| RISK
FACTORS IN PREGNANCY
Most pregnancies result in the birth of a normal healthy baby.
But if the mother had a health problem before pregnancy or if
she develops a problem during pregnancy, then there is an increased
risk to the health of both the baby and the mother. Also there
are other risk factors like the life-style the mother leads,
that could importantly affect the health of the baby.
Smoking
Poses risk of early
miscarriage, small babies and still birth. Preferably even ask
your partner to stop
smoking, as passive smoking is as harmful as active smoking.
Alcohol
Research
shows that drinking alcohol even in moderate amounts increases
the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight of babies.
Drugs
Many drugs cross
the placenta and cause severe
abnormalities. Before taking any pills, antibiotics or drugs
for any illness, it is important to consult your obstretician.
Note : Even aspirin,
sleeping pills and anti diarrhoeal tablets can cause problems.
Work
Place
Certain tetrogenic
substances (agents that cause birth defects) can be found in
the work place e.g. lead or mercury or ionizing radiations used
in X-rays. These interfere with the normal development of the
baby, especially if exposed in the 1st trimester, when the baby’s
organs are forming.
Problems can arise at
anytime and because they threaten both the health of the mother
and the baby, the risks should be assessed
throughout pregnancy with intensive prenatal care.
Medical
Conditions
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Any
infectious disease:
Especially contracting German measles (rubella)
in the first trimester
can cause birth defects, miscarriage or still birth. |
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Hypertension:
Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) can lead to
eclampsia (a complication of pregnancy in the 3rd trimester), with
dire results to the mother and baby. |
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Diabetes:
This can result in large babies with difficult delivery
or
still birth. |
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Severe
Anaemia:
Some degree of physiological anaemia occurs in
most pregnancies,
but pathological anaemia should be
actively treated as it affects the growth of the baby
and also
leaves the mother feeling debilitated. |
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RH
factor: If the mother
is RH negative and father is RH
positive it has effect on the foetus. |
Obstretic
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In
Mothers less than 15 years or older than 35 years.
|
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In
twins and triplets where special antenatal care is necessary.
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Any
problems in previous pregnancies like bleeding in the
second or third trimester or
pregnancy induced hypertension or previous caesarian section
can recur again. Any
previous birth defects or abnormal heart beats. |
Pets and
Hygiene
Toxoplasmosis, is
a disease which affects the health of the baby in the womb.
This parasite which is in the cats litter contaminates the soil
and you can get the disease by handling this contaminated soil
e.g. in gardening. Also flies and cockroaches spread contaminated
soil or food.
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