Problem Pregnancy

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure is a common complication occurring in about 3 percent of pregnancies. It can have adverse effects on the placenta and fetus before symptoms are apparent. It is important for you to keep your prenatal appointments so that your doctor or midwife can monitor your blood pressure. Severe blood pressure elevations can cause headaches, spots in front of your eyes, pain in the upper part of your abdomen, and fluid retention.

Decreased Fetal Movement

For various reasons, some babies have trouble getting enough oxygen in the womb. They may manifest this as a decrease in activity. Some doctors recommend that mothers do "kick counts," counting the number of times the baby kicks inside the uterus within a set time period. If your baby becomes unusually less active for more than a few hours, you should call your physician or midwife.