It is common to suffer from various discomforts during pregnancy. Therefore, we have here collected various pregnancy related problems to guide you through its cause and effect.

Symptoms

Here we provide information about various diseases during pregnancy and their cause and effect.

Diseases

Articles about pregnancy-related symptoms and complications can be found here.

Symptoms & diseases

Asthma is an inflammation of the mucus membranes in the airways, causing the bronchi to become swollen and more prone to constriction. Asthma can be triggered by many different factors and varies over time, this also means that treatment must be tailored to each person’s condition. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases, about 10% of the population suffers from it. Of all those with asthma, it is estimated that half have uncontrolled asthma, meaning they experience significant symptomatic problems and reduced lung function.

## Common symptoms of asthma
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Breathing with wheezing and whistling sounds
- Persistent coughing during a cold
- Cough that is often long-lasting and occurs at night
- Shortness of breath and coughing during physical exertion

Asthma most commonly begins in childhood, but it can develop at any time in life. If asthma is more noticeable in adulthood, it may be that the person had mild symptoms as a young person but did not know it was asthma. It’s also possible that asthma symptoms have been present all your life but don’t become noticeable until adulthood. Asthma can also be exacerbated by factors such as smoking and obesity.

## Who gets asthma?
A combination of lifestyle, environment, and genetics, with genetics being the biggest risk factor, determines who gets asthma. There are about 30 different triggers that can cause asthma symptoms to occur. These include dust mites, fur animals, cold air, pollen, pollutants, etc. This is because the airways are exposed to irritating or allergenic substances.

## What happens during an asthma attack?
During an asthma attack, the muscles of the bronchi contract while the mucus membrane swells. Mucus is then produced in the airways as the mucous membranes swell and the activity of the cilia decreases, making it difficult to breathe. The first symptoms often include coughing and increased mucus secretion.

## How do I Know if I have asthma?
The most common symptoms of asthma are wheezing and tightness in the chest, coughing with mucus, and shortness of breath. You may also have a persistent cough every time you catch a cold. Symptoms can occur in attacks. If you are unsure whether you or someone close to you has asthma, it is always a good idea to undergo an asthma evaluation with your healthcare provider to get the best treatment for you. If you want to start an asthma evaluation, help is available here.

## Should people with asthma avoid exercising?
Staying active and exercising is great for both mental and physical health, even for those with asthma. For asthmatics, physical exertion can feel challenging, but with proper treatment, asthmatics can exercise without symptoms! Don’t underestimate the importance of a good warm up, especially in cold, dry air.

## How is asthma treated?
Asthma medication treats the root cause of the disease, which is airway inflammation. Some of the inhalers also contain bronchodilator medications that widen the airways, making it easier to breathe.

## Can you be cured of asthma?
You can be completely symptom-free from asthma! Unfortunately, asthma cannot be cured and is a chronic disease, but if asthma starts in childhood, there is a relatively good chance that the symptoms will become milder over the years.

*References:*
- Astma- & allergiförbundet
- BAMSE
- Nationellt kliniskt kunskapsstöd 
- janusinfo.se
- 1177.se

Asthma is an inflammation of the mucus membranes in the airways, causing the bronchi to become swoll...

Asthma

Asthma illustration

Some reminders about bleeding
- bleeding is common in early pregnancy and does not necessarily mean there is a problem.
- it is not always possible to find the cause of the bleeding.
- there is nothing you can do to prevent bleeding.

### Check the color!
- fresh bleeding is light red to dark red.
- reddish brown bleeding means that the bleeding started earlier and has ended.

### Check the volume!
- bleeding is considered heavy when you saturate a pad in one hour or if you experience clotting. 
- if you are spotting and feel well otherwise, you do not need to seek emergency medical care. However, most healthcare providers in the US recommend that you contact your prenatal clinic/maternity clinic  for advice if you experience any bleeding after week 12 for further evaluation.  

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, seek emergency care immediately:
- if you are bleeding, regardless of the volume, and have severe abdominal pain, either on one side or your lower abdomen.
- if you are bleeding, regardless of the volume, and feel generally unwell (you feel ill, faint, dizzy and tired)
- if you are bleeding to such a degree that you soak through a pad in one hour or if you experience clotting. 

### Bleeding between weeks 12+0 – 21+6 can have several causes:

- Spotting after sexual intercourse, also called post coital spotting. The cervix is more likely to bleed during pregnancy so it’s common to have spotting or blood mixed discharge after sexual intercourse (looks like a dark reddish-brown discharge the day after). There is no reason to be alarmed. 

- Hydatidiform mole, or “mole”, can cause heavy menstruation-like bleeding. This is not a pregnancy but a cluster of swollen cysts that show a positive result in a pregnancy test due to the increase in hormones. It can be seen in an ultrasound. A hydatidiform mole must be surgically removed through a minor procedure involving a scraping.

