Woman Health Problems During Pregnancy Period

Complications of pregnancy are health problems that occur during pregnancy. They can involve the mother's health, the baby's health, or both. Some women have health problems before they become pregnant that could lead to complications. Other problems arise during the pregnancy. Whether a complication is common or rare, there are ways to manage problems that come up during pregnancy.

Health problems before pregnancy

Condition	How it can affect pregnancy	Where to learn more
Asthma	Poorly controlled asthma may increase risk of preeclampsia, poor weight gain in the fetus, preterm birth, cesarean birth, and other complications. If pregnant women stop using asthma medicine, even mild asthma can become severe.	Lung diseases fact sheet
Depression	Depression that persists during pregnancy can make it hard for a woman to care for herself and her unborn baby. Having depression before pregnancy also is a risk factor for postpartum depression.	Depression fact sheet Depression during and after pregnancy fact sheet
Diabetes	High blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy can harm the fetus and worsen a woman's long-term diabetes complications. Doctors advise getting diabetes under control at least three to six months before trying to conceive.	Diabetes fact sheet
Eating disorders	Body image changes during pregnancy can cause eating disorders to worsen. Eating disorders are linked to many pregnancy complications, including birth defects and premature birth. Women with eating disorders also have higher rates of postpartum depression.	Anorexia nervosa fact sheet Bulimia nervosa fact sheet
Epilepsy and other seizure disorders	Seizures during pregnancy can harm the fetus, and increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. But using medicine to control seizures might cause birth defects. For most pregnant women with epilepsy, using medicine poses less risk to their own health and the health of their babies than stopping medicine.	About Epilepsy
High blood pressure	Having chronic high blood pressure puts a pregnant woman and her baby at risk for problems. Women with high blood pressure have a higher risk of preeclampsiaand placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus). The likelihood of preterm birth and low birth weight also is higher.	Information on high blood pressure from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
HIV	HIV can be passed from a woman to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. Yet this risk is less than 1 percent if a woman takes certain HIV medicines during pregnancy. Women who have HIV and want to become pregnant should talk to their doctors before trying to conceive. Good prenatal care will help protect a woman's baby from HIV and keep her healthy.	HIV and AIDS
Migraine	Migraine symptoms tend to improve during pregnancy. Some women have no migraine attacks during pregnancy. Certain medicines commonly used to treat headaches should not be used during pregnancy. A woman who has severe headaches should speak to her doctor about ways to relieve symptoms safely.	Migraine fact sheet
Overweight and Obesity	Recent studies suggest that the heavier a woman is before she becomes pregnant, the greater her risk of a range of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Overweight and obese women who lose weight before pregnancy are likely to have healthier pregnancies.	Overweight, obesity, and weight loss fact sheet
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)	Some STIs can cause early labor, a woman's water to break too early, and infection in the uterus after birth. Some STIs also can be passed from a woman to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. Some ways STIs can harm the baby include: low birth weight, dangerous infections, brain damage, blindness, deafness, liver problems, or stillbirth.	Sexually transmitted infections fact sheet
Thyroid disease	Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can be dangerous to the mother and cause health problems such as heart failure and poor weight gain in the fetus. Uncontrolled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) also threatens the mother's health and can cause birth defects.	Graves' disease fact sheet Hashimoto's disease fact sheet
Uterine fibroids	Uterine fibroids are not uncommon, but few cause symptoms that require treatment. Uterine fibroids rarely cause miscarriage. Sometimes, fibroids can cause preterm or breech birth. Cesarean delivery may be needed if a fibroid blocks the birth canal.	Uterine fibroids fact sheet

When to call the doctor

When you are pregnant, don't wait to call your doctor or midwife if something is bothering or worrying you. Sometimes physical changes can be signs of a problem.

Call your doctor or midwife as soon as you can if you:

• Are bleeding or leaking fluid from the vagina

• Have sudden or severe swelling in the face, hands, or fingers

• Get severe or long-lasting headaches

• Have discomfort, pain, or cramping in the lower abdomen

• Have a fever or chills

• Are vomiting or have persistent nausea

• Feel discomfort, pain, or burning with urination

• Have problems seeing or blurred vision

• Feel dizzy

• Suspect your baby is moving less than normal after 28 weeks of pregnancy (If you count less than 10 movements within two hours. Learn how to count your baby's movements on our Prenatal care and tests page.)

• Have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby