| Complications of pregnancy |
| Classification and external resources |
| Specialty |
obstetrics |
| ICD-10 |
O00-O48 |
| ICD-9-CM |
630-648 |
| MeSH |
D011248 |
|
[edit on Wikidata]
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Complications of pregnancy are health problems that are caused by pregnancy. There is no clear distinction between complications of pregnancy and symptoms and discomforts of pregnancy. However, the latter do not significantly interfere with activities of daily living or pose any significant threat to the health of the mother or baby. Still, in some cases the same basic feature can manifest as either a discomfort or a complication depending on the severity. For example, mild nausea may merely be a discomfort (morning sickness), but if severe and with vomiting causing water-electrolyte imbalance it can be classified as a pregnancy complication (hyperemesis gravidarum).
In the immediate postpartum period, 87% to 94% of women report at least one health problem.[1][2] Long term health problems (persisting after 6 months postpartum) are reported by 31% of women.[3] Severe complications of pregnancy are present in 1.6% of mothers in the US[4] and in 1.5% of mothers in Canada [5]
In 2013, complications of pregnancy resulted globally in 293,000 deaths down from 377,000 deaths in 1990. The most common causes include maternal bleeding, complications of abortion, high blood pressure of pregnancy, maternal sepsis, and obstructed labor.[6]
Contents
- 1 Maternal problems
- 1.1 Perineal tearing
- 1.2 Hyperemesis gravidarum
- 1.3 Pelvic girdle pain
- 1.4 High blood pressure
- 1.5 Deep vein thrombosis
- 1.6 Anemia
- 1.7 Infection
- 1.8 Incontinence
- 1.9 Postpartum depression
- 1.10 Posttraumatic stress disorder
- 2 Fetal problems
- 2.1 Ectopic pregnancy
- 2.2 Placental abruption
- 2.3 Multiple pregnancies
- 2.4 Vertically transmitted infection
- 3 General risk factors
- 3.1 High-risk pregnancy
- 3.2 Low-risk pregnancy
- 4 See also
- 5 References
Maternal problems
The following problems originate mainly in the mother.
Perineal tearing
Perineal tearing is the spontaneous (unintended) tearing of the skin and other soft tissue structures which, in women, separate the vagina from the anus. Perineal tearing occurs in 85% of vaginal deliveries.[7] At 6 months postpartum, 21% of women still report perineal pain[3] and 11-49% report sexual problems or painful intercourse.[3]
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is the presence of severe and persistent vomiting, causing dehydration and weight loss. It is more severe than the more common morning sickness and is estimated to affect 0.5–2.0% of pregnant women.[8][9]
Pelvic girdle pain
- Caused by: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) disorder is complex and multi-factorial and likely to be represented by a series of sub-groups with different underlying pain drivers from peripheral or central nervous system, altered laxity/stiffness of muscles, laxity to injury of tendinous/ligamentous structures to ‘mal-adaptive’ body mechanics. Musculo-Skeletal Mechanics involved in gait and weight bearing activities can be mild to grossly impaired. PGP can begin peri or postpartum. For most women PGP resolves in weeks after delivery but for some it can last for years resulting in a reduced tolerance for weight bearing activities. PGP affects around 45% of women during pregnancy: 25% report serious pain and 8% are severely disabled.[10]
- Treatment: The degree of treatment is based on the severity. A mild case would require rest, rehabilitation therapy and pain is usually manageable. More severe cases would also include mobility aids, strong analgesics and sometimes surgery. One of the main factors in helping women cope is with education, information and support. Many treatment options are available.
High blood pressure
Main article: Hypertensive disease of pregnancy
Potential severe hypertensive states of pregnancy are mainly:
- Preeclampsia = gestational hypertension, proteinuria (>300 mg), and edema. Severe preeclampsia involves a BP over 160/110 (with additional signs). It affects 5-8% of pregnancies.[11]
- Eclampsia = seizures in a pre-eclamptic patient, affect around 1.4% of pregnancies.[12]
- HELLP syndrome = Hemolytic anemia, Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. Incidence is reported as 0.5-0.9% of all pregnancies.[13]
- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is sometimes included in the preeclamptic spectrum. It occurs in approximately one in 7,000 to one in 15,000 pregnancies.[14][15]
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has an incidence of 0.5 to 7 per 1,000 pregnancies, and is the second most common cause of maternal death in developed countries after bleeding.[16]
- Caused by: Pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability as a physiological response to potential massive bleeding at childbirth.
