A pregnancy complication is any condition or illness that threatens the mother and/or fetus during pregnancy. Common pregnancy complications include preeclampsia, premature labor, gestational diabetes and depression.

Pregnancy complications may result from a number of possible factors, including pre–existing disorders or diseases (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure) or abnormalities of the sperm or egg.

It's not difficult to figure out why pregnant women start squirming when the subject of episiotomy is raised.

Anthropologists like Carol Worthman of Emory University have been credited with giving birth to a new field of study in recent years -- ethnopediatrics (the study of childrearing practices in other cultures). According to those involved in this emerging field, other cultures have a great deal to teach Westerners about pregnancy, birth and babies.