Primer trimestre: Peligroso para el bebé

In many countries around the world, there's a tradition of never announcing your pregnancy before

the first three months have passed, and the reason is very simple: the first trimester

of pregnancy is the most dangerous for the baby, and there's a very real and very high possibility that

the pregnancy will be lost. Then, the joy shared with family and friends turns

into collective sadness because everyone ends up finding out about the loss, and no one wants that.

Although, to be honest, sometimes I think it would be better to announce the pregnancy from the beginning,

even with all the risk and sadness that comes with losing a baby, because that way we would all know how

common it is, the exact reasons why it happens, and why there's so much risk. Because of the

way we behave and hide it these days, every woman who loses a baby

thinks her case is unique, that there's something wrong with her, or that there's some

negative force around her punishing her. So, moms and dads, please calm down.

In this video, I'm going to try to explain briefly and simply why there are so many problems in

the first trimester and what we can do to reduce the risks. Remember that knowledge is success.

Danger #1 Implantation: We have already mentioned in several videos that a healthy and fertile couple

will take on average about 6 months to achieve pregnancy, but here comes the funny thing,

most couples think that if they don't get pregnant the first time it's because the sperm

couldn't fertilize the egg, but the truth is that if they have sex on their fertile days

, fertilization will most likely be successful. However, it is estimated that more than half of the

embryos are lost in the first week because they cannot implant properly in the uterus

and therefore, menstruation is not even missed. What can we do to help the embryo

implant? Dr. Arturo Valdés and Biologist Luis Machorro already have a video that explains

a little about how to improve the quality of eggs and sperm, it is a little more

focused on fertility before achieving pregnancy, but I recommend you take a

look. Meanwhile, from an obstetrics perspective—that is, maternal-fetal care—

I usually prescribe a little progesterone because this hormone will help the

sac better attach to the endometrium. Please don't self-medicate. Fortunately, too much

progesterone won't harm your baby, but it could cause you a lot of: weakness,

drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, chest pain, swelling,

heart problems, and even depression. Therefore, it's not a good idea to just take progesterone

. Come for a consultation, we'll check the condition of your endometrium and help the baby grow

. Danger #2: Bleeding: Around week 3 of the menstrual cycle, and if the embryo manages

to implant, the next thing we should be concerned about is any light bleeding. I'll repeat it as always:

No discharge or bleeding is normal during pregnancy. "Hey! But someone told me it's

normal to have bleeding and it's called implantation bleeding." No! Please, no. In fact, I don't

know why they call it implantation bleeding; it should be called implantation spotting, and it doesn't

happen at any time; it's a light spotting that occurs right on the day your

period was due. The endometrium isn't perfect, and even if you received the pregnancy signal,

a small section of the outer layer probably shed somehow,

causing the spotting. It's a faint spotting, like pink or brown, and it's not necessarily meant

to happen. Only some women experience this spotting, and for many, it's the

first sign they're pregnant. If you're already several weeks pregnant and suddenly

start experiencing heavy, flowing, bright-colored bleeding, don't think twice;

go to a doctor immediately. Danger #3 Ectopic Pregnancy: When your period is

a full week late, it means you're technically five weeks pregnant.

Remember, in obstetrics, we start counting pregnancy weeks from the first

day of your last period. Don't let time pass; as soon as you realize this,

If you are pregnant, go buy a pregnancy test at the pharmacy; they are usually very inexpensive and

very accurate. Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone

human chorionic gonadotropin, which is released by the embryo to stop menstruation and begin

pregnancy. When the embryo is well implanted inside the uterus, it manages to release large

amounts of this hormone, and the lines on the pregnancy test appear very colorful and marked.

When the embryo implants outside the uterus, it is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it fails to produce

as much hormone, therefore, the second line on the pregnancy test appears very faint and weak. Now

, having a very thick and colorful line is no guarantee of successful implantation. Sometimes

mothers arrive after taking the pregnancy test up to three or four weeks later, and of course, the embryo

is already larger and, even though it is outside the uterus, it produces more hCG. That's why I recommend taking the

pregnancy test as soon as possible. Remember that an ultrasound can be performed practically from

the first day of pregnancy, does not affect your baby, and is the best way to confirm whether the embryo is

properly implanted. Danger #4 Anatomical defects: Another advantage of performing an ultrasound is that it

helps us identify any anatomical defects. One of the most common is called

Asherman's syndrome, which basically refers to the existence of adhesions on the internal walls

of the uterus. They usually appear after severe infections during MVAs or some scrapings. In

some cases, the adhesions are so severe that they prevent the endometrium from developing, affecting

fertility. Other common defects are polyps and fibroids, these are

abnormal growths of the endometrium and uterine muscle, respectively. Unfortunately, if the embryo

implants on top of these growths, it is very likely that it will not develop properly

and will die within a few weeks. There's not much we can do about it during pregnancy.

