Warning Signs Not To Be Ignored During Pregnancy | NextMamas.
A pregnant woman needs an extra amount of care and attention as she is not alone anymore. She carries a little human inside her who is a hundred times more vulnerable than the mother. A mother is bound to face many issues in her health as her body goes through massive changes which become the reason for many health problems too. Some of these issues are negligible as they are common occurrences in pregnancy, however, some symptoms that seem minor but are not and are disguised as small problems need to be checked and treated on an urgent basis. Here is a list of the most important signs that if ignored, can bring serious repercussions.
A noticeable decline in the fetal’s activities
Well, the baby in the womb usually starts moving and kicking in the fifth month of pregnancy. But if the active baby suddenly starts showing the warning signs, for example, not moving as he did previously, you should definitely consult your health expert. There are some ways by which you can examine the status of the baby’s movement in your belly at home. First of all, you can eat or drink something cold and lie down on one side to observe the baby’s movements. If you still are not able to feel any sign of the baby’s activity that should prompt a visit to your doctor. Also, during pregnancy, a mother should keep a track of the count of kicks she notices. Although there is no set number of kicks that you are going to feel, typically, the expecting mother should be able to notice near about 10 kicks in the span of two hours.
Vaginal bleeding or spotting
If this happens in moderation, for example, a tinge of blood once in a blue moon, then the baby is out of danger. You should know that the cervix of a pregnant mother is a bit more fragile and sensitive. And If you have intercourse during pregnancy, or go for a vaginal examination, the cervix gets irritated and you can experience blood spotting. But if the bleeding does not go away and it requires you a pad to hold the blood, do not wait and get a check-up done as soon as possible. Excessive vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is a big deal as it can lead to miscarriage, therefore, it should not be ignored at all.
Excessive discharge
When you are pregnant, the vagina emits a watery discharge continuously that leads to a regular feeling of wetness down there. However, if the fluid emission is immoderate, the doctor should be immediately told about it. During the third trimester, these signs intimate you about the approaching labor but if you feel it in the early stages or in the mid of your pregnancy, it is absolutely abnormal.
A constant feeling of pain in the abdomen and vague vision
If you experience any one of these signs while you are in your third trimester, you should schedule a health checkup. These symptoms can lead to a grave condition called preeclampsia. This disease can make a room in your body after the 20th week and is usually marked by an extra amount of protein in the urine and by high blood pressure. So, get yourself tested if you experience hazy vision and abdominal pain.
Tenderness and pain in the legs
A pregnant woman’s hormones change at an exponential level and due to these changes, she always remains at a high risk of developing blood clots in the veins of the legs. These clots are responsible for the occurrence of pain in the legs. To treat them, she should not skip physical movements and should walk daily. But the red flag is if the woman feels pain in just one leg with swelling and redness. These cramps can migrate to the heart, brain, or lungs too. you should not take this sign highly and contact the health adviser.
If it hurts while urinating
Well, this symptom has got nothing to do with your frequent urination complaint. Urinating more than normal times is entirely common. But the matter of concern is if it burns or pains while vacating your bladder. This complication can be an indicator of UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) which is very common in many pregnant women. But if this is not treated at an early stage, the mother can fall prey to kidney infection. Not paying heed to this issue can cost you a lot.
Early Contractions
Some mothers notice false labor alarms that are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. They sometimes confuse these contractions with true labor. These false labor signs are usually not intense and do not happen periodically. Even these can be treated by taking enough water as one of the causes of their occurrence is dehydration. The occurrence of these contractions after every 10 minutes with increased intensity is what expecting women should worry about.
Constant vomiting and nausea
Nausea and regular vomiting drains all the energy from a mother’s body. If you are not feeling nausea on a severe level, you and your baby are completely fine as it is a very definition of pregnancy. But the treatment is needed if the mother is unable to keep down any eatable she consumes and throws it up immediately after having it.
Difficulty in breathing
If breathing gets shorter and you feel it hard to breathe normally, is more likely that there is something wrong with your lungs or the heart. During pregnancy, the uterus expands and this tendency puts pressure on the lungs and diaphragm of a mother. The severity of shortness of breath is what needs to be examined right away. If you face any of these issues, that can a warning sign. Keep your health experts updated about any of the issues and comply with every instruction they give you. Also, share this with those who need to know these signs and help us spread awareness about it.
Author: Dr. Iram Gill
Dr. Iram Gill is an MBBS doctor by profession and a Content Writer by passion. She is a mother as well and has observed the health-related challenges faced by mothers and babies. She wants to play her part in increasing access and support for breastfeeding and maternal health problems.