- Infection bleedings are typically caused by a bacterial infection in the vagina or cervix, often combined with heavy and/or foul-smelling discharge and are treated with antibiotics. Always notify your midwife if you notice a change in your discharge (volume, appearance and odor smell).

- Polyp bleedings. A cervical polyp is usually a harmless benign growth on the cervix that bleeds easily. Occasionally, these need to be removed through a simple surgical procedure. 

- Cell changes. Uncommon in pregnant women, but bleeding from the cervix may be a sign of cervical cancer. Treatment to remove the cancer is possible during pregnancy, but the treatment must be modified from case to case depending on how far along the woman is in her pregnancy.

- Placenta previa is when the placenta is attached to the uterus down toward the cervix. The placenta can either partially or totally cover the cervix. Bleeding is a common complication of placenta previa, particularly when the baby in the uterus grows and the pressure on the placenta increases. The position of the placenta inside the uterus can be seen during a routine ultrasound examination done between weeks 18 and 20. If the placenta is far down during the first ultrasound, more ultrasounds will be performed during your pregnancy to monitor its position. Some women need to be admitted to the hospital for bleeding observations once or more frequently during pregnancy if the placenta is partially or fully covering the cervix. Medication may be necessary to help the blood coagulate faster and stop the bleeding. Normally, the placenta moves higher up in the uterus as it grows, making vaginal delivery possible. However, if the placenta is partially or fully covering the cervix toward the end of pregnancy, it will be necessary to deliver the baby with a cesarean section. Avoid sexual intercourse during the last part of your pregnancy to reduce the risk of bleeding if the placenta is fully or partially covering the cervix.  Speak with your midwife if you have questions or are worried. 

- Miscarriage bleeding—a more menstruation-like bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage. It is uncommon to have a miscarriage during this phase of pregnancy and the reason is usually because the cervix has not closed as it should or an infection. Before week 22+0, contact the OB/GYN emergency services or hospital emergency department if you are bleeding. Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent a miscarriage. Taking good care of yourself is all that you can do. Eat well, exercise, rest when you are tired and don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs. Many women miscarry. For most women, a miscarriage is associated with some level of grief that needs to be processed. Your body can also grieve after a miscarriage. Read more about miscarriage under “Miscarriage”.

To determine what is causing bleeding, you will have a pelvic exam and an ultrasound, if necessary.

*Source:*
- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Bleeding between weeks 12+0 – 21+6

Bleeding

A respiratory infection caused by bacteria. Whooping cough is highly contagious and spreads via droplets. The infection normally presents with common cold symptoms and fever followed by a persistent, severe cough. The infection cannot be transferred to the baby in your belly, but the mother or other infected person can transmit the infection to the newborn. The infection is treated with antibiotics. In the US, the CDC recommends that women be vaccinated for whooping cough (TDAP) early in the third trimester (week 27 to 36) of each pregnancy. Consult your midwife or healthcare provider if you have questions.

*Source:*
-	https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/index.html

A respiratory infection caused by bacteria. Whooping cough is highly contagious and spreads via drop...

Whooping cough

whooping cough

Urine production increases during pregnancy and, when the uterus grows, it presses on your bladder, causing you to feel the need to urinate and to do so more frequently. 

The risk of a urinary tract infection is slightly higher than normal when you are pregnant. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection can trigger contractions and potentially cause labor to start too early. It is therefore vital to get the right treatment in case of an infection. Contact your midwife or healthcare provider if you need to urinate more frequently than normal, if you feel a burning sensation when you void or if you have painful contractions before week 37+0.

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/uti.html

Urine production increases during pregnancy and, when the uterus grows, it presses on your bladder, ...

Urinary tract infection

urinary tract infection

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria and was once a feared disease. A rare disease in Sweden today, it has begun to increase recently as we travel more. The infection is airborne and highly contagious. If you are believed to be at particular risk of the disease at your first prenatal visit, a decision will be made whether you should have a chest x-ray and, in some cases a tuberculin test to see if you are infected. This is done if you have, for instance, a persistent cough, if you have been in contact with someone who has TBC, or if you have been in a country where TBC is more common. If you know that you had TBC before you got pregnant, you need to have an exam to assess your lung function.

If you are infected while you are pregnant, there is a risk that the infection will pass to the baby in your womb and at childbirth. The infection will be treated with antibiotics. Treatment usually involves taking several different drugs for several months. 

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/tb/

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria and was once a feared disease. A rare disease in Sweden today, it...

