This document discusses maternal health concerns before, during, and after pregnancy. Before pregnancy, women should see their doctor to discuss any existing health problems and how treatment may need to be adjusted. During pregnancy, women may experience a range of symptoms from mild discomforts to severe illnesses. Common health conditions experienced during pregnancy include anemia, UTIs, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. After pregnancy, women can experience postpartum depression caused by hormonal changes after childbirth. Proper prenatal and postnatal care is important for both mother and baby's health.

1. MATERNAL HEALTH
CONCERNS

2. Complications of pregnancy are health problems that occur
during pregnancy.They can involve the mother’s health, the baby’s
health, or both. Some women experience health problems that arise
during pregnancy. Other women experience health problems before
they become pregnant that could lead to complications.That is
why, it is very important for women to receive proper health care
before, during, and after pregnancy.

3. Before Pregnancy
■ Women should see their doctor to discuss about health problems in the past or
even in the present.
■ If they are receiving treatment for any health problem, their health care
provider want to change the way their health is managed.
■ Some medicines used to treat health problems could be harmful if taken
during pregnancy, or, stopping the medication that they need could be
harmful or could pose a risk if one becomes pregnant.
■ If the health problem is addressed well or is under control, it is more likely that
one will have a healthy body when she gets pregnant.

4. During Pregnancy
■ Pregnancy symptoms and complications can range from mild and annoying
discomforts to severe, sometimes life-threatening illnesses.
■ Sometimes, women find it difficult to determine which symptoms are normal
and which are not.
■ Physical and mental conditions and health problems may be experienced
during pregnancy that affect the health of the mother or the baby.

5. The following are some common maternal health conditions or problems a woman
may experience during pregnancy:
 Anemia
 UrinaryTract Infection (UTI)
 Mental Health Conditions
 Hypertension
 Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
 Obesity and weight gain
 Infections
 Hyperemesis Gravidarum (more extreme than morning sickness)
 Placenta Previa
A woman who is pregnant should regularly see her ob-gyn for prenatal care.
Both the mother and the baby should be well-taken care of.

6. Post Pregnancy
■ Women may experience post-partum disorder during and after the pregnancy.
Depression is a common problem during and after pregnancy. About 13% of
pregnant women and new mothers experience depression. Some of its
symptoms are the following:
 Feeling restless or moody
 Feeling sad, hopeless, and overwhelmed
 Crying a lot
 Having no energy or motivation
 Eating too little or too much
 Having trouble focusing or making decisions
 Having memory problems

7. Post Pregnancy
 Feeling worthless and guilty
 Losing interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
 Withdrawing from friends and family
 Having headaches, aches, and pains or stomach problems that do not go away
 Depression after childbirth is called postpartum depression. Hormonal changes
may trigger symptoms of post-partum depression.
 When a woman is pregnant, level of hormones such as estrogen and
progesterone increase greatly.
 Levels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth.
 The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps regulate how your body uses
and stores energy from food. Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause
symptoms of depression.