Reality check: Despite the claims and beliefs that pregnancy is a beautiful and wonder thing, it is also a traumatic experience, not just for the woman, but for the child as well. Unwanted or unplanned pregnancy increases the risk of complications, for a variety of reasons: the woman’s body, as vessel for the product of fornication, might be ill-prepared to carry the child; a woman’s heart may literally not be able to handle the stress of labor; or multiparity – in laymen’s terms, many pregnancies- might have had an effect on uterine integrity.
Some of these unprepared mothers are in the adolescent stage, are over 40 years old, or has had many pregnancies. Most of whom may have false perceptions about their bodies, and use ineffective family planning methods, possibly because of lack of knowledge. They face a variety of possible complications which endanger not only her life, but that of her child’s. Some are outlined here.
1. Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH)
Pregnant adolescents, women over the age 40 are at risk for PIH, and those who has had multiple pregnancies are at risk for PIH. Blood volume normally increases during pregnancy, and in this condition, there is an impaired ability of the blood vessels to adapt. Constriction of the blood vessels occur, causing decrease blood circulation and thus, decreased oxygenation to the vital part of a woman’s body. Another possible rationale for elder women with PIH is the lost of elasticity of their blood vessels. This can severely compromise the woman’s vital organs, and, as a medical measure for severe hypertension or eclampsia, the fetus is delivered preterm.
2. Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Young mothers, such as those who are still adolescents, are more prone to IDA, possibly because of their limited protein intake. During pregnancy, a mother must provide iron to her child to ensure optimal growth and development. An increase of iron intake is therefore required.
IDA results to the decrease production of red blood cells – oxygen carriers of the blood. This leads to a drop in the oxygenation of vital organs, and the very possible risk of oxygen starvation during and after labor, when the mother normally sheds about 500mL (normal spontaneous delivery) to 1,000mL (cesarean section) of blood.
3. Cephalopelvic Disproportion
Basically, when the head of the child cannot pass through the birthing canal because it is too big, this is called cephalopelvic disproportion. This most commonly occurs in women with small stature, or those who have yet to fully develop their birthing canals, such as that of girls starting puberty. This leads to difficult labor or dystocia, which causes undue stress to child, and might be resolved via Cesarean Section (CS).
4. Prolonged Labor
For a 40-year old first- timer in pregnancy, the so-called primipara, labor may be prolonged and difficult because cervical dilation may not happen as spontaneously as it does for younger women. This may be secondary to the decreased elasticity of cells. If the labor proceeds for too long, this might compromise fetal well-being, and thus, cesarean birth might be needed.
5. Post-partal hemorrhage
This refers to the excessive bleeding which occurs after the delivery of the child. The cause is the inability of the uterus to contract, to keep the blood vessels contracted, and consequently the blood inside. Adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy above the age of 40, and multiparity are risk factors for this.
Young mothers are prone to post-partal hemorrhage because their uterus may be underdeveloped. The over distention of the organ makes it harder for the uterus to contract, leading to further bleeding.
The reduced elasticity of an older woman’s uterine walls also lessens contraction.
A woman who is multipara will have a uterus that has been distended again and again that the elasticity is also affected.
6. Gestational Diabetes
During pregnancy, the hormone Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) is produced. This is an insulin-antagonist, and this hormone predisposes a woman to gestational diabetes. Women who are older than 30, and multiparity are risk factors for this.
Gestational diabetes causes low or high blood sugar levels for the mother, a predisposition for infections like moniliasis, and possibly dystocia, because of the baby’s large size.
A child born from a diabetic mother may be large for his or her age (more than 4000 grams), and might have low or high blood sugar levels. In worse cases, he or she might have intrauterine growth retardation, because the damage wrecked by DM on the mother’s blood vessels would effectively decrease the fetus’s oxygenation as well.
Achieved by sufficient and appropriate knowledge on family planning methods, the risk factors may be reduced, hence lowering a woman’s predisposition to these possible complications. Knowledge is the key to safer pregnancy – to secure the life of a mother, and the life of her child.
An after thought:
Amidst the supposedly intelligent and rational debate about the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, names have been thrown. Not so good words like, “devil,” “cursed,” and more colorful lexical equivalents of fire and brimstone are being associated with Pro-RH groups. So as not to be a hypocrite, this writer would admit that the opposition to the bill has received pretty nasty names as well.
As a supporter, I adhere to the brand that generally sums up why I am for the bill: Pro-Women. Although having read the provisions of the bill for health and education, I believe that the brand is insufficient. The bill, apart from intensifying maternal and child services, as well as sexual health, also protects the health of the fetus. Through its provisions for non-discriminate family planning, it prevents complications that might afflict the mother as well as the unborn child.
A/N: Apart from being a frustrated writer and a Catholic school graduate, Janina Santos is also a Registered Nurse. This article is inspired by Milk Dispenser.
References: Maternal and Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family by Adelle Pilliteri, Ph.D, R.N., P.N.P.; Simply MCN by Jerome E. Balisnomo, R.N., M.A.N.
educational! Informative! :)
ReplyDeletegreat post! :)
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