- Treatment: Prophylactic treatment, e.g. with low molecular weight heparin may be indicated when there are additional risk factors for deep vein thrombosis.[16]
Anemia
Levels of hemoglobin are lower in the third trimesters. According to the United Nations (UN) estimates, approximately half of pregnant women suffer from anemia worldwide. Anemia prevalences during pregnancy differed from 18% in developed countries to 75% in South Asia.[17] Treatment varies due to the severity of the anaemia, and can be used by increasing iron containing foods, oral iron tablets or by the use of parenteral iron.
Infection
Main article: Susceptibility and severity of infections in pregnancy
A pregnant woman is more susceptible to certain infections. This increased risk is caused by an increased immune tolerance in pregnancy to prevent an immune reaction against the fetus, as well as secondary to maternal physiological changes including a decrease in respiratory volumes and urinary stasis due to an enlarging uterus.[18] Pregnant women are more severely affected by, for example, influenza, hepatitis E, herpes simplex and malaria.[18] The evidence is more limited for coccidioidomycosis, measles, smallpox, and varicella.[18] Mastitis, or inflammation of the breast occurs in 20% of lactating women.[19]
Some infections are vertically transmissible, meaning that they can affect the child as well.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence have been linked to all methods of childbirth, with the incidence of urinary incontinence at 6 months postpartum being 3-7% and fecal incontinence 1-3%.[3]
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a moderate to severe depressive episode starting anytime during pregnancy or within the four weeks following delivery. It occurs in 4-20% of pregnancies, depending on its definition.[3] In 38% of the cases of postpartum depression, women are still depressed 3 years postpartum.[20] In 0.2% of pregnancies, postpartum depression leads to psychosis.[21]
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Research indicates that 13.6% of women suffer from symptoms of Posttraumatic stress disorder at 6 months postpartum.[22]
Fetal problems
The following problems occur in the fetus or placenta, but may have serious consequences on the mother as well.
Ectopic pregnancy
Main article: Ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is implantation of the embryo outside the uterus
- Caused by: Unknown, but risk factors include smoking, advanced maternal age, and prior damage to the Fallopian tubes.
- Treatment: If there is no spontaneous resolution, the pregnancy is usually aborted to prevent injury or death to the mother.
Placental abruption
Main article: Placental abruption
Placental abruption is separation of the placenta from the uterus.
- Caused by: Various causes; risk factors include maternal hypertension, trauma, and drug use.
- Treatment: Immediate delivery if the fetus is mature (36 weeks or older), or if a younger fetus or the mother is in distress. In less severe cases with immature fetuses, the situation may be monitored in hospital, with treatment if necessary.
Multiple pregnancies
Main article: Multiple birth
Multiples may become monochorionic, sharing the same chorion, with resultant risk of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Monochorionic multiples may even become monoamniotic, sharing the same amniotic sac, resulting in risk of umbilical cord compression and entanglement. In very rare cases, there may be conjoined twins, possibly impairing function of internal organs.
Vertically transmitted infection
Further information: Vertically transmitted infection
Further information: Neonatal infection
The embryo and fetus have little or no immune function. They depend on the immune function of their mother. Several pathogens can cross the placenta and cause (perinatal) infection. Often microorganisms that produce minor illness in the mother are very dangerous for the developing embryo or fetus. This can result in spontaneous abortion or major developmental disorders. For many infections, the baby is more at risk at particular stages of pregnancy. Problems related to perinatal infection are not always directly noticeable.
The term TORCH complex refers to a set of several different infections that may be caused by transplacental infection.
Babies can also become infected by their mother during birth. During birth, babies are exposed to maternal blood and body fluids without the placental barrier intervening and to the maternal genital tract. Because of this, blood-borne microorganisms (Hepatitis B, HIV), organisms associated with sexually transmitted disease (e.g., Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia), and normal fauna of the genito-urinary tract (e.g., Candida) are among those commonly seen in infection of newborns.
General risk factors
Factors increasing the risk (to either the woman, the fetus/es, or both) of pregnancy complications beyond the normal level of risk may be present in a woman's medical profile either before she becomes pregnant or during the pregnancy.[23] These pre-existing factors may relate to physical and/or mental health, and/or to social issues, or a combination.[24]
Some common risk factors include:
High-risk pregnancy
Some disorders and conditions can mean that pregnancy is considered high-risk (about 6-8% of pregnancies in the USA) and in extreme cases may be contraindicated. High-risk pregnancies are the main focus of doctors specialising in maternal-fetal medicine.
Serious pre-existing disorders which can reduce a woman's physical ability to survive pregnancy include a range of congenital defects (that is, conditions with which the woman herself was born, for example, those of the heart or reproductive organs, some of which are listed above) and diseases acquired at any time during the woman's life.
