Pregnancy Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore
If you are pregnant, it pays to be attentive to every little thing that your body tells you. Some women take the slightest discomfort as a reason to call their doctor in the middle of the night, whereas others mistakenly think that pain and other warning signs are but a part of a pregnancy and are normal.
There are some signs that warrant emergency medical attention. Instead of obsessing about not wanting to be “the girl who cried wolf” every time she experiences an odd event during pregnant, any pregnant woman are strongly advised by doctors to be better safe, than sorry.
Here are seven warning signs that are worth going to the ER for:
Bleeding
Bleeding in any of trimester is not normal, and should be assessed by a doctor immediately. First trimester bleeding that can be likened to menstruation may be an early miscarriage. If it is accompanied by cramps, severe abdominal pain, and lightheadedness, it could be an ectopic pregnancy that’s about to or has already ruptured. Both are life-threatening, especially when the mother loses too much blood. Bleeding during the second trimester may be due to a spontaneous abortion, or placenta previa, wherein the placenta lays low in the uterus. Bleeding in the third trimester may indicate abruption of the placenta. This occurs when the latter prematurely detaches itself from the uterus.
Severe vomiting
Morning sickness is a given, and bouts of it throughout the day are to be expected in the first trimester. However, if a woman is unable to keep anything down as manifested by lack of weight gain, she has a high risk of becoming malnourished and dehydrated. This is a serious problem in the first trimester, because the baby may not get the nutrients it crucially requires for the development of vital organs. The chances of premature labor, birth defects or miscarriage are higher when the mother is malnourished.
Sudden decline of baby’s kicks and activities
Pregnant women should be able to feel their babies kick and move anytime from the sixth month onwards. If there is a sudden change in baby’s movement, specifically when a mother does not feel her baby move for an entire day, this could signal a problem. If it catches one’s attention, she should immediately eat something or change her position or walk about. If these don’t make the baby move, she should see her doctor right away. The baby may not be receiving enough oxygen or nutrients. Kick counts are important. In general, once a baby starts moving, there should be not less than 10 kicks every two hours.
Contractions in the second and early third trimester
Contractions that go away with eating or walking about are not a cause for concern. But when contractions during the second or early third trimester become regular, intense, and painful, it could be a sign of pre-term labor. A woman during these months may not be prepared for birth, but more importantly, the baby may not survive if born. The best thing to do is head to the ER right away.
Water bag breaks
Whether you are due or are far from it, a sudden gush of fluid from your vagina warrants immediate care. If you have determined that it is not urine or vaginal discharge, go to the ER immediately, and keep your feet elevated. When your water bag breaks, the baby needs to be born immediately, because the chances of a cord prolapse are higher at this time. The baby no longer has fluid to swim around in, so it could become asphyxiated by its own umbilical cord.
Third trimester persistent swelling, headaches, visual disturbances
These are symptoms of pre-eclampsia, a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure and excessive protein in the urine. It may progress to eclampsia, wherein the mother goes into seizure, which means lack of oxygen for the baby and possibly trauma.
Severe flu symptoms
There is no room for an infection during pregnancy, and anything the woman gets can easily be passed on to the fragile fetus. When a woman experiences flu symptoms such as fever, colds, diarrhea and the like, she should go to a doctor immediately to know exactly what she has, and for the doctor to prescribe a medication that’s safe for her and her baby.
This guest post was written by Johanna Almazar R.N. Johanna writes about fertility, pregnancy and conception for PregnancyQuickStart.com.
Crystal Jigsaw says
Very informative post. We do have to be on our guard, some pregnant women more than others. I wish some would take more care of themselvs. I hate it when I see a pregnant woman smoking or drinking.
Found you through Thursday blog hops.
CJ xx