Women’s Health and the Possible Complications During Childbirth

As women, there is nothing more important than our health and the health of our kids. When it comes to illnesses and complications, though, there are some aspects that we cannot control. Thankfully, there are many others that we can avoid and fix if we notice them soon enough. Making sure that we are in good shape so we can provide a healthy environment for our children as early as childbirth is paramount. To improve the chances of healthy delivery for you and your baby, take notice of these common ailments at childbirth and what you could do to stop them in their tracks.

The Time and Place of Delivery Can Be a Factor

Although it is not pleasant to think about, birth complications can occur in the hospital, even if you have had a healthy pregnancy up to that point. In fact, out of 2 million deliveries, 21,000 women had complications while giving birth. Common complications seen include perineal laceration, uterine rupture, an unplanned hysterectomy, and additional operations that become necessary after delivery of the baby.

Although accidents can happen, in many cases, the risk of these complications can be related to the time and place of the delivery.

According to the attorneys at Thurswell Law, “the likelihood of complications during the night shift was 21 percent higher, on weekends it was 9 percent higher, and 29 percent higher on holidays.” If that weren’t enough to think about, these studies have also shown that there was a “28 percent chance of complications in teaching hospitals during the month of July when residents begin their training.”

Taking a look at why, just like any job, nurses and medical personnel like to work days and have evenings, weekends, and holidays off. The issue here is the hospital could then be short staffed or staffed with less experienced doctors. Of course, with the exception of a scheduled induced labor or c-section, any woman who has given birth knows that you can not really plan or predict when a baby is ready to be born. However, you could use this knowledge to put a potential plan in place. You may try reaching out to your hospital of choice to ask if these issues are common at their location and that they have adequate staffing.

A Viable Versus a Non-Viable Pregnancy

Pregnancy complications can happen at any point, and there are signs that can point to a viable and non-viable pregnancy. During the first trimester, a doctor can tell when a pregnancy is viable by taking note of several signs:

• A healthy gestational sac (the sac that holds the embryo)
• Observing a “fetal pole” (the beginning stages of the fetus) that is 5 mm in length or longer
• Detecting a visible fetal heartbeat
• The amount of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin produced by the placenta doubling every two to three days

If there are any implications with the above requirements, it may result in a non-viable pregnancy.

There can be some physical symptoms of a potentially non-viable pregnancy, which may include:

• Cramping
• A loss of the feelings of nausea that is typical during the pregnancy
• Back or abdomen pain
• White-pink mucus

Even without these symptoms, most women do not realize that their pregnancy may be non-viable until the sixth week of pregnancy, which is also usually the first time that pregnant women visit their doctor or midwife. It is during this time that the signs are most clear of either a viable or non-viable pregnancy. This fact enforces the importance of seeing your doctor as soon as possible after you take a positive pregnancy test or feel the effects of pregnancy.

If you do have a non-viable pregnancy, there may still be a light at the end of the tunnel as many women can become successful with a viable pregnancy after a recovery period.

A Healthy Mother for a Healthy Child

The best chance to have a healthy child both during and after childbirth is for you to be a healthy mother. Although we want to exercise and eat right, there are also health concerns that women need to be aware of so they can be cognizant of the symptoms. For example, if not treated, breast cancer can spread to other organs throughout the body, so self-checks and doctor visits are a must.

Although we always hear how common heart disease is in men, it is also a threat to women, causing death in one out of every four women, so the same precautions must be taken, including avoiding stress, high-cholesterol foods, and smoking. It is also essential to be aware of threats against successful reproduction including ovarian and cervical cancers, PCOS, and endometriosis, as well as excessive bleeding between menstruations. To stop these issues in their tracks or learn what you can do to manage them, make it a point to schedule regular pap smears and doctor visits.

When it comes to pregnancy, several pre-existing ailments can prevent the birth of a healthy child. Such conditions include diabetes, asthma, and depression, all of which have the potential to be treated. However, ignoring them could create complications for the child. When you are pregnant, a drop in the red blood cell count can cause anemia or depression. If you experience any of these feelings, do not delay in visiting an obstetrician as they can treat many of these pregnancy complications.

What’s more, don’t forget about after-delivery care as well. Between 11% and 20% of women suffer from postpartum depression (PPD) after childbirth. This can be due to the radical change in hormones that happens after birth, but a history of depression or anxiety can make it more likely. Many women are ashamed of the thoughts and feelings they have when experiencing PPD, so they don’t seek the help they need. This can have dire consequences depending on the severity of the PPD, so it’s imperative that you seek help if you suspect you might have PPD.

As a woman, bringing a child into the world is one of the most amazing experiences in life, so make sure that you take care of yourself and increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.