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7 Pregnancy Warning Signs Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 1: Bleeding During Any Trimester Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 2: Severe Nausea and Vomiting Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 3: The Baby’s Activity Level Significantly Declines continued... Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 4: Contractions Early in the Third Trimester Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 5: Your Water Breaks Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 6: A Persistent Severe Headache, Abdominal Pain, Visual Disturbances, and Swelling During Your Third Trimester Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 7: Flu Symptoms * Fever * Cough * Sore throat * Runny nose * Sneezing * Nausea * Vomiting * Diarrhea 7 Pregnancy Warning Signs Some symptoms during pregnancy are par for the course, but others are cause for alarm. How do you know the difference? For some expectant moms, the slightest ache or pain triggers a major alarm and a trip to the doctor’s office. But other pregnant women sometimes ignore a potentially serious warning sign. They may think it’s a normal part of pregnancy. Or they may simply not want to be seen as the girl who cried wolf. How do you know which symptoms during pregnancy warrant immediate medical attention and which can wait until your next prenatal visit? When WebMD put that question to experts, the consensus was you’re always better safe than sorry. When in doubt, call your doctor. But the experts also tell WebMD there are some symptoms during pregnancy you should never ignore. Here are the top seven warning signs of a potentially serious pregnancy complication. Pregnancy Week by Week Pregnant Belly If you are newly pregnant, or trying to conceive, you have many questions about what to expect. How will your body change? What's happening inside you? Here's what to expect week by week. * Weeks 1-4 * Weeks 5-8 * Weeks 9-12 * Weeks 13-16 * Weeks 17-20 * Weeks 21-25 * Weeks 26-30 * Weeks 31-34 * Weeks 35-40 pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy calendar, due date calculator, pregnancy diet, fit pregnancy, ultrasound, morning sickness, conception, prenatal vitamins, gestational diabetes, weight gain Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 1: Bleeding During Any Trimester Bleeding means different things throughout your pregnancy. “If you are bleeding heavily and have severe abdominal pain and menstrual-like cramps or feel like you are going to faint during first trimester, it could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy,” says Peter Bernstein, MD. Bernstein is a professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, and it can be life-threatening. Heavy bleeding with cramping could also be a sign of miscarriage in first or early second trimester. By contrast, bleeding in the third trimester with abdominal pain may indicate placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine lining. “Bleeding is always serious,” says Donnica Moore, MD. Moore is a women's health expert in Far Hills, N.J., and the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health for Life. She tells WebMD that any bleeding during pregnancy needs immediate attention. If you start bleeding, don’t wait. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 2: Severe Nausea and Vomiting Severe nausea and vomiting to the point you can’t keep anything down is a dangerous situation. “If you can’t eat or drink anything, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated,” Bernstein says. You also run the risk of becoming malnourished, and dehydration and malnutrition can cause serious complications ranging from birth defects to premature labor. Bernstein says it’s important to contact your doctor when you experience severe nausea. There are safe medications your doctor can prescribe for controlling nausea. Your doctor may also advise some dietary changes to help you find food you can keep down. Addressing the nausea and vomiting will allow you and your baby to get the nutrition you both need. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 3: The Baby’s Activity Level Significantly Declines What does it mean if your previously active baby -- the one that made you feel like the Incredible Hulk was about to burst from your abdomen -- seems to have less energy? “If your baby is not moving as much as it was, it could be that the baby is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients from the placenta," Bernstein says. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 3: The Baby’s Activity Level Significantly Declines continued... But how can you tell? Some troubleshooting can help determine if there is a problem. Bernstein suggests to first drink something cold or eat something. Then lie on your side to see if this gets the baby moving. Counting kicks can also help, says Nicole Ruddock, MD, an assistant professor of maternal and fetal medicine at University of Texas Medical School at Houston. “There is no optimal or critical number of movements,” she says, “but generally you should establish a baseline and have a subjective perception of whether your baby is moving more or less. As a general rule, you should have 10 or more kicks in two hours. Anything less should prompt a phone call to your doctor.” Bernstein advises calling your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor has monitoring equipment that can be used to determine if the baby is moving and growing appropriately. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 4: Contractions Early in the Third Trimester Contractions could be a sign of preterm labor. “But a lot of first-time moms may confuse true labor and false labor,” Ruddock says. False labor contractions are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. They’re unpredictable, non-rhythmic, and do not increase in intensity. “They will subside in an hour or with hydration,” Ruddock says. “But regular contractions are about 10 minutes apart or less and increase in intensity.” The important thing, though, is to not take a chance with your or your baby’s safety. If you are having -- or even think you are having -- contractions during the third trimester, call your doctor right away. If it is too early for the baby to be born, your doctor has tools to stop labor. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 5: Your Water Breaks You walk into the kitchen for a drink and feel a flood of water rush down your legs. “Your water could have broken,” says Ruddock, “but during pregnancy the enlarged uterus can cause pressure on your bladder too. So it could be urine leakage.” Ruddock tells WebMD that sometimes water breaking is a dramatic gush of fluid, but other times it is more subtle. “If you are not sure if it is urine versus a true rupture of the membrane, go to the bathroom and empty your bladder," she says. "If the fluid continues, then you have broken your water.” This is the time to call your doctor or go to the hospital. Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 6: A Persistent Severe Headache, Abdominal Pain, Visual Disturbances, and Swelling During Your Third Trimester These symptoms could be a sign of preeclampsia. That’s a serious condition that develops during pregnancy and is potentially fatal. The disorder is marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine that typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. “Call your doctor right away and get your blood pressure tested,” Bernstein says. “Good prenatal care can help catch preeclampsia early.” Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 7: Flu Symptoms Pregnant women are more likely to get sick than non-pregnant women during flu season. That’s because pregnancy puts added stress on the immune system. In addition, pregnant women are at high risk for more serious complications from the flu if they get it. Bernstein says it’s important to know the symptoms which include: * Fever * Cough * Sore throat * Runny nose * Sneezing * Nausea * Vomiting * Diarrhea “Don’t rush into a hospital or doctor’s office where you can spread it to other pregnant women,” Bernstein says. “Call your doctor first.” He also says, “Talk to your obstetrician about the potential swine flu vaccine in advance of flu season. If a swine flu vaccine is in short supply, pregnant women are at the top of the priority list.” Moore adds that any fever greater than 101.4 degrees during pregnancy is a red flag for infection. “This is something we want to jump on sooner rather than later,” she says. "So call your doctor if you are running a fever so he or she can evaluate your condition and treat it.” http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/7-pregnancy-warning-signs |