negatively impact your developing baby, don't be. Provided that you have a normal pregnancy without complications and don't have a negative medical history, you can continue to exercise...
Pregnancy is a happy, yet scary time for most expectant parents. However, many different complications can arise during the course of a pregnancy. Maintaining compliance with pre-natal care and doctor's visits will help to ensure that if a...
