The maternal mortality rate in Australia was 6 per 100,000 women in 2017. During 2008-2017, this rate was 6.7 per 100,000 women giving birth. This ratio corresponds to 248 women. As we can see in this statistic, the maternal mortality rate in Australia has slid down by nearly 10% from 2008 to 2017. Nevertheless, as a society, we must strive to bring this rate further down and make child-delivery safer. 

This article talks about some of the common pregnancy-related complications faced by Australian women. If we know the causes of these complications, delivery-related issues can be brought down significantly. If you think you have conceived, you may consult Dr Rahul Sen for preventing these medical complications. 

High Blood Pressure

Also called hypertension, this medical condition develops when the walls of the arteries become narrower. There are various reasons why these walls become narrower, and we won’t talk about them here. 

Arteries are the only blood vessels that are supposed to carry the blood from the heart to different organs, including the placenta. When arteries become narrower, lesser blood reaches the placenta. In this situation, the placenta receives lesser oxygen and other nutrients, and this may affect its development. 

Reduced blood flow may cause pre-term labour or preeclampsia. Sometimes expectant women may get hypertension during pregnancy. This condition is also called gestational hypertension and will go away after delivery. 

Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition where there is a high concentration of sugar in your blood. This excess sugar can make you seriously unwell. Pregnant women who are otherwise free from diabetes may get gestational diabetes during pregnancy. If not controlled, increased sugar levels can lead to high blood pressure, and further to preeclampsia. The fetus becomes very large, and the doctor may have to conduct a caesarian operation for an emergency delivery. 

Infections

Some infections like sexually transmitted diseases or STD can pass on to the fetus during pregnancy or delivery. So, it is like When the baby passes through the birth canal, it can get STD. Sexually transmitted diseases can be managed during pregnancy by taking appropriate medicines on the advice of your doctor. 

Some infections can affect your fetus in the following ways;

  1. Miscarriage or pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  2. Ectopic pregnancy; this happens when the fetus implants itself out of the uterus, e.g. the fallopian tube. 
  3. Delivery and pre-term labour before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
  4. The child born is under-weight or has a low weight.
  5. The child may have some defects like blindness, bone deformities, intellectual disability, and even deafness. 
  6. Newborn death
  7. The newborn is ill (in its first month of life)
  8. Stillbirth
  9. Maternal health complications 

Preeclampsia

This medical condition can lead to pre-term labour and even death. There are various risk factors associated with preeclampsia. These are:

  • The mother is having her first pregnancy.
  • She had preeclampsia in her previous pregnancy.
  • Systematic lupus erythematosus, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, etc. 
  • If the mother is 35 years or older
  • If she is carrying two fetuses
  • Obesity can also cause preeclampsia. 

Pre-term labour

This labour happens during the 37th week of pregnancy. Children from pre-term labour show several medical complications. Usually, brain and lung development finishes during the last weeks of normal pregnancy. Pre-term labour is associated with several risk factors like previous preterm deliveries, shortened cervix, infections, etc. 

Miscarriage

This complication arises before the 20th week of your pregnancy. Signs of miscarriage are vaginal bleeding, and discharge, cramps, etc. Women having these signs during their 20th week should consult a doctor to avoid further complications.