Tuberculosis or TBC

Tuberculosis

This is a rare infection caused by a parasite that spreads primarily via cats or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Most people never notice they have been infected. If you develop symptoms, the most common ones are fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. Toxoplasmosis is treated with antibiotics. There is a risk that the infection will pass to the baby and, if this happens in early pregnancy, the baby can develop severe defects, or the infection will cause a miscarriage. 

When you are pregnant, do not clean a litter box, wash fruits and vegetables well and, if you work in a garden, remember to carefully wash your hands since the infection can be transferred via soil. 

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/

This is a rare infection caused by a parasite that spreads primarily via cats or unwashed fruits and...

Toxoplasmosis

toxoplasmosis

A virus infection that is transmitted via a tick bite. If you are planning on getting pregnant and spend time in tick-dense areas, we recommend getting vaccinated. However, this recommendation does not apply if you are already pregnant. Instead, you should take preventive measures against tick bites. There are no studies that indicate mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or in conjunction with childbirth.

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/tbe/

A virus infection that is transmitted via a tick bite. If you are planning on getting pregnant and s...

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)

This is a bacterial infection that is transmitted sexually and by the transfusion of blood. All pregnant women are screened for syphilis in the first trimester. Some states in the US require testing in the third trimester as well. The infection is treated with penicillin. The syphilis bacteria can be passed to the baby in your uterus. It is possible to prevent problems for the baby if syphilis is detected and treated early in pregnancy. In other words, the test is vital if you have any risk factors. Talk with your midwife or healthcare provider about whether you should be tested. 

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/pregnancy/effects/syphilis.html

This is a bacterial infection that is transmitted sexually and by the transfusion of blood. All preg...

Syphilis

syphilis

The virus is transmitted via droplets. This is often a mild infection that causes a rash on the skin, typically the abdomen and arms, but can also appear as a rash on the face creating a weather-beaten appearance. You can also develop a fever and swollen lymph nodes at the back of the neck. 

All pregnant women in the US are screened for rubella in the first trimester. A blood test will be done to see if you are immune to rubella during your first visit at the prenatal clinic. Since the 1970s, this infection has been included in the general immunization program for children. Those who have had the infection or been vaccinated have antibodies and cannot get the infection again. If you are not immune, you will be offered immunization after delivery in the hospital before you go home. Avoid contracting rubella during pregnancy since you cannot be vaccinated while pregnant and there is a risk of infecting your baby. If you have not been vaccinated and contract rubella while pregnant, there is a significant risk that it will pass to your baby. If this happens in early pregnancy, there is a major risk of serious problems for the baby or miscarriage. Rubella is rare in Sweden, but the virus is still active in some parts of the world. This is something to consider before going abroad if you have never received the vaccine/have antibodies.

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/rubella/

The virus is transmitted via droplets. This is often a mild infection that causes a rash on the skin...

German measles, Three-day measles or Rubella 

rubella

The RS virus is a quite common respiratory infection. In adults and older children, the RS virus produces symptoms of a common cold. However, newborns and young children are extra sensitive if they are infected. It is especially important that you try to protect your little one from infection.
RSV infections often occur between late autumn/winter and early spring. The Public Health Agency of Sweden’s website publishes statistics on the number of RSV cases. Newborn infants, premature babies and babies with certain congenital diseases are more at risk. Contact your hospital or healthcare provider immediately if your little one is in any of these categories.
Young children typically breathe through the nose. If a little baby gets the RSV infection and cannot eat, it is usually because it is too much effort for baby to breathe, and difficulty breathing takes a lot out of a baby.

## Determining if your baby has an RSV infection
Initially, you will not know if baby has the common cold or the RS virus.
Typical for the RS virus is thick mucus. Your baby may dry cough and develop a fever. Your baby may become tired and eat not as well.

Thick mucus makes it difficult for baby to eat and breathe. If your baby’s general condition is more affected—as in if your baby is more tired/lethargic, coughing becomes heavier, your baby has difficulty breathing, does not nurse/eat as before, or urinates less—get medical care immediately.

## What you can do if your baby gets the RS virus
Let your baby lie so his or her upper body is in an elevated position (tip: place a few cushions under the head of the mattress) so it is easier for baby to breathe. Carry your baby in an upright position, either in a sling or baby carrier. Drop saline drops in baby’s nose to dissolve the mucus or use a bulb syringe (available in pharmacies) to remove the sticky nasal mucus. It is common that baby will want to nurse/eat more often.
If you are the slightest uncertain about your baby’s health, call your healthcare provider or get emergency care.

## Preventing infection
Avoid meeting adults and older children who have a cold. Avoid kissing your baby in the face; kiss the feet instead. Wash your hands frequently with soap and hand sanitizer. If you have a cold, sneeze in the crook of your arm, not your hands.

