
WARNING SIGNS YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR DURING YOUR PREGNANCY
Written by Feba Maryann
As you get ready to welcome your baby into the world, there could be a time when you could worry about some of the complications you might experience during pregnancy. Most changes are mostly normal. Each woman’s pregnancy experience will be very different, some may experience severe symptoms and some may not.
Here are some warning signs you need to look out for. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider right away. Some may just be normal, but you can never be too cautious, especially when it could be life-threatening. If you feel like something is wrong with both you and your baby’s health, get it checked right away.
1. Physical Discomfort
As your body starts to support another life in your womb, you might start to feel minor physical discomforts like backaches, leg and head pain.
Headaches can be caused by stress, fatigue and hormonal changes. Severe headaches could be a sign of pre-eclampsia which is a high blood pressure disorder, so seek medical help as soon as possible to prevent any causalities. Abdominal pain associated with chills or fever is an indicator of something wrong.
2. Blurred Vision
Even if it isn’t a serious problem, it is nerve-wracking, make sure you get help so that you can give your eyes some rest. Changing hormones is the root cause of blurry vision. Loss of vision, light sensitivity or blurred vision are probable symptoms of gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia. Notify your doctor about any changes in vision, it’s better to take precautions than having to live with the after-effects.
3. Mood Swings
Being pregnant can make you feel like you’re on an emotional roller-coaster ride for the 9 months of your pregnancy. Your mood changes because of stress, changes in metabolism, or fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone. Some women feel depressed and overwhelmed when pregnant, so it’s important to speak to your healthcare team early on. These are a few ways that can help you to control your stress level.
- Eat healthy meals
- Take frequent breaks from your daily activities
- Invest your time in doing stuff you like painting, cooking etc.
- Meditate or go for pregnancy yoga classes
4. No Baby Movement
Women feel their baby turning between 18 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. Monitor your baby’s movements by the time you reach your third trimester. Lie down and time the periods between 10 consecutive kicks. Keep track of each movement and record it. If very less or no movement is felt by 24 weeks, consult your healthcare provider immediately.
5. Bleeding
During the early weeks, many women experience spotting which is called implantation bleeding. This happens when the embryo is in the process of implanting itself into the wall of the uterus. This lasts up to a maximum of 3 days, after which it will stop on its own.
This is also a sign of ectopic pregnancy. When the fertilised egg attaches itself outside the uterus, it is extremely dangerous. Bleeding is also known to be a symptom of vaginal infection or placenta previa.
Call a doctor up if your bleeding is accompanied with abdominal pain, dizziness or rectal pressure.
6. Itching
Intense itching without visible rashes might be an indicator of cholestasis of pregnancy. Cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver condition triggered by pregnancy hormones that are sometimes seen in late pregnancies. This should be constantly monitored by your doctor as it can cause the baby to be born early or have lung problems.
If your stomach is itching, it is probably because of the growth of your baby. As your baby grows, your skin stretches, making it dry which causes your belly to itch.
7. Frequent urination
Pregnant women might sometimes need to use the loo frequently. This is because of the pressure the growing baby exerts on their bladders. Hormonal changes also contribute to this.
Some women feel a burning sensation while they urinate which may be a sign of urinary tract infection (UTI) Chills or fever are other symptoms of UTI. Your doctor will be able to treat the infection if it exists before any complications arise
If you experience any one of these symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately. As pregnancy comes with some risks, be sure to keep regular health cheques. Make frequent visits to your GP or gynaecologist to reduce your risk.
This way, you won’t have to be anxious throughout your pregnancy, if any problems arise, it can be taken care of in the best way possible.