Common pregnancy complications include:

• Anemia. A condition in which there is a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and to the fetus. During pregnancy, anemia is most often due to iron deficiency. Other forms that may become diagnosed during pregnancy require further tests and a variety of treatments. Iron is a substance that helps the body produce red blood cells. Although anemia does not typically harm the fetus, severe anemia has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight (babies weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, or 2,500 grams at birth). It can also cause fatigue in the expectant mother.
  
  A pregnant woman requires 30 milligrams of iron a day, twice the normal amount needed by the body. Women can prevent anemia by getting the recommended amount of iron through foods containing iron (e.g., red meats, shellfish, oatmeal) and prenatal vitamins. Women are usually tested for the condition at their first prenatal visit, and again between 24 and 28 weeks. Women who are diagnosed with the condition may be prescribed an iron supplement.
  
  
• Depression during pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, approximately 10 to 20 percent of women experience major symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness combined with other symptoms (e.g., trouble sleeping, lack of interest, restlessness, changes in appetite, feelings of guilt, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating) lasting for two weeks or longer. It may be caused by changes in the brain caused by hormones or a stressful life event such as a death. Women with a family history of the condition are at increased risk. However, in some cases the cause of the depression cannot be identified.
  
  Depression during pregnancy can lead to poor weight gain, as well as drug or alcohol abuse, and possibly suicide. These conditions can pose serious risks for the expectant mother and her fetus. Depression also may occur after childbirth (postpartum depression), potentially interfering with a woman’s ability to care for herself or her baby. In addition, women with postpartum depression have an increased risk of adopting negative parenting skills because the mother’s ability to recognize and respond to the baby’s needs is impaired. Women can treat their depression with support groups, professional counseling or therapy. Certain brands of antidepressants may also be prescribed without causing harm to the patient or her fetus.
  
  
• Gestational diabetes. A condition in which women develop type 2 diabetes during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which glucose (blood sugar) builds up in the blood because of the body’s inability to use insulin effectively. During pregnancy, hormones from the placenta make it difficult for the mother’s body to use insulin. The condition can cause the fetus to grow too large (macrosomia). This abnormal growth can lead to problems with delivery. After birth, the baby may have breathing difficulties and low blood sugar. Diet, exercise and in some cases insulin injections may be used to keep the disorder in control.
  
  According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), gestational diabetes affects about 4 to 8 percent of all pregnant women. Screening for the disease usually occurs between the 24^th and 28^th week of pregnancy. Screening generally involves a blood test taken one hour after a special sugar solution is administered. In most women, the disease disappears after delivery. However, it often returns in future pregnancies, and many women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
  
  
• Thyroid disorders. The thyroid is a gland located in the neck. According to the March of Dimes, about 2 percent of pregnant women have a thyroid disorder. Common disorders include hyperthyroidism (when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (when the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone). These conditions can be present before pregnancy, or develop during pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
  
  Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, cold intolerance and muscle and joint pain. Hyperthyroidism may cause nervousness, weight loss, heat intolerance, increased heart rate, hypertension and goiter. Both conditions are usually treated with medication. Left untreated, hypothyroidism may cause long-term neurologic or developmental difficulties in the baby. Hyperthyroidism can lead to preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that is characterized by hypertension, proteinuria and other blood abnormalities in the mother. Women experiencing symptoms of thyroid malfunction should notify their physician for necessary testing.
  
  
• Preeclampsia. A pregnancy-induced condition that is characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) and the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria). Preeclampsia increases the mother’s risk of several complications, including stroke and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Potential complications for the fetus include premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation. Although delivery is the only cure for preeclampsia, the condition can be controlled with bed rest and medication. In addition, new findings indicate that pregnant women who develop the condition may also be at increased risk of developing kidney problems. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia affects at least 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies.
  
  
• Premature labor. Most pregnancies last 38 to 42 weeks. Labor that occurs before the end of the 36^th week of pregnancy is known as premature labor. Babies who are born preterm are at a higher risk for long-term health problems and death. In some cases, premature labor may be prevented with medications and rest. In other cases, delivery may be delayed only long enough for the mother to be transported to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The mother may also be given a drug during her pregnancy to speed up the fetus’ lung development. Women experiencing symptoms of preterm labor should contact their obstetrician-gynecologist (ObGyn) immediately or go to the hospital. Common symptoms include contractions, pelvic pressure, backache and cramps.