heart disease and pregnancy

Pregnancy adds approximately 50% extra load to a pregnant women’s heart. If a woman has a Read more

HIV and pregnancy – what happens if I have HIV and get pregnant

Infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), one of the world’s most fatal diseases. A woman who is infected with HIV may pass the virus to her baby either during pregnancy, labour and delivery or through Read more

SLE and pregnancy

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. If you suffer from SLE it is important to seek pre-conception advice. Although research indicates that if the disease is in remission pregnancy outcomes are good, SLE can sometimes result in: Read more

Kidney disease and pregnancy

Chronic renal (kidney) disease

If you suffer from a long-term renal problem it is important that you seek pre conception advice before becoming pregnant. A pregnant woman with pre-existing renal disease is considered to be at high risk of Read more

gestational diabetes

 Gestational diabetes is diabetes that only affects a woman during pregnancy. It affects 10 in 100 women so is very common. Its not to be confused with diabetes that exists as a condition BEFORE you become pregnant. With gestational diabetes women who are afflicted typically go back to normal after pregnancy and have normal blood sugar and insulin levels. If you suffer from gestational diabetes once then the chances are high that you will experience it in future pregnancies. Its is believed that gestational diabetes occurs because a pregnant woman’s body produces less insulin than normal and /or also because a pregnant woman’s body cannot process insulin like it can in a non pregnant state. This causes high blood sugar levels in the woman and is a key reason that blood sugar is tested for during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can result in a large baby and make giving birth difficult. Other pregnancy complications that can occur with gestational diabetes include infections of the uterus, bladder, cervix and kidneys. It is highly recommended that your doctor help you regulate your blood sugar levels during pregnancy if you have diabetes and part of this plan will probably include eating smaller meals more regularly and having some form of regular exercise.

Diabetes and pregnancy

Diabetes during pregnancy can be a serious matter. Diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin in the bloodstream. Insulin breaks down sugar and moves it to where its needed in the body. Lack of insulin results in… Read more

Epilipsy and pregnancy

Approximately 1/2% of pregnant women suffer from epilepsy. If you suffer from epilepsy… Read more

Asthma and pregnancy

Asthma is the most common respiratory disease in pregnancy and it affects a surprisingly percentage (3%) of women. Many women with asthma have no problems during pregnancy, but it is important that… Read more

Pregnancy weight

Pregnancy weight is a key part of pregnancy preparation in that having a good body weight, if at all possible before becoming pregnant, is better for your health and the health of your baby. Obviously during pregnancy you will gain significant weight and… Read more

Cardiac disease and Pregnancy

As with any pre-existing condition, if you have cardiac disease it is very important that you seek advice from your cardiologist and obstetrician before becoming pregnant. Your doctor may advise pre-conception surgery to correct… Read more

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