Pregnancy complications

Overview

Pregnancy complications are complaints or disorders that can occur during pregnancy. Pre-existing illnesses can also lead to complications during pregnancy. One example is gestosis/pre-eclampsia (toxaemia of pregnancy). Complications that occur during birth are called birth complications.

Symptoms

First symptoms to cause alarm:

• Labour-like or cramping pains (stomach, back)
• Vaginal bleeding (bright red, dark brown, dark red)
• Uncontrollable vomiting
• Severe headache
• Circulatory disorders (dizziness, loss of consciousness)
• Fever, chills
• Massive or reduced urinary output

Causes and treatment

Causes

• Age of mother (< 18 years or > 35 years)
• Smoking and alcohol
• Mother is underweight or overweight
• Medication and drugs
• Previous operations (abdominal organs, uterus)
• Anomalies/changes to the womb (e.g. myoma)
• Malformations (and similar anomalies)
  • Ectopic pregnancy, abdominal pregnancy
  • Embryo/foetus
  • Placenta
  • Amniotic sac (too much/too little amniotic fluid)
• Multiple pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes
• Rhesus incompatibility
• Pre-existing disorders
  • Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
  • High blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Kidney diseases
  • Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, HIV/Aids, gonorrhoea
• Acute infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, hepatitis, rubella, Zika virus
• Emotional and physical stress

Possible consequences

Miscarriage, gestosis

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Blood pressure monitoring
• Urine analysis
• Blood test (liver and kidney function, blood count)
• Ultrasound (sonography)
• CTG (cardiotocography) to assess the foetal heartbeat and contractions

Possible therapies

• Admission to hospital/bed rest
• Medication
• Curettage (scraping of the lining of the womb)
• Premature delivery
  • In part, the only way to treat the causes
  • Depending on condition of mother and child
  • From induction of labour to emergency Caesarian section

What can I do myself?

• Go for scheduled check-ups with gynaecologist
• Inform gynaecologist
  • Pre-existing diseases and operations
  • Use of medication and drugs
• Inform family doctor or specialist of pregnancy during consultations
• Stop smoking
• Don't drink alcohol during pregnancy
• Normal weight before the pregnancy
• Reduce stress (autogenic training, yoga)

When to see a doctor?

• Labour-like and cramping pains (stomach, back)
• Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
• Discharge containing pieces of tissue
• Circulatory problems (severe dizziness, loss of consciousness)
• Severe headache
• Visual impairment
• Fever, chills
• Unusual urinary output (bloody, purulent, cloudy, too little or a lot)
• General feeling of being unwell (physically, mentally)

Further information

Selbsthilfe Schweiz (Self-Help Support Switzerland)
www.selbsthilfeschweiz.ch

“Wir eltern” (Parents) magazine
www.wireltern.ch

Synonyms

pregnancy complications