9. Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a digestive disease
that affects the small intestine. If you have celiac disease, you have
an allergy to gluten, which causes your intestines to absorb fewer
nutrients. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating,
irritability and depression.
The condition is hereditary and occurs
more often in women than men. It’s most common in Western Europeans. We
believe celiac disease affects 1 in 100 people worldwide and 1 in every
250 Americans. It may be overlooked during pregnancy because symptoms
can be the same as for other pregnancy problems. Many healthcare
providers don’t know much about the disease, and it can be difficult to
diagnose. A blood test can determine if you may have celiac disease. A
biopsy of the small intestine can confirm it.
If you have celiac disease, it’s
important to eat a gluten-free diet. You will probably need folic-acid
supplements to ensure you receive enough folic acid.
Celiac disease may
appear for the first time during pregnancy or after childbirth. If you
have symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need to see a
dietician during pregnancy to develop a nutrition plan.
10. Chicken Pox (Varicella)
Herpes is a family of viruses that includes the herpes-simplex virus, herpes varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus. The word chicken pox is used interchangeably with varicella. (It is also used to describe the rash seen with chicken pox.) The term herpes zoster is used interchangeably with shingles.
When adults get chicken pox, they can
become very ill. The most serious times for you to get chicken pox are
during the first trimester and around the time of delivery. A baby can
get the virus during delivery, which could cause a serious infection.
11. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of
the herpes-virus family and is transmitted in humans by contact with
saliva or urine. Day-care centers are a common source of the infection;
CMV can also be passed by sexual contact. Most infections do not cause
symptoms; however, when symptoms occur, they include fever, sore throat
and joint pain.
CMV is the most common virus
passed from a mother-to-be to her baby during pregnancy. It infects
about 1% of all newborns. Infection can cause low birthweight and other
problems in a baby.
12. Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common
medical complications of pregnancy. It occurs in 7 to 8% of all
pregnancies. Today many diabetic women go through pregnancy safely.
Diabetes is defined as a lack of insulin
in the bloodstream or a resistance to insulin by the body’s cells.
Pregnancy increases the body’s resistance to insulin, and the body
doesn’t process insulin efficiently. If you don’t have insulin, you
will have high blood sugar and a high sugar content in your urine.
Pregnancy is well known for its tendency
to reveal women who are predisposed to diabetes. Women who have trouble
with high blood-sugar levels during pregnancy are more likely to
develop diabetes in later life.
Some experts recommend screening pregnant
women at risk for diabetes during the first trimester. Others recommend
testing all pregnant women at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Tests used most
often are the glucose-tolerance test (GTT) and/or a 1-hour glucose
challenge test.
If you have diabetes or know members of your family have diabetes, tell your healthcare provider. This is important information.
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Diabetes can cause various problems during pregnancy. Birth defects may be more common. It’s important to take care of diabetes before pregnancy. If your diabetes is not controlled during pregnancy, your baby is at greater risk.
If you take insulin, you may need to
adjust your dosage or the timing of your dosage. You may also have to
check your blood-sugar levels 4 to 8 times a day. You must balance your
eating plan and your insulin at all times so your glucose levels don’t
climb too high. Avoid long-lasting insulin during pregnancy. It may
also help if you take in more folic acid; discuss it with your
pregnancy healthcare provider and endocrinologist.
Some women take diabetes pills;
some oral antidiabetes medications taken during pregnancy may cause
problems for the developing baby. (Metformin is not recommended during
pregnancy.) There are safe oral medications for diabetes in pregnancy.
You may have to adjust the amount of oral medication you take, or you
may need to switch to insulin shots. Your healthcare provider can
advise you.
13. Diarrhea during Pregnancy
Diarrhea during pregnancy can raise
concerns. If it doesn’t go away in 24 hours or if it keeps returning,
contact your healthcare provider. He or she may prescribe medication
for the problem. Do not take medication for diarrhea without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
One of the best things you can do for
yourself if you experience diarrhea during pregnancy is to increase
your fluid intake. Drink a lot of water, juice and other clear fluids,
such as broth. (Avoid apple juice and prune juice because they are
laxatives.) You may feel better eating a bland diet, without solid
foods, until you feel better.
It’s OK to avoid solid food for a few
days if you keep up your fluid intake. Solid foods may actually cause
you more gastrointestinal distress when you have diarrhea. Avoid milk
products while you have diarrhea; they may make it worse.
