Diagnosing & Treating Pregnancy Complications in Arizona

Pregnancy complications can cause a mother great anxiety and can pose a danger to the developing baby. In general, you should not hesitate to contact your doctor if you believe something might be wrong with your pregnancy.

To learn more about how Dignity Health treats pregnancy complications in Arizona, Find a Doctor. If you need urgent medical care, call 9-1-1.

Symptoms of Pregnancy Complications

Carrying a baby can sometimes cause the mom-to-be to have a health issue, from high blood pressure or high blood sugar to premature labor. In general, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy problems that deserve emergency medical attention include:

• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Convulsions
• Severe headache
• Extreme weakness
• Difficult or rapid breathing (hyperventilation)

If you need to visit an emergency room, use our InQuicker™ online tool to select your estimated hospital arrival time and wait at home until your time to be seen. Upon arrival and check-in, you will see a doctor who will assess your situation and determine the next appropriate level of care.

Causes of Pregnancy Complications

Pregnancy complications can occur for many reasons and fall into four general categories related to maternal health, age, lifestyle factors, and conditions of pregnancy.

• Maternal health refers to the mother’s health status at the time she becomes pregnant. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, or another chronic medical condition can cause a variety of pregnancy complications.
• Age is included as a cause of pregnancy complications because teens and women older than age 35 are at higher risk for experiencing difficulties with pregnancy.
• Lifestyle or personal factors such as tobacco, drug, and alcohol use can trigger a pregnancy complication.
• Conditions of pregnancy, such as carrying twins or triplets, can increase your risk of experiencing a complication such as premature labor.

Treatment & Prevention of Pregnancy Complications

Treatment and prevention of pregnancy complications focus on identifying the underlying cause of a complication and preventing difficulties from occurring. For instance, if you develop gestational diabetes (diabetes brought on by pregnancy), your doctor will treat this condition to avoid having it trigger any additional complications.

All women should engage in healthy lifestyle habits to help prevent pregnancy complications. Avoid tobacco, drug, and alcohol use before and during pregnancy, and exercise regularly as recommended by your doctor. If you experience any symptoms of pregnancy complications, seek immediate medical attention.