Surprising Health Clues From Your Pregnancy

How healthy was your pregnancy?

Emerging research shows that certain health issues that occur during pregnancy can raise your risk of other conditions later.

How much weight you gained, whether you developed complications like gestational diabetes, and how smooth your labor went may serve as early clues to future health problems, say experts. But this isn't necessarily all bad news. "Most of the health issues that pregnancy may influence are preventable, so it's a unique opportunity to get a handle now—and make lifestyle changes to prevent them," says Hyagriv N. Simhan, M.D., director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Here are six pregnancy health problems to note—and what you can do to stay well long after you enter motherhood:

1. If you had: high blood pressure/preeclampsia

Your risk now: heart disease

Women with hypertension while pregnant had symptoms of heart disease about three years sooner than women with normal levels, Chilean researchers found. To reduce risk, be extra vigilant about exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting blood pressure and cholesterol tested regularly.

Walk off your post-baby weight in just six weeks with fitness guru Chris Freytag.

2. If you had: gestational diabetes

Your risk now: type 2 diabetes

Women who develop GD have up to a 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 10 years. If you had GD, tell your doc. You should get tested annually.

3. If you had: excess early pregnancy weight gain

Your risk now: complications due to being overweight

Some research suggests that women who gain a lot of weight in the first half of pregnancy—when little of it contributes to baby's weight gain—have more difficulty losing it compared with women who gain more weight in the second half. There's also evidence that post-pregnancy weight retention tends to be deposited as belly fat, the dangerous kind that can cause inflammation and increase your risk of heart disease, says Emily Oken, M.D., M.P.H., a Harvard assistant professor who studies pregnancy health issues.

Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your health; it reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. For help starting an effective weight loss regimen, find the approach that's best for you.

4. If you had: gingivitis

Your risk now: periodontal disease

About half of women experience swollen, bleeding gums during pregnancy because of hormonal changes, says periodontist Susan Karabin, DDS, immediate past president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "Most of the time this resolves after women have given birth or finished breastfeeding," she says. "But now that many women are getting pregnant later in life, they may already have some periodontal disease, and gum problems during pregnancy can make it worse."

Because gum disease (and the inflammation that comes with it) is linked to serious problems like Alzheimer's and heart disease, it's important to take precautions if you're at risk. Women may need more frequent dental visits for cleanings or a more aggressive treatment approach for healthy gums, such as scaling and root planing.

Try these natural remedies for some common pregnancy-related conditions.

5. If you had: a very long labor

Your risk now: incontinence

All women who have children (vaginally or C-section) have an increased risk of incontinence later on. But the condition is even more likely in women who had a pushing phase of labor longer than two hours—the protracted effort can compress a nerve that controls bladder function, says urogynecologist Lauri Romanzi, M.D. She says Kegel exercises are the best way to control incontinence; pelvic floor physical therapy, medication, or surgery can help more serious cases.

6. If you had: postpartum depression

Your risk now: depression recurrence

Women who experience PPD are twice as likely to have another bout of depression within five years, say researchers. You may also be more prone during times of hormonal change, like perimenopause. Watch for symptoms—such as feeling hopeless, not sleeping well, or eating significantly less or more than usual—that last longer than two weeks, and talk with your doctor if you suspect a recurrence.