Pregnancy is a unique and delicate moment that requires special vigilance. Certain complications can indeed spoil our pleasure: they are often linked to the history or age of the future mother or to the occurrence of various infections.

The hygiene of life, as for it, and some changes of habits, makes it possible to avoid a certain number of dangers, although it is not always easy to accept the turning!

Here is an overview of the most common risks that a pregnant woman may face.

Pregnancy at risk

Approximately 15% of pregnancies are considered at risk and require special medical attention. We put in place close supervision even if, in the end, everything can very well unfold. It is a preventive approach according to the antecedents and the factors related to the future mother.

For her, we talk about pregnancy at risk when she:

• Has already experienced several miscarriages, premature deliveries or antecedents of pathological pregnancy;
• Is under 16 years of age or over 35 years of age;
• Is ill, for example with diabetes, cardiac or renal disease.

Note: some even risk pregnancies require monitoring in level 3 maternity hospitals (deemed equipped for complex and serious situations).

Late Pregnancy

Although late pregnancies are becoming more frequent (women now have the longer higher education), they are still at risk from the age of 35. It is also at this stage that the largest number of preterm deliveries and caesarean sections are recorded.

Other risks are also to be taken into account, such as:

• The chromosomal abnormality, in particular, trisomy 21;
• The pathologies associated with pregnancy, such as diabetes or hypertension.

The alcohol

The consumption of alcohol must be banned from the beginning of pregnancy because it carries important risks for the baby. The alcohol ingested by the future mother passes directly from the placenta into the blood of the fetus and can have serious consequences, such as disorders of the development of the cells in it, in particular of the cells of the nervous system:

• Malformations (cardiac, cerebral or skeletal);
• Growth retardation;
• Facial anomalies;
• Learning disabilities;
• Risks of miscarriage or premature delivery for mothers.

The tobacco

The consequences of smoking on the fetus are particularly important and it is strongly recommended that pregnant women stop smoking or, if they do not, smoke as little as possible. The list of tobacco-related risks is long for both mothers and babies:

• miscarriage ;
• ectopic pregnancy ;
• premature delivery ;
• hemorrhage;
• In-uteri fetal death;
• Respiratory infection and asthma;
• growth retardation ;
• Heart, urinary, skeletal malformations;
• Psychomotor and intellectual disorders.

Stopping tobacco is often very difficult, but it is worth it … Taking nicotine replacements is possible, inquire. Courage!

Good to know: passive smoking is also very harmful to the baby.

Influenza

It, unfortunately, affects 15% of the future mothers each year and must be taken seriously as soon as the first symptoms appear. This is why influenza vaccine is particularly advisable, including and especially in pregnant women.

Preterm delivery is a frequent consequence when the flu is contracted during pregnancy.

Scarlet fever

Although this disease is now rare in France, no risk exists. If a pregnant woman catches scarlet fever, she should be treated like any other person with an antibiotic treatment that does not have a contraindication related to pregnancy.

Scarlet fever is often pronounced abruptly, by a high fever, a painful swelling of the glands of the neck as for angina, then a rash. Without antibiotic treatment, fever can be responsible for complications during pregnancy:

• Acceleration of heart rate;
• Renal impairment.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis can have serious consequences for pregnant women and the future baby, especially if contracted during the first trimester of pregnancy.

It is due to a parasite, which is mainly found:

• In raw (or very cooked) meat that has not been frozen;
• In certain fruits and vegetables not or badly washed;
• In the droppings of cats.

If the mother-to-be has never contracted this disease and is therefore not immune, she must be checked by a blood test every month, to avoid any risk of cerebral, ocular or hepatic abnormality for the fetus.

Listeriosis

Most often, humans contract listeriosis by eating food containing the bacteria, as in:

• Charcuterie;
• Raw milk;
• Raw milk cheeses;
• Raw (or poorly cooked) meat;
• The raw vegetables.

It results in fever, fatigue, and generalized pain.

If the mother is infected during her pregnancy, the bacteria passes through the placenta and can cause many dangers in the baby or the pregnancy itself:

• In-uteri death;
• miscarriage ;
• Fetal distress and risk of preterm delivery;
• Septicemia in infants at birth;
• Meningitis;
• Affecting the liver or lungs.

Eureka tells you more

Want to expand your literature and learn about risks during pregnancy? Here are some of the files we recommend reading:

• The risks of herpes in pregnant women .
• All about chickenpox in pregnant women .
• Prevention of anemia during pregnancy .
• All about miscarriages .