Pregnancy is an amazing time for every woman, but for those who are diagnosed with PCOS, endometriosis or fibroids, pregnancy is also a time of intense worries. As these conditions are thought to prevent you from becoming pregnant, there is one worry you can now forget, yet there are many more to look forward. Here are things you need to know about fibroids when you are pregnant.
Look at the statistics
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and about 20% to 80% of all women develop them by the age of 50. This means that many women out there develop fibroids during their childbearing years. Despite the myths, it is possible to become pregnant with fibroids, even if they might diminish your fertility.
Fibroids effects on pregnancy
Most women don’t experience any symptoms or effects during pregnancy from the fibroids. The most important effect one might develop during pregnancy is pain due to fibroids. Pain appears in women with fibroids larger than 5cm who are in the last two trimesters, when the baby is rather large and pushes on the fibroids.
If you have large fibroids the fetus might have problems growing, due to the tight space in the womb, so don’t skip your ultrasounds, which allow the doctor to monitor the growth of the fetus. Another complication one might experience is placental abruption, when the placenta breaks from the uterine wall, limiting the amount of oxygen and nutrients the baby receives.
If you have fibroids you might not be able to deliver naturally, as the baby might not be able to align for vaginal birth, so expect to get a C-section. At the same time, the pain caused by the fibroids can trigger early contractions, so you might have a preterm delivery.
But all these situations depend on the location of the fibroids. If they don’t interfere with the baby’s growth and the little one manages to get in position for the vaginal birth, your doctor can allow you to deliver naturally.
If the fibroids’ location might pose a risk for the baby, the doctor can advise on removing the fibroids, but these are very rare cases.
The effects of pregnancy on the fibroids
Pregnancy also has effects on the fibroids. Because their growth is controlled by hormones, fibroids can grow during the first trimester of the pregnancy, when the estrogen levels are high. Recent studies revealed that not all fibroids do grow during pregnancy and some women experience a shrink in their fibroids after they deliver.
While fibroids can lead to a miscarriage and might impact the pregnancy, many women are able to become pregnant, carry the baby to full term and deliver without complications. A healthy lifestyle that includes lots of rest, proper hydration and as many fresh foods as possible can help you diminish the potential symptoms of fibroids during pregnancy. Make sure you always keep in touch with your doctor and have regular checkups, to ensure both you and the baby are healthy.
