Health Concerns That Crop Up During & After Pregnancy & Their Treatments

Pregnancy is an exciting but arguably stressful time. You want to do everything right to ensure the health of your baby. It’s important to understand some of the conditions that you may be up against. Here are some of the things you might deal with and what you should do about them.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is the diagnosis of diabetes in a mother for the first time during pregnancy. Typically, in later terms of a pregnancy when a woman is making insulin for herself and the baby in her womb, the body struggles to produce enough. The struggle to produce insulin is exacerbated in pregnant women who are already obese. Gestational diabetes is modulated and treated in much the same way as normal diabetes.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids usually occur in the later terms of pregnancy and involve the swelling of the veins in the rectum making it painful to sit. While this condition is incredibly uncomfortable, be assured that it is relatively normal and typically doesn’t indicate major medical problems. Varicose veins tend to decrease in severity after you give birth, but if they're still giving you grief there are multiple  minimally invasive treatment options that have little to no downtime.

Mastitis

Mastitis is a condition involving your breasts and the way they produce milk after giving birth. It’s normal for them to be a bit red and inflamed for a couple of weeks after giving birth, but if it persists, seek help. You can receive antibiotics to fight mastitis so that you can resume normal breastfeeding pain-free.

Postpartum Depression

Another condition that you may suffer from after giving birth is  postpartum depression. This condition can be additionally upsetting for many because they have never suffered from depression before. In the moments after such a joyous event like having a baby, many mothers can feel shocked, upset, scared, and increasingly anxious if they are not feeling happy and excited about their baby.

If you start feeling sustained symptoms of depression including a low mood, loss of interest in activities that would normally excite you, problems concentrating, or abnormally confusing thoughts, reach out to a provider and get help. Meeting with a psychologist, receiving therapy, and receiving any necessary medication can go a long way in helping you feel better, or at least better able to care for your mental health.

Postpartum Preeclampsia

One condition that you may experience after giving birth is called  postpartum preeclampsia. Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare condition that only develops in a small percentage of women after pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood pressure, severe headaches, vision changes, and sensitivity to light, momentary blackouts, and abdominal pain.

If you experience any of these symptoms during pregnancy, take note. Having these symptoms earlier could indicate a higher likelihood to suffer from preeclampsia after pregnancy. Your doctor can help you figure out the best way to treat it if you do suffer from it.

Typically, she can give you blood pressure medications. But maintaining an active lifestyle and maintaining a healthy diet can also make a big difference in dispelling postpartum preeclampsia.

Urinary Tract Infections

During pregnancy, there is an increased likelihood that you’ll have urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections arise when bad bacteria get into the urinary tract. Typically, you’ll feel symptoms such as pain or burning when you go to the bathroom, a fever, pressure on your lower abdomen, or badly smelling or reddish urine. You must be aware of these signs so you can respond quickly if any of them arise.

Reach out to your health care provider about the symptoms because they can quickly determine if you have an infection by looking at a urine sample. If you do have a urinary tract infection, they can give you antibiotics that will get rid of the infection and help alleviate the discomfort and pain you feel.

Weight Gain

One common result of pregnancy that many women experience is weight gain. And surely, after insulating another living and breathing human safely within your belly, it makes sense that your body will have a little extra weight after giving birth. But while weight gain is normal after pregnancy, it’s still something you should be aware of because it could result in other problems if not regulated.

It’s also  something you should watch before and during pregnancy. Lowering your body fat percentage before and during pregnancy results in fewer complications during delivery. So add in regular walking, be more particular about what you eat, and try to make you’re getting enough water to keep your body at a healthy weight.

You’re pregnant. You’re excited. And you’re nervous. Start with the ideas in this article to get a head start on figuring out some of the conditions that you could potentially face in your pregnancy. Then do further research to prepare and prevent as much as possible.

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