According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as many as half of all women have fibroids during pregnancy. Oftentimes, these fibroids existed prior to pregnancy as benign cysts in the uterus that went relatively unnoticed. Then, during routine examinations or ultrasounds during pregnancy, many women are alarmed and worried to find out they have fibroids.
Fibroids are essentially a benign mass of muscle fiber within the uterine wall, or sometimes attached to it. During pregnancy, with the increased levels of estrogen 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 in size. For most women, fibroids are just something that are monitored by their doctor during pregnancy. And most women have fibroids that are so small in size they don’t recognize any painful symptoms resulting from the cysts.
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 themselves on their own and the same is true during pregnancy. Most women who had fibroids during pregnancy find that after labor and delivery the fibroids have dissipated – or shrunken back down to their pre-pregnancy size.
While the thought of having cysts in your uterus, especially while pregnant 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.
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!
Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.
