TORCH infections including toxoplasmosis and rubella

Understanding the TORCH concept TORCH is a clinical memory aid rather than a single disease. It refers to infections that may cause congenital or perinatal disease. The classic acronym includes Toxoplasmosis, Other infections, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex virus. The “Other” category may include syphilis, varicella-zoster virus, parvovirus B19, hepatitis viruses, HIV, Zika virus in […]

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Sexually transmitted infections in pregnancy

Why STIs matter in pregnancy Pregnancy is a time of major physiologic change, but it does not create immunity against sexually transmitted infections. A person can enter pregnancy with an undiagnosed infection, acquire a new infection while pregnant, or be reinfected after treatment if a partner has not been treated. This is why prenatal care […]

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UTI and kidney infection in pregnancy

Understanding the spectrum: bacteriuria, cystitis, and pyelonephritis UTI in pregnancy is not a single condition but a spectrum. Asymptomatic bacteriuria means significant bacterial growth in the urine without typical urinary symptoms. It matters in pregnancy because untreated bacteriuria is associated with a higher risk of symptomatic infection and pyelonephritis. Many prenatal care pathways include urine […]

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HELLP syndrome and hypertension in pregnancy

Understanding hypertensive disorders of pregnancy Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are not a single disease. They include chronic hypertension that predates pregnancy or is diagnosed before 20 weeks, gestational hypertension that appears after 20 weeks without clear end-organ involvement, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with severe features. Preeclampsia classically involves new hypertension after 20 weeks plus proteinuria, but […]

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Infections during pregnancy overview

Why infections matter in pregnancy Pregnancy is not an immunocompromised state in a simple sense, but it is an immunologically distinct state. Maternal immune adaptations support tolerance of the fetus while still defending against pathogens. These shifts, combined with changes such as urinary tract dilation, altered vaginal flora, increased cardiac and respiratory demands, and placental […]

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Gestational diabetes causes and diagnosis

What gestational diabetes means Gestational diabetes is typically defined as hyperglycemia first detected during pregnancy that does not clearly meet criteria for preexisting overt diabetes. In practical terms, it means blood glucose levels are higher than expected because the body cannot produce or use insulin effectively enough for the metabolic demands of pregnancy. Insulin is […]

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Severe preeclampsia complications and eclampsia

Understanding severe preeclampsia Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder that typically develops after 20 weeks of gestation and is associated with new-onset hypertension plus evidence of maternal organ involvement, placental dysfunction, or proteinuria. Severe preeclampsia refers to a more dangerous clinical state, often characterized by very high blood pressure, significant laboratory abnormalities, neurological symptoms, liver […]

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Preeclampsia causes diagnosis and monitoring

What preeclampsia means Preeclampsia is a multisystem hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. In clinical terms, it is usually suspected when a pregnant person develops new high blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation. It may be accompanied by proteinuria, meaning excess protein in the urine, or by evidence that organs such as the kidneys, liver, brain, […]

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Placenta accreta spectrum disorders

What placenta accreta spectrum means In a typical pregnancy, the placenta attaches to the uterine lining and separates after the baby is born. In placenta accreta spectrum disorders, the interface between placenta and uterus is abnormal, so the placenta is too firmly attached or grows too deeply. This creates a high risk of severe hemorrhage […]

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Placenta previa and placental abruption explained

Why the placenta matters The placenta is the organ that supports fetal growth by transferring oxygen and nutrients, removing waste products, and producing hormones that help maintain pregnancy. It is attached to the uterine wall and connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord. Because it is highly vascular, problems with placental position or attachment […]

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