Complications in pregnancy

Most pregnancies will progress safely, happily and without any major problems or emergencies, but for some there may be complications. To be on the safe side and for your own peace of mind, you should be aware of any potential complications and the corresponding danger signs so that you can seek medical care if necessary.

If you experience any unusual symptoms, or if you have concerns about any of your pregnancy symptoms contact your doctor as soon as possible to arrange a check-up.

Some of the more serious complications include:

- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Incompetent Cervix
- Miscarriage
- Placenta Praevia
- Placental Insufficiency
- Placental Separation
- Pre-Eclampsia & Eclampsia

Ectopic pregnancy
In normal pregnancy the fertilised ovum implants itself in the uterus, however in an ectopic pregnancy it implants in another area, almost always the fallopian tube. As the embryo grows, it pushes against the fallopian tube and gradually weakens the walls, resulting in bleeding and ultimately a burst fallopian tube. Thankfully there are warning signs for an ectopic pregnancy and along with any other unusual symptoms, these must be reported to your doctor immediately to enable quick treatment. You may be alerted to an ectopic pregnancy by abdominal pain (usually felt on one side), possible bleeding, feeling faint or fainting and shoulder pain in the same side of the body as the abdominal pain. If detected early, the fallopian tube can be saved before rupture occurs, however the embryo cannot be saved. An acute ectopic pregnancy will result in a burst fallopian tube. In this case the pregnancy is removed by surgery and depending on the damage to the tube, it may also need to be removed. After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy you can successfully become pregnant again, depending on your individual circumstances. Read our article on Ectopic Pregnancy.
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