Health Problems before Pregnancy and Their Effects

Ideally women should talk to their doctor about any existing health problems before pregnancy and their effects. If you are on medication your GP might want to change the way this is managed. Some medicines could be harmful to your unborn baby but don’t stop taking your usual medication without consulting your GP. Most women on GP-supervised medication are able to produce a normal, healthy baby. Here are some of the most common health problems before pregnancy and their effects. Diabetes High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can be harmful to the fetus and lead to longer term diabetes complications for mum. It is recommended that diabetic women get their condition under control for at least six months before getting pregnant. Over or underweight Women who are underweight or overweight can cause complications including birth defects and premature birth. Being significantly overweight also increases your chance of developing diabetes or high blood pressure. Asthma Badly controlled asthma has been linked to pre-eclampsia, underweight babies, premature birth and other complications. Your GP will advise on suitable medication. Depression A woman who is depressed before and throughout pregnancy may struggle to cope with the demands of being a new mum. Having depression before pregnancy also increases the risk of postnatal depression. Epilepsy For some women, their epilepsy is unaffected by pregnancy. But, as pregnancy can cause stress, seizures may become more frequent and severe for some. In general women using drugs to control their epilepsy double the risk of physical defects in the developing baby. It is sometimes possible to move on to safer drugs or reduce dosage but any changes to medication should be done before pregnancy under specialist supervision. High blood pressure Women with high blood pressure have a higher risk of pre-eclampsia and placental abruption. Babies born to women with high blood pressure are also more likely to be premature or of low birth weight. Migraine Some migraine sufferers report that their symptoms improve during pregnancy. Most medicines can affect the development of a baby in the womb. Always consult your GP or midwife before taking any painkillers while pregnant. HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the body's immune system. But if a woman knows she is HIV positive before she is pregnant and gets the right medical help, she has a 99% chance to have a healthy baby without passing on HIV. Sexually transmitted infections Some STDs can cross the placenta and infect the baby others can be transmitted from the mother to the baby during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal. The harmful effects of STDs in babies may include stillbirth, low birth weight, and a range of other conditions. Most of these problems can be prevented if the mother receives routine prenatal care. Uterine fibroids If a woman with fibroids falls pregnant it can cause complications with the development of the baby, or during labour. In very rare cases, fibroids can cause miscarriage.