Due Date Approaching Possible Complications you Should Be Aware of

As your due date approaches, you are sure to be excited, but you may find yourself anxious as well. While the odds of a successful labor and delivery are in your favor, it can be hard not to worry about possible less than ideal scenarios.

Placenta Previa
Placenta previa, a condition where the placenta covers the cervix, is relatively common early in pregnancy. It typically corrects itself by the end of pregnancy, but, if not, treatment options will need to be discussed. If the placenta is still covering the cervix at 36 weeks, your doctor will probably want to schedule a cesarean section. If you begin bleeding vaginally before then, an emergency cesarean will likely be necessary. Placenta previa at the end of the pregnancy can result in heavy bleeding and is a medical emergency.

Nuchal Cord
When the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck during delivery, it is termed a nuchal cord. This occurs in about 25 percent of deliveries, but is not necessarily an emergency. It is common for the baby's heart rate to drop with each contraction, then return to normal. If the heart rate does not return to normal after the contraction, it can signal that the cord is wrapped too tightly around the neck. In these cases, your doctor may manually help your baby down the birth canal or recommend a cesarean section.

Meconium Aspiration
Meconium is often called baby's first stool, and is thick, black and tarry. If the baby passes this stool into the amniotic fluid and then inhales it, it can cause respiratory distress. Baby's more than one week overdue are more likely than others to pass meconium, but even if the amniotic fluid is contaminated, not all babies get sick. Of the deliveries that include meconium-stained amniotic fluid, anywhere from 1 to 6 percent of the babies become ill.

Birth Defects
Some birth defects, such as spina bifida and Down syndrome, are diagnosed during pregnancy, but others are not apparent until birth or later. Cleft palate, for example, may not be diagnosed until delivery. While this condition can be corrected surgically, at a specialty hospital such as Shriner's Hospital Cincinnati, it can lead to feeding challenges before the repair is completed. This correction is typically done at between nine and twelve months.

These are four of the most common complications that can occur during the end of pregnancy. Although each may sound frightening, it is important to note that even if you do develop one of these complications, the outcome in most cases is generally good. Access to quality medical care is the most important thing you can do to ensure a happy and healthy end to your pregnancy.