With a bit of luck, we can give nutritional supplements and help the placenta

grow and develop quickly. However, if the pregnancy is lost, it would be advisable

to operate on the polyps or fibroids before trying to get pregnant again. I'm often asked

if ovarian cysts affect pregnancy, and no, they really don't. Ovarian cysts and

polycystic ovary syndrome can reduce the chances of achieving pregnancy, but if you've already

managed to get pregnant, don't worry! Nothing will happen to your baby, and if for some reason your

doctor suggests operating on the cysts during pregnancy, please seek a second opinion and

come see us, because there's no point in putting your baby at risk. The vast majority of mothers

know that during pregnancy they should not smoke, drink, self-medicate, take drugs,

expose themselves to chemicals or toxins, that they should not take x-rays at the abdominal level and that

they should moderate their consumption of coffee, tea, foods with excess sodium, sugars and preservatives, but

here comes one of the most common risks... Danger #5 I didn't know I was pregnant:

The good thing is that babies are very resistant and exposure to these substances does not usually cause the

death of the fetus, the bad thing is that then many women think that nothing bad happens, in fact

at least once a month, I come across a comment on YouTube from a mother claiming that even if

she took drugs or smoked every day her baby was born very beautiful and without deformities. And yes,

that's true! Exposure to these substances is not going to make your baby lose an ear or

grow three arms, but little by little you will notice the problems with his behavior. These

babies are substance-dependent, and that's why they cry a lot. Even if they're not hungry, sleepy, or

clean, they continue to cry for no apparent reason. As children, they may have attention problems,

are problematic adolescents, and as adults, they are more likely to develop addictions or

conditions like diabetes. The absence of a menstrual period is a good sign of pregnancy for

most women; usually, only those who suffer from irregular periods are unaware

of their pregnancy. Therefore, my recommendation, especially if you suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome

or hormonal imbalances, is to always be attentive to other signs of pregnancy, such as:

Nausea, increased breast size and tenderness, feeling very tired

or sleepy, and of course... unusual cravings. If you suddenly find yourself craving

something you've never liked before, take a pregnancy test! Danger #6 Infections:

The next risk is very important and it's infections. It's a little sad,

but I think half of the new patients who've never been to my office before

come for the first time because they have an infection that's already gotten out of control. They come in and

tell me they've been on treatment for a few weeks, and obviously, I ask them what type of infection they have,

and they tell me they don't know, but that they've already bought this cream or that suppository and it hasn't worked for them.

And that's the crux of the matter! An infection can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi

, and of course, even when we're talking about bacteria, there are hundreds of possible bacteria. Remember,

we say it in every video: Knowledge is power and the first step is to have the correct diagnosis,

get a urine culture, a vaginal culture, it is cheap, fast and can save your baby's life.

Danger #7 Rh incompatibility: The next risk is blood incompatibility,

it is more common in the second and third trimester but we are referring to when the mother has

RH negative blood type and her partner is RH positive, no other combination will worry us,

nothing happens, the only one that causes problems is the RH negative mother and RH positive father, because

there is a 50% chance that the baby will be RH positive like the father and then the

mother's defenses can attack the baby. If you don't know what type of RH you have, please get tested

as soon as possible and if you already know that as a couple you have incompatible blood, don't worry,

we can give you a vaccine to prevent the defenses from attacking and everything will be fine.

Danger #8 Poor nutrition: Being overweight can lead to health complications for the mother,

especially in the third trimester. However, during the first trimester, the real danger for the

baby appears when the mother is significantly underweight. This usually

means the endometrium is very thin and the placenta will have trouble absorbing

nutrients. It could even detach. If the placenta detaches,

the pregnancy is quickly lost. Remember that during pregnancy, a

balanced diet is important, preferably in small but frequent portions, eating up to five or six times a

day. While nutritional supplements and vitamins are available, nothing beats getting your nutrients

naturally. Eat fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, and carbohydrates (including pasta, bread, tortillas, or seeds) daily

. Eat meat and eggs. Drink plenty of water,

not sugary drinks. Danger #9 Hard knocks or accidents. Returning to the reasons why

it's worth telling others you're pregnant, we come to danger number nine:

Hard knocks. Fortunately, the embryo is wrapped in a gestational sac, floating

in amniotic fluid, surrounded by uterine muscles, and protected by the pelvis, at least on the

sides and back. In fact, it's very unlikely that a push or a light bump

will affect it, but you shouldn't overdo it either. If you have a severe blow or a car accident,

it's worth performing an ultrasound, but pay attention and inform your doctor about the blow,

because it's not just about checking the baby; it's more likely that the blow affected the placenta

, and you need to check for bruises or signs of abruption. Now,

if you have ever suffered physical violence in your homes, please seek help immediately

. Statistically, you are almost three times more likely to suffer a miscarriage. Don't sit

still, seek help. Danger #10 Repeated miscarriage: When a pregnancy is lost after

week 12, we call it gestational loss, and it is usually due to a lack of care because

it can usually be prevented. We can detect that something is wrong and take precautions. However, when

death occurs before week 12, it is usually due to problems with the baby's health. If you

If you had a good implantation, if you had no bleeding or anatomical defects, if you fought

infections, if you ate well, if you didn't suffer any blows and followed the

doctor's instructions to the letter, but still lost your baby before week 12, don't be overwhelmed,

don't think you're a bad mother or that there's something wrong with you. It's normal, 1 or 2 out of 10 pregnancies

end in miscarriage before week 12, however, if it happens again it's considered a

repeated miscarriage and if you have a third miscarriage, the chances of it happening again are

greater than 85%. In those cases it's practically certain that there's a genetic defect in the

embryo, then it's worth doing genetic studies, first of all on the sperm, the

sperm FISH and if everything is okay with the sperm, then we should do the salivary DNA study,

that will tell us if you, mothers, are developing blood clots during pregnancy.

If you have altered salivary DNA and are producing blood clots, don't worry.

You can get pregnant, but you will need medical treatment early in pregnancy.

If there are genetic or chromosomal defects, then yes, in vitro fertilization

with genetic diagnosis would be recommended. We see many patients who suffer

repeated miscarriages, and in 9 out of 10 cases, we can achieve a successful pregnancy. I hope all this

information has helped you take better care of your pregnancy. See you in the next

video, which will cover the third trimester, because the opposite happens there. The baby

develops quickly and without problems, but the more the baby grows, the more complications and risks

the mother can face. I say goodbye, wishing you all the best for your dream in your arms.