All mothers hope for an uncomplicated, trouble free pregnancy. But sometimes things don’t proceed as smoothly as you’d wish. With regular antenatal checks most problems can be detected early, monitored carefully and dealt with.
Bleeding
If you begin to bleed at any time when you are pregnant, you should seek medical help at once. It may well be a sign of an abnormally placed placenta - 'placenta praevia' - or a miscarriage. Try not to assume the worst though, as bleeding occurs in the first trimester in a quarter of all pregnancies, and more than half of these go on to deliver a healthy full-term baby. If baby's heart is still beating, there is more than an 80% chance that all will be well. It must, however, never be ignored.
Ectopic Pregnancy When a fertilised egg implants itself outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube, it is referred to as an ectopic pregnancy. These pose a very serious threat to your health if left undetected, but they are rarely without symptoms. Pain in the abdomen, especially in one side, vaginal bleeding, fainting or pain in the shoulder on the same side are all early indications that something is wrong. An ectopic pregnancy can be confirmed by using ultrasound and must be terminated as soon as possible as the growing placenta will eventually burst the walls of your fallopian tubes.
Pre-Eclampsia This is a common and potentially dangerous condition that affects up to one in ten first-time mothers. Results from antenatal checkups will alert your health care providers to its presence, as it is otherwise almost completely without symptoms. Raised blood pressure and protein in your urine, and possible swelling of your wrists and ankles, are all early indicators. It usually appears after the twentieth week of pregnancy. When it occurs, early delivery is arranged before it becomes full blown eclampsia. Eclampsia is life threatening to both you and your baby, and causes coma and convulsions.
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction During pregnancy, the ligaments around your pelvis stretch to allow the pelvis to open during labour. Sometimes this causes instability in your pelvic joints, resulting in pain at the front or back of the pelvis, or in the groin, back or legs, or a combination of these. The area can also be very painful to touch. Walking and climbing stairs can increase the pain as can turning over in bed. A 'clicking' sensation can sometimes be felt or even heard. This affects one in 35 women. If you suspect you're one of them, get a diagnosis and professional advice straight away to reduce the symptoms, speed up your recovery and avoid long term problems.
All mothers hope for an uncomplicated, trouble free pregnancy. But sometimes things don’t proceed as smoothly as you’d wish. With regular antenatal checks most problems can be detected early, monitored carefully and dealt with. 
