Diseases During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is quite often accompanied by various diseases. All of them arise for certain reasons and have different symptoms. It is very important to identify diseases at early stages to minimize their impact on the future baby. 

Pregnancy is a very important period for both the mother and the future baby. It is essential to know what diseases may arise during pregnancy, their symptoms, and causes. Timely consultation with a doctor also plays a role, as it allows preventing further development of the illness and reduces the risk of critical situations. 

Most Common Diseases

Many diseases during pregnancy occur due to the heavy load on the female body. Additionally, there is an intensification of symptoms and the impact of existing diseases. Thus, the endocrine and genitourinary systems, as well as the cardiovascular organs, are most affected during the childbearing period.

During pregnancy, a woman is also highly susceptible to infectious illnesses, kidney and liver problems. It is optimal to detect all ailments at the early stages of fetal development, then their impact on the body can be minimized. 

Common Diseases During Pregnancy

Throughout the entire pregnancy period, women should give up harmful habits and lead a healthy lifestyle. If they carefully monitor their health and regularly consult with their doctor, many problems can be avoided. 

At the same time, ailments can vary — infectious, congenital pathologies, acquired diseases. It should be noted that illness during pregnancy harms not only the woman but also the child.

Anemia

Anemia is one of the most common illnesses during pregnancy. It is caused by low hemoglobin levels. The diagnosis should be made as early as possible to minimize risks to the fetus. The main symptoms of the disease:

• increased fatigue and weakness;
• insomnia;
• increased heart rate;
• hair loss and brittle nails;
• inflammation and bleeding gums.

The main cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron and folic acid. 

Skin diseases

Skin diseases during pregnancy also occur quite frequently. This includes various dermatoses such as acne, autoimmune diseases, urticaria, herpes, and fungal infections. During pregnancy, a woman undergoes certain physiological changes, some of which affect the skin. For instance, the condition of hair, nails, and glands changes.

The main symptoms of skin diseases are immediately reflected on the skin — rashes appear, it becomes less elastic, and dullness arises. Changes also affect the condition of hair: it falls out more frequently and actively, loses its natural shine, and sometimes becomes greasy much faster than usual.

Varicose Veins

During pregnancy, every 3rd woman encounters varicose veins. The hormone progesterone is produced during pregnancy. While it’s beneficial for the fetus, it also reduces the tone of muscle walls and blood vessels. Coupled with the pressure from the growing fetus on deep vessels, this can lead to impaired blood circulation in the legs.

Signs of the condition can include not only pronounced bruising from protruding veins but also increased swelling, cramps, itching, and a feeling of heat in the legs. During pregnancy, the condition will only worsen if good blood circulation is not maintained. To achieve this, one should walk more, practice yoga, and periodically visit a swimming pool. 

Kidney Stone Diseases

Urolithiasis, or in other words, kidney stones, occurs in about 1% of pregnant women. The main cause of the disease is associated with dehydration or a urinary infection. The most common symptom of urolithiasis is the onset of renal colic. 

The pain is unbearable, localized in the lower back, and can also radiate to the groin and thighs. In addition to severe pain syndrome, nausea, vomiting, stool disorders, and urination disturbances also occur.

The appearance of urolithiasis during pregnancy can also be tracked by high body temperature and changes in urine, characteristic of the inflammatory process. 

Kidney Diseases

Kidney disease most commonly occurs in pregnant women with inadequately controlled high blood pressure. If kidney diseases are detected in a woman at early stages of pregnancy, it directly affects fetal development. 

Considering that carrying a child places additional stress on the female body, health should be monitored with extra care. Pregnant women most frequently encounter cystitis and pyelonephritis. The main symptoms of these diseases:

• severe pain in the back, abdomen, or side;
• frequent nausea and vomiting in the later stages;
• frequent and painful urination.

The cause of kidney diseases during pregnancy may be related to infections entering the body, prolonged stress, extended fatigue, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or weakened immunity.

Liver Diseases

Some maternal diseases may only begin to develop during pregnancy. This category includes all liver diseases, which are mostly caused by significant hormonal changes. As a result, viral hepatitis and cholestasis are quite common. 

The main symptoms of these diseases include: nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, headaches, and moderate hypertension. The disease during pregnancy can only be confirmed through tests and clinical examinations. 

Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid disorders can also occur during pregnancy. Certain diseases do not affect the fetus directly; only the medications used in treatment have effects. They most commonly arise due to either hyperactivity or hypoactivity of the thyroid gland. 

Due to increased blood supply to the thyroid tissue and its increased mass, the size of the thyroid gland enlarges, leading to a higher demand for iodine. If a woman’s body does not receive an adequate amount of iodine, it can result in thyroid diseases in the child.

Asthma in Pregnant Women

The impact of asthma as a disease during pregnancy can vary. Most often, women with bronchial asthma are more prone to severe toxicosis, and an increase in blood pressure is also possible. Many pregnant women are diagnosed with bronchial asthma at later stages.

Women during pregnancy should avoid all factors that provoke the exacerbation of the disease as much as possible: 

• smoking — active and passive;
• strong odors;
• emotional stress;
• food allergies;
• allergic rhinitis.

It is not possible to fully cure this disease during pregnancy, so the main goal is to minimize the episodes as much as possible. This allows for the normalization of the woman’s well-being and the development of the fetus.

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases during pregnancy also pose certain risks to both the future mother and her child. Some of the most common infectious diseases include:

• Measles. This disease occurs very rarely and in most cases in early pregnancy. Symptoms include a slight increase in body temperature, runny nose, sore throat, followed by rash, swelling, and watery eyes.
• Chickenpox or varicella. Characteristic signs of chickenpox: nausea, malaise, loss of appetite, blister-like rash on the body, muscle and joint pain, fever.
• Herpes. The cause is associated with direct contact with an infected person, much less frequently the infection occurs on a household level. Susceptibility to the virus increases with vitamin deficiency, hypothermia or overheating of the body, and physical exhaustion. Symptoms of the disease include blisters and itching around the mouth or on the mucous membranes, joint pain, chills, and fever.
• Bacterial vaginal infections. Most often women’s diseases and pregnancy are associated with psycho-emotional stress, frequent douching, and excessive sexual activity. The disease manifests with the following symptoms: burning during urination, characteristic discharges, vaginal itching, and hyperemia of the uterine mucosa.

It is very important to detect any illness during pregnancy as early as possible. This will help avoid numerous side effects that can negatively impact both the woman’s health and fetal development.

Essential Timely Doctor Visits

It is crucial for a woman to register at the maternity clinic as soon as possible. This allows for timely execution of all necessary therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive measures, ensuring the ability to carry and give birth to a healthy child. Therefore, in the early stages, examinations are conducted to gather a complete medical history.

This allows to identify which diseases during pregnancy already exist and which may develop. For this purpose, the expectant mother undergoes a full range of tests, such as a complete blood count, general urine test, and so on. Regular examinations are required not only by a gynecologist but also by an endocrinologist, ophthalmologist, as well as a number of other specialists.

Pregnancy is a physiological condition that places a very large strain on a woman’s body. Quite often, for certain reasons, a woman develops diseases of various organs that pose a risk to the normal development of the fetus. That is why from the early stages of carrying a child, it is necessary to regularly visit a doctor and undergo all necessary examinations.