Women with PCOS can get pregnant, may experience more complications during pregnancy than normal women. They are needed extra precautions and care to maintain pregnancy successfully. The infants of PCOS mothers are sensitive and may keep in the neonatal intensive care unit if born early or before 37 weeks. PCOS mothers may require cesarian or c-surgery because they are at more risks and cannot deliver the baby normally.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance condition that affects the female reproductive system. Women can get this syndrome after puberty, and most women are affected in the childbearing age. This may happen due to genetics, obesity, and various other factors.
During this condition, the ovulation process is disturbed, and women get irregular periods or not at all. Therefore, it’s difficult for them to conceive easily. Moreover, a male sex hormone called androgens produces in large amounts.
If you have MTHFR while pregnant then that is an additional hurdle that can get in the way of a successful pregnancy. If you’re wondering what supplements to take when pregnant with MTHFR then you can easily find out by googling it online. Recent studies have shown that taking regular doses of L-methylfolate while pregnant with MTHFR can really help you.
PCOS Symptoms
Some PCOS women do not experience any type of symptoms. Most women are diagnosed with POCS at the time while they are trying to conceive. Its symptoms vary from woman to woman, and PCOS women experience symptoms, such as;
- Irregular periods
- Lower the chances of getting pregnant
- Acne skin
- Excessive hair growth on the body like, chest, hand, arms, legs, and baldness pattern like men
- Insulin-resistance
- Most women gain weight
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart problems
What are the risks associated with PCOS pregnancy?
PCOS women follow some strategies, to lower the severity of its symptoms and becoming pregnant. But it’s not easy for them to carry out pregnancy because many challenges are associated with PCOS pregnancy, putting them at more risk than normal mothers.
Certain complications are linked with PCOS pregnancy, such as;
Miscarriage
The rate of miscarriage is three times more in PCOS women than women without PCOS. These may lose their babies in the early months of pregnancy. Some research studies show that metformin may reduce the chances of miscarriage, but further research is needed.
Gestational diabetes
Pregnant women can get gestational diabetes, but the mother and her fetus are safe if the condition is controlled. In this condition, placenta hormones block insulin production in the body. Mothers who are affected by gestational diabetes, their babies can be large, have breathing difficulty and have a low level of blood sugar. After delivery, gestational diabetes may go away, or mothers and their children may develop type 2 diabetes later in their lives.
Preeclampsia
Suddenly after the 20-week of pregnancy, the mother’s blood pressure increases —preeclampsia. It can affect the mother’s liver, kidney, and brain. If the situation is not under control, preeclampsia changes into eclampsia. Eclampsia is a severe condition that can damage organs, cause seizures, and eventually death. Mothers with preeclampsia may need a cesarean delivery.
Mood disorder
Women experience depression signs during pregnancy. PCOS women may feel more depression, anxiety than normal pregnant women. This happens due to large hormonal changes in the body.
Preterm birth
If pregnant women with PCOS can deliver their babies before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy —Preterm birth, and keep infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Babies born with preterm birth are at more risk of health problems.
Conclusion
If a PCOS woman wants to become a mother, she must fight to overcome multiple challenges to maintain her pregnancy. PCOS pregnant women are at more risk of complications than women without PCOS. Women have to struggle to save themselves and their infants from early birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth. Luckily, PCOS women become mothers despite these hurdles.
Reference
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/more_information/FAQs/pregnancy
