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John & Doris
We joined parent profiles.com in June 2004 and on Dec. 11 of the same year a birthmother contacted us. She also lived in MD and since the holidays were fast approaching and we were going to go out of town we agreed to meet on January 2. The meeting went well and after one more e-mail she asked us to be the adoptive parents of her baby and she asked me (the adoptive mother) if more ...
Pregnancy Problems
Pregnancy is a totally natural state for a woman, but natural doesn't guarantee easy. There are a number of pregnancy problems that can arise over nine months. Most, thankfully, will be easily treated.
One of the most common pregnancy problems, unfortunately, is miscarriage. About 15% of confirmed pregnancies will end in the first 20 weeks, usually in the first trimester. Miscarriage can have a number of causes, including chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg, an egg that doesn't implant properly in the uterine lining, or some maternal conditions such as lupus or poorly controlled diabetes. Miscarriage can be heartbreaking, but the good news is that in most cases, you can go on to have a healthy baby in the future.
Far more rare than a miscarriage is an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, one in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus - usually in a Fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can not be saved, and if not detected in time, can cause tubal rupture and potentially severe problems for the mother. If caught early, you may be able to have drug therapy: in other cases, you may need either laparoscopic or abdominal surgery. As with most other pregnancy problems, one ectopic episode does not rule out a healthy pregnancy in the future.
A couple of other pregnancy problems that may arise, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, will usually have a happier ending. Between 2 and 7% of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes, which is usually limited to the duration of the pregnancy. If you do develop gestational diabetes, you are at higher risk for diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes can usually be controlled with diet, exercise, and possibly insulin shots. When monitored and controlled, the chances are that mother and child will both be fine.
Preeclampsia develops in about 5 to 8% of pregnant women. It's diagnosed when you have high blood pressure and protein in your urine after the 20th week of pregnancy. The only cure for this is to deliver the baby. Treatment depends on the severity and how far along you are. Bed rest, hospitalization, medication, and possible induction or cesarean are some of the possible treatments. With preeclampsia, as with other pregnancy problems, expect careful monitoring. But again, prompt and careful treatment can often mean a happy ending for baby and mom.
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