Common Health Issues During Pregnancy
Gestational Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Infections
In addition to these common health issues, pregnant women can experience:
- Preterm labor when the baby is born before 37 weeks.
- Placenta previa, when the placenta (the organ that feeds the baby) covers the opening to the birth canal.
- Placenta accreta, when the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the uterus.
Your doctor can help treat these conditions, but it’s important to get care as soon as possible.
When to Get Help
It can be hard to know when something is a normal part of pregnancy or more serious. Some aches, pains and changes are normal, but some are not. Here are some signs you should call your doctor or go to the hospital right away:
- You have heavy bleeding, like a period or more.
- You have strong pain in your belly that doesn’t go away.
- You have a bad headache that won’t stop.
- You have trouble breathing or chest pain.
- You feel very dizzy, weak or faint.
- You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
If you are ever unsure, it’s always OK to call your doctor and ask. To learn more about serious complications, visit the Department of State Health Services Urgent Maternal Warning Signs page.
More than Morning Sickness
Hyperemesis gravidarum is more extreme than morning sickness and can have serious consequences for both the mother and baby. It can make it difficult for pregnant women to do normal activities like going to work. Hyperemesis gravidarum often starts early in the pregnancy and can look different for each woman. During prenatal appointments, health care providers review your condition for symptoms. They look for signs of significant weight loss, recurrent ketosis (the body burning fat for energy) and frequent or severe nausea.
To learn more about hyperemesis gravidarum, visit the More Than Morning Sickness page.
Maternal Warning Signs
It’s important to know the warning signs that something might be wrong during your pregnancy. These warning signs are your body’s way of telling you that you may need help. If you notice any of these signs, you should call your doctor or go to the hospital right away. Some important warning signs are:
- Changes in vision, like seeing spots or blurry vision.
- Sudden swelling of your face or hands.
- Chest pain or trouble breathing.
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking.
- Severe belly pain or cramps.
- Thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby.
These and other signs can mean there is a serious problem that needs treatment. It’s always better to be safe and get checked, even if you aren’t sure. Watch the video below to learn more about recognizing urgent maternal warning signs.
Testing for Complications
When you’re pregnant, you will have regular checkups with your doctor called prenatal visits. At these visits, your doctor will conduct different tests to make sure you and your baby are healthy. These tests are important because they can find problems even before you feel sick. Some common prenatal tests include:
- Blood pressure checks.
- Urine tests.
- Ultrasounds.
- Glucose screenings.
Your doctor will explain each test and tell you what the results mean. If a test shows something unusual, your doctor may do more tests. To learn more about prenatal visits and what to expect, visit the What New Moms Can Expect page.
Taking Care of Yourself
The best way to prevent problems is to take good care of yourself during pregnancy. Below are a few things you can do to stay healthy:
- Go to all your prenatal checkups.
- Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water.
- Get enough rest and try to stay active with safe exercises.
- Do not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs.
- Take any medicine your doctor gives you, but don’t take anything new without asking first.
Pregnancy complications can be scary, but most can be managed with the right care. Knowing the warning signs and getting regular checkups will help keep you and your baby safe. To learn more about taking care of yourself, visit the Department of State Health Services During Your Pregnancy page.
Support for Expecting Mothers
Expecting mothers have access to a variety of programs and resources in Texas. These programs can help you stay healthy and manage any complications you face.
Medicaid For Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal
Medicaid for Pregnant Women helps low-income pregnant mothers get the care they need. This program covers doctor visits, tests, medicine, childbirth and newborn care. The program helps make sure you and your baby have access to health care regardless of cost. Income requirements are different for pregnant women. This means you may qualify for Medicaid while pregnant, even if you didn’t before. For those approved, you can get medical care during your pregnancy and up to 12 months after your baby is born.
CHIP Perinatal is for pregnant women who can’t get Medicaid and don’t have other health insurance. It helps cover doctor visits for your pregnancy and care for your newborn. This means you can still get the medical care you and your baby need during your pregnancy. Once your baby is born, CHIP or Medicaid may cover care based on your income.
For more details, visit the Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal page. If you have questions, visit the CHIP Perinatal FAQs to learn more.
Texas Nurse-Family Partnership
The Texas Nurse-Family Partnership is a free program where nurses partner with first-time mothers to improve prenatal care and child development. Families can start this program during the mother’s 28th week of pregnancy and continue after birth. Nurses will visit the home to make sure mothers receive the care they need. They can help spot maternal warning signs and encourage mothers to get additional support when needed.
To learn more or find provider details, visit the Texas Nurse-Family Partnership page.