pregnat mom

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as many as half of all women have fibroids during pregnancy. Oftentimes, these noncancerous benign smooth muscle cell tumors of the uterus existed prior to the pregnancy. Then, during routine examinations or ultrasounds during pregnancy, many women are alarmed and worried to discover they have fibroids. What are fibroids? Fibroids are essentially a benign mass of muscle fibre within, or attached to, the uterine wall. During pregnancy, with the increased levels of oestrogen and progesterone, fibroids may grow along with the uterus. The growth of these fibroids can cause pain, inflammation, and discomfort - especially as they grow rapidly. For most women, fibroids simply require monitoring during pregnancy. And most women have fibroids that are small in size and don't cause any painful symptoms. Can fibroids cause pregnancy complications? In rare instances, very large fibroids can cause pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preterm birth or a baby being stuck in a breech position. In these cases, doctors will talk with you about your options - including the possibility of having to schedule a cesarean birth. This is especially true if the fibroid is located low in the uterus or near the cervix where it could impact the descent of the baby for childbirth. The good news is that most women, pregnant or otherwise, have fibroids from time to time without even knowing it. Most often, the fibroids resolve without treatment and the same is true during pregnancy. Most women who have fibroids during pregnancy find that after the birth the fibroids have dissipated - or shrunken back down to their pre-pregnancy size. While the thought of having fibroids in your uterus can be frightening, the reality is that it is normally nothing to worry about. For the 10-30% of women who have complications, most are handled with bed rest, pain medications and ice packs. What to do if you have fibroids If you have recently been diagnosed with fibroids, relax. Trust that your doctor will keep an eye on the growths to make sure they don't complicate your pregnancy. Be sure to report any new or alarming signs of pain or discomfort to your physician. And enjoy your growing baby without worrying too much!