Pregnancy complications - ectopic pregnancy, diabetes and more

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Although most pregnancies are trouble free, pregnancy complications can occur in a small number of cases. Recognizing the symptoms and contacting your doctor as soon as possible will ensure a quick diagnosis and treatment plan. Other pregnancy complications will be picked up during routine tests and examinations at your antenatal check ups.

Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy

Ectopic means 'out of place' and an ectopic pregnancy occurs outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes. The uterus is the only place that can support a fetus and so an ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally. A developing ectopic pregnancy will cause severe abdominal pain and can cause a rupture of the fallopian tube which will result in severe bleeding. Roughly one in every 200 pregnancies is ectopic but the reasons for this are not well understood. If you have abdominal pain you should see your doctor who will perform a pelvic exam and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. An ultrasound will determine where the pregnancy is. If caught early, ectopic pregnancies can sometimes be treated with medication, but generally they require keyhole surgery.

Gestational diabetes

If the body fails to make enough insulin to cope with the increased blood levels during pregnancy you may develop a condition known as gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is unique to pregnancy and is caused by the production of a hormone called human placental lactogen in the placenta. This hormone works against insulin and can uncover a tendency to diabetes. You're more at risk of gestational diabetes if you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, are over 35, overweight or are Asian. Excessive thirst and urination are the most common symptoms. A low-sugar diet will normally control the condition but some women will require twice-daily insulin injections.

Taxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a single-celled parasite that can be picked up through contact with outdoor cats, by eating undercooked meats or unwashed vegetables. If you become infected while pregnant you can pass the infection to the baby and cause damage to the brain, eyes or other organs of the fetus. The effect on the baby's development is greatest if contracted during the first trimester of pregnancy but this is also the time when there is the least chance of you passing on the infection. Most people who are infected with toxoplasmosis are unaware of it but some general symptoms include feeling generally unwell, having a slight fever, muscle aches and a rash or possibly swollen glands. You may need to take antibiotics to prevent you passing on the infection to your child. To reduce the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis wear gloves when gardening, ask someone else to empty and clean the cat's litter box and make sure you cook all meat thoroughly and wash all vegetables properly.

Rhesus incompatibility

Knowing your blood group is important in case you require a transfusion during pregnancy but incompatibilities in the rhesus status of your blood and your baby's can cause pregnancy complications. If you are rhesus negative and your baby is rhesus positive it is possible that your body will begin to form antibodies to your baby's red blood cells when the blood mixes during delivery. If you become pregnant again these antibodies can destroy the second baby's blood cells if he or she is rhesus positive, and lead to dangerous form of anemia called hemolytic disease. To prevent the formation of the antibodies it is important for rhesus negative mothers to have injections of Rh immuno-globulin (anti-D).

This page only covers a few of the pregnancy complications that can occur and should not be taken as a guide to all possible conditions. For more comprehensive information on pregnancy complications visit the National Women's Health Information Center, or the National Health Service Direct.

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