Low-risk pregnancy
A Dutch 2010 research showed that "low-risk" pregnancy in the Netherlands may actually carry a higher risk of perinatal death than a "high-risk" pregnancy.[32] A medical news report observed, "Under the Dutch system of obstetric care, women with low-risk pregnancies are supervised by a midwife in primary care, with the choice of a home or hospital delivery, whereas those with potential complicating factors are supervised by an obstetrician throughout their pregnancy and given a hospital delivery".[33]
See also
- List of obstetric topics
- Dermatoses of pregnancy
- Thyroid in pregnancy
- Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
References
- ^ Glazener CMA, Abdalla M, Stroud P, Naji S, Templeton A, Russell IT. Postnatal maternal morbidity: Extent, causes, prevention and treatment. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102:282–7.[1]
- ^ Thompson JF, Roberts CL, Currie M, Ellwood DA. Prevalence and persistence of health problems after childbirth: Associations with parity and method of birth. Birth 2002; 29:83–94. [2]
- ^ a b c d e Borders, N. (2006). After the afterbirth: a critical review of postpartum health relative to method of delivery. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s health, 51(4), 242-248.[3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ GBD 2013 Mortality and Causes of Death, Collaborators (17 December 2014). "Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.". Lancet 385: 117–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61682-2. PMC 4340604. PMID 25530442.
- ^ McCandlish, R., Bowler, U., Asten, H., Berridge, G., Winter, C., Sames, L., ... & Elbourne, D. (1998). A randomised controlled trial of care of the perineum during second stage of normal labour. BJOG: an international journal of obstetrics & gynaecology, 105(12), 1262-1272.[6]
- ^ Summers, A (July 2012). "Emergency management of hyperemesis gravidarum.". Emergency nurse 20 (4): 24–28. doi:10.7748/en2012.07.20.4.24.c9206. PMID 22876404.
- ^ Goodwin, TM (September 2008). "Hyperemesis gravidarum.". Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America 35 (3): 401–17, viii. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2008.04.002. PMID 18760227.
- ^ Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: Terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence European Spine Journal Vol 13, No. 7 / Nov. 2004 W. H. Wu, O. G. Meijer, K. Uegaki, J. M. A. Mens, J. H. van Dieën, P. I. J. M. Wuisman, H. C. Östgaard.
- ^ Villar J, Say L, Gulmezoglu AM, Meraldi M, Lindheimer MD, Betran AP, Piaggio G; Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia: a health problem for 2000 years. In Pre-eclampsia, Critchly H, MacLean A, Poston L, Walker J, eds. London, RCOG Press, 2003, pp 189-207.
- ^ Abalos, E; Cuesta, C; Grosso, AL; Chou, D; Say, L (September 2013). "Global and regional estimates of preeclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review.". European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 170 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.05.005. PMID 23746796.
- ^ Haram K, Svendsen E, Abildgaard U (Feb 2009). "The HELLP syndrome: clinical issues and management. A review" (PDF). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 9: 8. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-9-8. PMC 2654858. PMID 19245695.
- ^ Mjahed K, Charra B, Hamoudi D, Noun M, Barrou L (2006). "Acute fatty liver of pregnancy". Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 274 (6): 349–353. doi:10.1007/s00404-006-0203-6. PMID 16868757.
- ^ Reyes H, Sandoval L, Wainstein A, et al. (1994). "Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a clinical study of 12 episodes in 11 patients". Gut 35 (1): 101–106. doi:10.1136/gut.35.1.101. PMC 1374642. PMID 8307428.
- ^ a b Venös tromboembolism (VTE) — Guidelines for treatment in C counties. Bengt Wahlström, Emergency department, Uppsala Academic Hospital. January 2008
- ^ Wang S, An L, Cochran SD (2002). "Women". In Detels R, McEwen J, Beaglehole R, Tanaka H. Oxford textbook of public health (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 1587–601.
- ^ a b c Kourtis, Athena P.; Read, Jennifer S.; Jamieson, Denise J. (2014). "Pregnancy and Infection". New England Journal of Medicine 370 (23): 2211–2218. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1213566. ISSN 0028-4793.
- ^ Kaufmann R., Foxman B. (1991). "Mastitis among lactating women: occurrence and risk factors". Social science & medicine 33 (6): 701–705. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(91)90024-7. PMID 9785526.
- ^ Vliegen N., Casalin S., Luyten P. (2014). "The course of postpartum depression: a review of longitudinal studies". Harvard Review of Psychiatry 22 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1097/hrp.0000000000000013.
