Conditions  Introduction

Women can experience certain conditions during pregnancy that occur as a direct result of pregnancy (but may present similarly in nature to non-obstetric conditions). These include, but are not limited to:

• Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy ( NVP )

• Gestational Diabetes

• Ectoptic Pregnancy

• Molar Pregnancy

• Gestational Rhinitis

• Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

• Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy

• Preeclampsia

Women can also experience certain conditions during pregnancy that are unrelated to pregnancy, but may may occur during pregnancy. These include, but are not limited to:

• Influenza

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

• Urinary Tract Infection

• Gallstones

• Kidney Stones

• Breast Lumps

• Appendicitis

• Fibroids

• Salmonella

There is very limited information regarding the overall range of conditions pregnant women can experience; it is also unclear how many conditions could have a change in prognosis or management due to pregnancy.

Diagnosing specific conditions during pregnancy can be frustrating for HCPs; although some gestational conditions are more easily recognizable than others, HCPs must make an assessment of collective symptoms to determine if symptoms are normal or may indicate something more. HCPs need to consider:

• Symptoms related to normal physiological changes of pregnancy (no treatment necessary unless they affect a woman's quality of life)

• Symptoms related to a specific pregnancy-associated condition (may require immediate treatment)

• Symptoms related to a non-obstetric condition that happened to occur while a woman was pregnant

For example, if a pregnant women is suffering from nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, the HCP should not assume its simply NVP although this is the most likely; the nausea and vomiting could be related to molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, bowel obstruction, migraine, etc.

Abdominal conditions: Appendicitis, bowel obstruction, fibroids, pancreatitis, and ovarian torsion are common causes of non-obstetric abdominal pain/cramping during pregnancy. Women should always tell their HCP when they are experiencing abdominal pain. Read more.

Common Cold: Common colds, which are caused by viruses that can affect the upper and/or lower respiratory tracts, are very common and behave similarly in pregnant women as they do in non-pregnant women. However, some symptoms as well as the severity of overall infection can be more significant during pregnancy (influenza, pneumonia).  Read more.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which a pregnant woman’s pancreas does not produce enough insulin in her body to regulate blood glucose levels, putting the woman and her baby at risk for hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).  Read more.

Group B streptococcus: Group B streptococcus is a bacterium present in the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts of both men and women, and is usually harmless and symptom-free.  However, during pregnancy, this bacterium can be passed to the newborn during vaginal delivery. Read more.

Herpes Simplex Virus: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is an incurable, lifelong, recurrent sexually transmitted infection that causes open sores on various parts of the body, usually the mouth (cold sores) and genitals. HSV is very common among pregnant women, which is a concern because HSV can cause congenital or neonatal infection that can be life-threatening for the newborn. Read more.

Influenza is a common respiratory infection around the world, one in which pregnant women are often indicated as more vulnerable to than the general population. Influenza, and its prognosis during pregnancy on both mother and baby appears to depend upon severity of infection, stage of pregnancy, underlying illnesses, vaccination status, the overall health of the pregnancy, and when a woman saw an HCP or received medical care for the infection. Read more.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP): ICP is a relatively rare condition involving the liver that occurs when bile salts build up in a pregnant woman’s circulation, causing extreme itching (no rash). The condition likely occurs due to hormonal effects on the liver, gallbladder, and bile duct system. Read more.

Insufficient Cervix: An insufficient cervix (formerly incompetent cervix) indicates a mechanical or tissue failure of the cervix to maintain the structural integrity/physical support necessary to sustain a pregnancy. An insufficient cervix can soften, ripen, and/or dilate too soon, often leading to preterm delivery.  Read more.

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP): NVP is one of the most common conditions in all of pregnancy. It begins very early, can range in severity from mild to severe, and can last from just a few days to potentially the entire pregnancy. Read more.

Obesity: While obesity during pregnancy is increasing world-wide and includes greater risks of complications for both the woman and her baby, women considered "obese" can still experience perfectly healthy pregnancies. Read more.

Placental Disorders: Various placental disorders can occur during pregnancy, to include placenta previa (covering the cervix), placenta accreta (deep invasion), and placental abruption (detaches early), as well as a retained placenta (does not dislodge after delivery).

Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy (PEP): Also known as Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy, PEP is the most common skin disorder in pregnancy that leads to significant itching and a rash. Although other skin conditions during pregnancy also lead to intense itching, PEP is considered self-limiting, does not harm the fetus, and does not lead to more serious complications.  Read more.

Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a vascular condition during pregnancy that manifests primarily as high blood pressure, but can also include sudden swelling in the face and hands, headache, vision changes, sudden weight gain, and abdominal pain. When preeclampsia is diagnosed early, its management can prevent serious complications. Read more.

Restless Leg Syndrome: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition that in some published studies, is “caused” by pregnancy itself, but the mechanism for how or why this may occur is not known. RLS includes an irresistible urge to move the legs, especially when trying to fall asleep, and could be accompanied by other symptoms such as an aching feeling. Read more.

Syphilis: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is easily screened for and cured with antibiotics. However, the presentation of the infection causes some women to completely miss the initial signs, and syphilis can lay dormant for years after the original infection. Syphilis can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy, the incidence of which has increased more than 260% in recent years. Read more.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI): UTIs are considered common during pregnancy and require treatment. HCPs may routinely screen for UTIs – even in women without symptoms – through simple urine tests during prenatal appointments. Various hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy make pregnant women more susceptible to UTIs, and women who have never experienced a UTI before may contract their first one during pregnancy.  Read more.

Venous thromboembolism events, which include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), are rare during pregnancy. However, because swelling and shortness of breath are both common during pregnancy and are in some cases considered normal, VTE is commonly suspected and considered, especially in the postpartum period.  Read more.

Birth Defects: It is estimated that birth defects affect up to 3% of all pregnancies, which includes a wide range of possible structural and functional defects – up to 7,000 different types have been identified. Fortunately, some of these birth defects can have extraordinarily little overall impact on a child's life. Read more.

Ectopic Pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in a location outside of the main cavity of the uterus; is a common cause of abdominal pain in early pregnancy and must be ruled out. Ectopic pregnancy that continues to develop may result in a ruptured Fallopian tube which could be life-threatening. Read more.

Miscarriage: The widespread use of highly sensitive home pregnancy tests has allowed women to find out they are pregnant within 8 days of conception. While this extra time is a positive development in allowing women to prepare for a pregnancy much earlier, it has also revealed just how many pregnancies fail in the first few weeks.

Molar Pregnancy: Molar pregnancies, when abnormal trophoblastic tissue grows into the uterus, are part of a category of diseases known as Gestational Trophoblast Disease (GTD) and are considered very rare. Molar pregnancies are not viable pregnancies and are managed with a surgical procedure.

Women should tell their HCP how they are feeling and what they are experiencing during every prenatal appointment (and in-between if necessary). This can help HCPs diagnose certain conditions as early as possible and prevent potential complications.

Partners/Support play an important role in the prevention of complications during pregnancy. There are certain signs and symptoms a pregnant woman could experience that may be more noticeable to her partner or other family members around her.

Partners can read this site to learn more about potential complications and what outward signs and symptoms could indicate a visit to an HCP may be necessary (abdominal pain, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, snoring, nausea and vomiting).

Pregnancy Complications (U.S. Office on Women's Health)

Pregnancy Complications (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Health Problems in Pregnancy (Medline Plus)