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Health Problems in Pregnancy
Every pregnancy has some risk of problems, but there are certain conditions and health issues that can raise that risk, such as:
- A health condition you had before you got pregnant
- A health condition you develop during pregnancy
- A pregnancy with more than one baby
- A health problem that happened during a previous pregnancy and could happen again
- Substance use during pregnancy
- Being over age 35
Any of these can affect your health, the health of your baby, or both.
If you have a chronic condition, you should talk to your health care provider about how to minimize your risk before you get pregnant. Once you are pregnant, you may need a health care team to monitor your pregnancy. Some common conditions that can complicate a pregnancy include:
- High blood pressure
- Kidney problems
- Autoimmune diseases
- Obesity
- HIV
- Cancer
- Infections
Other conditions that may make pregnancy risky can develop during pregnancy - for example, gestational diabetes and Rh incompatibility. Good prenatal care can help detect and treat them.
Some symptoms, such as nausea, back pain, and fatigue, are common during pregnancy. Sometimes it is hard to know what is normal. Call your health care provider if something is bothering or worrying you.
