While most women have perfectly healthy pregnancies with only minor discomforts, it never hurts to know the warning signs of conditions that can cause serious health problems for you and your baby. There is a range of different symptoms you can experience during and after pregnancy, from minor discomforts like nausea and leg cramps, to more severe problems like bleeding. Every woman and every pregnancy is different though, and some women even have a problem-free experience. But, you should be prepared to notice any changes in your body as your pregnancy blossoms.
Problems Without Symptoms
Some health problems you might have during pregnancy do not have symptoms. One of these is Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. GBS is a common infection that rarely makes adults sick. The bacterium lives in the gastrointestinal system, along with many other harmless bacteria. Between 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women carry GBS in their vagina and rectums. But, if GBS is passed to the baby during delivery, it can cause serious health problems in your newborn, such as pneumonia, blood infection, or infection of the tissues around the brain.
Because there are no symptoms of GBS, you will be tested by your doctor at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. The simple test involves swabbing the vagina and rectum for a sample of cells that are sent to a lab to look for GBS. If you are infected, you will be treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor and delivery to make sure the baby is protected.
Another problem is anemia, or having below-normal levels of iron in the blood. Iron is needed for hemoglobin (a protein in blood that helps take oxygen to body tissues for energy and growth) for you and your baby. Iron also helps build bones and teeth. Most women do not have symptoms of anemia, but some might have extreme fatigue. Your doctor will check for signs of anemia through the routine blood tests that are taken in different stages of your pregnancy. If you have anemia, you will be given iron supplements to take once or twice a day. Help prevent anemia by eating moreiron-rich foods, like potatoes, raisins, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, whole-grain breads and iron-fortified cereals.