*About the RS virus*
*RS virus stands for respiratory syncytial virus and it is a paramyxovirus that causes severe respiratory infections. Symptoms range from a mild cold to serious pneumonia or bronchiolitis.*

*Virus particles can survive for 12 hours on hard surfaces such as door handles or a tabletop, and for less time on soft surfaces, such as hands and tissues.*

*An infection arises when the virus comes in contact with the mucus membranes in the nose, mouth and eyes (and also through inhaling tiny droplets from coughing and sneezing).*

*It takes between three and six days from when a person is infected until they get sick.*

*Sources: *
- Swedish Public Health Agency
- 1177 Vårdguiden
- Elisabeth Hjärtmyr

The RS virus is a quite common respiratory infection. In adults and older children, the RS virus pro...

RS virus

If you get infected while pregnant, the virus can cause an illness called fifth disease. This is transmitted via droplets. Common symptoms include fever, respiratory problems and rash. Some women also experience joint pain. More than half of pregnant women are immune since they had the infection as a child. The virus can pass to the baby in your womb, but the risk is slim. Diagnosis is made through the clinical history and blood tests. If you are infected with the virus, you will be monitored carefully and frequently. The infection can pass to the baby in your uterus and cause anemia. 

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/parvovirusb19/

If you get infected while pregnant, the virus can cause an illness called fifth disease. This is tra...

Parvovirus

parvovirus

This is a highly contagious virus, and it is airborne spread. The virus can survive in a room for several hours after an infected person has been in the room. Common symptoms include a runny nose, a severe cough and high fever. Some people who get infected experience light sensitivity. After the first symptoms, the characteristic rash appears, typically starting in the face and, over the course of a few days, spreading over the entire body like a big, dark rash. 

A pregnant woman can get extremely sick, and the infection can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy for the woman and the baby in the womb. There is no treatment for measles. 

Diagnosis is made through the clinical history as well as blood tests and cultures. If you have had the measles or been vaccinated, you are immune and have antibodies against the virus. The antibodies protect you and the baby, both in your belly and as a newborn. 

*Source:*
-	https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

This is a highly contagious virus, and it is airborne spread. The virus can survive in a room for se...

Measles

measles

Your hemoglobin level will be checked at the beginning of the pregnancy and then again in the second and third trimester.  A sample of blood will be taken to check for this. A low hemoglobin level is called anemia.

Anemia is common, particularly in the middle of pregnancy and is primarily caused by the increase in blood volume. Your blood is more diluted than normal (therefore causing a dip in hemoglobin levels). Your body needs more iron when you are pregnant. Anemia can also be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, a folic acid deficiency or an infection.

Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, breathlessness, heart palpitations, headaches and dizziness. The most common treatment is to take OTC iron supplements and eat more iron-rich food. 

Very rarely, it is necessary to administer iron intravenously. 

Examples of food rich in iron are meat, eggs, shellfish, sausage and liver. If you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, there is a lot of iron in whole-grain products, legumes, seeds, nuts and dried fruit. You may need to take iron supplements even if you eat an iron-rich diet to improve your levels. Your midwife or doctor is there to help. 

*Source:*
- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Your hemoglobin level will be checked at the beginning of the pregnancy and then again in the second...

Low blood count—anemia

low blood count

Is an exceedingly rare infection, typically asymptomatic or with very mild symptoms such as fever, headaches and body ache. If the mother gets sick, there is a risk the fetus will be infected and harmed. The infection also increases the risk of premature birth, in other words, before week 37+0. Good hand hygiene is important when preparing food since the bacteria can be found in some food. Avoid unpasteurized milk and dessert cheeses. Regular hard cheeses are not a problem. Thoroughly cook chicken, meat and fish. Avoid hot smoked and cured fish. Always wash fruit and raw vegetables before eating. Listeria is treated with antibiotics. 

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/

Is an exceedingly rare infection, typically asymptomatic or with very mild symptoms such as fever, h...

Listeria

listeria

There are different types of influenzas (aka “the flu”) but they are all spread via the influenza virus. Virus transmission can be airborne, droplets, contact with a contaminated surface. Normally, an older child brings the virus home from preschool or school. Symptoms include high fever, body aches, coughing, a sore throat, general unwellness and headaches. When you are pregnant, you risk becoming more seriously ill than otherwise.The general recommendation is to get vaccinated during pregnancy.. The virus cannot pass to the baby in the uterus. However, an infected mother can pass the virus to the baby after birth. 

In the US, the CDC recommends that pregnant women receive the flu vaccine at any time during pregnancy. Consult your midwife or healthcare provider.

*Source:*
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/   

There are different types of influenzas (aka “the flu”) but they are all spread via the influenza vi...

Influenza

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