- ^ Sit D., Rothschild A. J., Wisner K. L. (2006). "A review of postpartum psychosis". Journal of women's health 15 (4): 352–368. doi:10.1089/jwh.2006.15.352.
- ^ Montmasson H., Bertrand P., Perrotin F., El-Hage W. (2012). "[Predictors of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder in primiparous mothers]". Journal de gynecologie, obstetrique et biologie de la reproduction 41 (6): 553–560. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2012.04.010. PMID 22622194.
- ^ "Health problems in pregnancy". Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine.
- ^ a b c d e f Merck. "Risk factors present before pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2007. Preventing Smoking and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Before, During, and After Pregnancy.
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. Tobacco Use and Pregnancy: Home. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/tobaccousepregnancy/index.htm
- ^ a b "New Mother Fact Sheet: Methamphetamine Use During Pregnancy". North Dakota Department of Health. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ Grotta, Sheri; LaGasse, Linda; Arria, Amelia; Derauf, Chris (30 June 2009). "Patterns of Methamphetamine Use During Pregnancy: Results from the IDEAL Study". Matern Child Health J 14 (4): 519–527. doi:10.1007/s10995-009-0491-0. PMC 2895902. PMID 19565330.
- ^ Gavin, AR; Holzman, C; Siefert, K; Tian, Y (2009). "MATERNAL DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, DEPRESSION AND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION USE IN RELATION TO RISK OF PRETERM DELIVERY". Women's Health Issues 19 (5): 325–34. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2009.05.004. PMC 2839867. PMID 19733802.
- ^ Eisenberg, Leon; Brown, Sarah Hart (1995). The best intentions: unintended pregnancy and the well-being of children and families. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. ISBN 0-309-05230-0. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ "Family Planning - Healthy People 2020". Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ Evers, A. C. C.; Brouwers, H. A. A.; Hukkelhoven, C. W. P. M.; Nikkels, P. G. J.; Boon, J.; Van Egmond-Linden, A.; Hillegersberg, J.; Snuif, Y. S.; Sterken-Hooisma, S.; Bruinse, H. W.; Kwee, A. (2010). "Perinatal mortality and severe morbidity in low and high risk term pregnancies in the Netherlands: prospective cohort study". BMJ 341: c5639. doi:10.1136/bmj.c5639. PMID 21045050.
- ^ Neal, Todd (2011). "Medical News: Dutch System of Obstetric Care Called into Question - in OB/Gyn, Pregnancy from MedPage Today". medpagetoday.com. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
A 'low-risk' pregnancy in the Netherlands may actually carry a higher risk of perinatal death than a 'high-risk' pregnancy, researchers found.
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Pathology of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O, 630–679)
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| Pregnancy |
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Pregnancy with
abortive outcome
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- Ectopic pregnancy
- Abdominal pregnancy
- Cervical pregnancy
- Interstitial pregnancy
- Ovarian pregnancy
- Molar pregnancy
- Miscarriage
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Oedema, proteinuria and
hypertensive disorders
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- Gestational hypertension
- Pre-eclampsia
- Eclampsia
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Other, predominantly
related to pregnancy
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Digestive system
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- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes
- Hepatitis E
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
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Integumentary system /
dermatoses of pregnancy
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- Gestational pemphigoid
- Impetigo herpetiformis
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Linea nigra
- Prurigo gestationis
- Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy
- Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP)
- Striae gravidarum
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Nervous system
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Blood
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- Gestational thrombocytopenia
- Pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability
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Maternal care related to the
fetus and amniotic cavity
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- amniotic fluid
- Oligohydramnios
- Polyhydramnios
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- chorion / amnion
- Amniotic band syndrome
- Chorioamnionitis
- Chorionic hematoma
- Monoamniotic twins
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Obstetrical hemorrhage
- placenta
- Circumvallate placenta
- Monochorionic twins
- Placenta praevia
- Placental abruption
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
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| Labor |
- Amniotic fluid embolism
- Cephalopelvic disproportion
- Dystocia
- Fetal distress
- Locked twins
- Obstetrical hemorrhage
- placenta
- Preterm birth
- Postmature birth
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Uterine rupture
- Vasa praevia
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| Puerperal |
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Lactation failure
- Galactorrhea
- Fissure of the nipple
- Breast engorgement
- Diastasis symphysis pubis
- Peripartum cardiomyopathy
- Postpartum depression
- Postpartum thyroiditis
- Puerperal fever
- Puerperal mastitis
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| Other |
- Concomitant conditions
- Diabetes mellitus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Thyroid disorders
- Maternal death
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