Occasional complications of pregnancies

Occasional complications and side effects:

o hyperemesis gravidarum
o temporary and permanent injury to back
o severe scarring requiring later surgery (especially after additional pregnancies)
o dropped (prolapsed) uterus (especially after additional pregnancies, and other pelvic floor weaknesses -- 11% of women, including cystocele, rectocele, and enterocele)
o pre-eclampsia (edema and hypertension, the most common complication of pregnancy, associated with eclampsia, and affecting 7 - 10% of pregnancies)
o eclampsia (convulsions, coma during pregnancy or labor, high risk of death)
o gestational diabetes
o placenta previa
o anemia (which can be life-threatening)
o thrombocytopenic purpura
o severe cramping
o embolism (blood clots)
o medical disability requiring full bed rest (frequently ordered during part of many pregnancies varying from days to months for health of either mother or baby)
o diastasis recti, also torn abdominal muscles
o mitral valve stenosis (most common cardiac complication)
o serious infection and disease (e.g. increased risk of tuberculosis)
o hormonal imbalance
o ectopic pregnancy (risk of death)
o broken bones (ribcage, "tail bone")
o hemorrhage and
o numerous other complications of delivery
o refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease
o aggravation of pre-pregnancy diseases and conditions (e.g. epilepsy is present in .5% of pregnant women, and the pregnancy alters drug metabolism and treatment prospects all the while it increases the number and frequency of seizures)
o severe post-partum depression and psychosis
o research now indicates a possible link between ovarian cancer and female fertility treatments, including "egg harvesting" from infertile women and donors
o research also now indicates correlations between lower breast cancer survival rates and proximity in time to onset of cancer of last pregnancy research also indicates a correlation between having six or more pregnancies and a risk of coronary and cardiovascular disease