When a woman becomes pregnant for the first time, it becomes one of the most memorable days of her life as it marks her transition from womanhood to motherhood. However, complications may occur, so she must take precautions to avoid them. For example, if she’s sick, it’s an absolute must for her to consult a doctor before taking any medicine for fever since whatever she’ll take from that point on can and will affect the child in her womb. For everyone’s benefit, we listed down four complications women may encounter during the first three months of pregnancy. Read on below.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
It was an unknown illness to many until December 2012 when it’s announced that Duchess Kate Middleton was pregnant with her first child, Prince George. Buckingham palace was forced to announce the pregnancy early due to her being hospitalized for Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Believe it or not, some women may have it without even realizing it. Those who may have heard of it think of it as an illness due to bad morning sickness. However, there’s more to it than that! Hyperemesis Gravidarum affects one pregnant patient per fifty. The future mother would experience excessive vomiting, constant nausea and persistent constipation during the first 12 weeks. It can also cause dehydration, vitamin deficiency and severe weight loss. No one knows the exact causes of Hyperemesis Gravidarum but there’s a speculation that it’s caused by the mother's hormonal changes. Then it usually goes away from the fourth month onwards. It can be treated by oral medication but if the mother can’t keep her food down, intravenous medication might be recommended by doctors.
Listeria
When you’re pregnant, you get the strangest of cravings from shrimp paste mixed with ice cream to pickles. Maybe with these cravings you might ignore the fact that you’re actually eating undercooked meat and vegetables, which could leave you with listeria. Listeria is a bacteria found in raw or undercooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk and some processed food. And pregnant women are 20 times more likely to be infected as compared with those who are not. Symptoms include fever, nausea, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pain. If left unchecked, listeria can eventually lead to a miscarriage. Luckily, it can be treated with antibiotics. And to prevent being infected, simply cook the food thoroughly.
Flu
One of the scariest things for a pregnant mother to experience is the flu. It’s especially dangerous for them since during this time there are changes when it comes to her immune, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Furthermore she can’t just take just any medication for fear of harming her baby. In addition to these, the flu can become pneumonia if left untreated. It can even lead to a miscarriage or a premature birth. The symptoms are generally the same with ordinary flu; headache, fatigue, body pain, sore throat and diarrhea. Fortunately, mothers can get the flu shot any time during the pregnancy. The flu can also be prevented by maintaining good hygiene and taking the recommended prenatal vitamins.
Ectopic Pregnancy
When the egg becomes fertilized, it must lodge itself in the mother's uterus wall in order for the infant to fully take form. Unfortunately, there are certain pregnancy cases wherein the fetus is not inside the uterus but rather in one of the fallopian tubes. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, sometimes also called a tubal pregnancy. Occurs in one out of fifty pregnancy cases, it’s usually caused by an infection on the fallopian tube, scar tissue, endometriosis or chlamydia. Women most prone to it are those in their late 30’s or early 40’s, those who smoke, and those who have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms include stabbing pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder pain and severe lightheadedness. If detected early, an intravenous drug can be administered. But if you detect it late, the doctor may remove the ectopic tissue by laparoscopic surgery. If the damage is to the fallopian tube is too severe, it may need to be removed. Fear not, though! You still have another fallopian tube, and yes, you can still conceive.
Becoming a mother is one of the most beautiful things in the world. So during your first trimester, visit your doctor regularly and just take those vitamins to avoid any severe or minor complications.