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Problems in pregnancy

Unfortunately not every pregnancy is straightforward and in some cases there may be complications.

In this section we wanted to give a brief outline of some of the more common problems, but they are of course best discussed individually with your doctor.

  • Ectopic pregnancy Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy is outside the cavity of the womb. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube.
  • Miscarriage About one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, which is little consolation if it happens to you. It is usually difficult to know the exact cause, but is unlikely to have happened because of anything you did or didn't do.
  • Breech presentation Breech presentation in pregnancy is when babies are not in the correct position for entering the birth canal (i.e. are not head downwards).
  • Gestational Diabetes During normal pregnancy, there is a rise in hormones which causes the mother's body to become relatively insensitive to insulin, the hormone your body produces to lower blood sugar. A woman with gestational diabetes cannot make sufficient insulin to overcome this insensitivity and so develops diabetes, which usually disappears after delivery.
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