This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo about concerning pregnancy symptoms.
Being pregnant plays havoc with your body and you are going to go with so many different changes. Getting used to your new body and dealing with all of the different symptoms can be difficult but the thing that gets you through is knowing that they should all subside once the baby is born. Then you have a whole new set of challenges to deal with. But there are certain pregnancy symptoms that are not ordinary and need immediate medical attention. The problem is, when your body is going through so many changes, it’s hard to know which symptoms are standard pregnancy symptoms and which ones you should be more concerned about. These are the pregnancy symptoms that you need to be worried about.
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Concerning Pregnancy Symptoms
Bleeding
Bleeding is a symptom that is always serious, no matter when it happens during pregnancy, so you need to get seen by a doctor right away if you notice any bleeding at all. Depending on what stage of your pregnancy you are at, bleeding can indicate a few different problems, depending on what stage of your pregnancy you are at. If it happens in the first trimester, and you experience cramps or feeling like you are going to faint, this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. This is when the fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus, it implants somewhere else. In some cases, this can be life-threatening so it’s vital that you go to the doctor immediately.
Heavy bleeding in the first or second trimester, coupled with severe cramps, could also be a sign of a miscarriage. Bleeding in the third trimester could mean that you are suffering from placental abruption, which is when the placenta separates from the lining of the uterus. These are all very serious problems so if you notice bleeding of any kind, no matter how minor, you need to see a doctor.
Aching Legs
This is one that is fairly normal during pregnancy but it is more serious for some people and it requires medical attention. As you gain weight and go through hormonal changes, you may experience aching and heavy legs during pregnancy, especially during the summer months. It tends to be a pain in the calves that is worse towards the end of the day. In some people, it is only a minor problem but others find that the problem gets quite bad. It can be affected by hereditary factors as well as excess weight before the pregnancy. If the pain is particularly bad, you might need some treatment.
There are a few things that you can do yourself to relieve the pain. Firstly, you should try to do some light exercise during pregnancy if you can. Taking a short walk, for example, will help to improve the circulation in your legs and relieve that heavy feeling. You should also make sure that you are wearing shoes with a small heel and try to avoid anything that is too tight-fitting around the legs.
If none of that works and the pain is still a problem, you should speak to your doctor. They may recommend compression socks to improve circulation and some leg exercises that you can do. In some cases, they will prescribe a medication to relieve the problem. If you develop varicose veins during pregnancy and they persist after the baby is born, you should return to the doctor and speak with them about it.
Severe Nausea And Vomiting
Morning sickness is a normal part of pregnancy and everybody has to deal with it. However, if you experience severe nausea and vomiting, that might be a cause for concern. Morning sickness usually starts at around week 6 of the pregnancy and stops by week 12. People vary, but it is usually during that period somewhere. If you continue to experience nausea and vomiting afterwards, or the morning sickness is particularly bad, you should see a doctor. If you are constantly being sick throughout the day and you are finding it hard to eat or drink anything, you run the risk of serious dehydration, which is not good for you and your baby. Speak to your doctor about prescription medication to relieve your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest some changes to your diet as well.
Decrease In Baby Activity
When your baby starts kicking and moving around, it’s important that you take notice of how active they are. All babies are different and some will be more active than others, so you don’t need to worry if yours has never been that active. Although if you feel fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours, you might want to speak to the doctor. The thing that you really need to look out for is a decrease in their activity. If they were previously kicking a lot and then they suddenly stop, that might be a sign that there is a problem.
You can check activity levels if you drink something cold or have something to eat and then lay on your side. This should encourage some movement from your baby but if this doesn’t work, you should call the doctor. They will give you a scan to check that the baby is developing properly and see if there is anything that you need to be worried about.
Early Contractions
If you experience contractions early in your third trimester, you might worry that the baby is coming early, but that isn’t always the case. A lot of women experience Braxton-Hicks contractions or false labor contractions. These false contractions will be unpredictable and they won’t increase in intensity. They usually pass within the hour and hydration can help as well. But if the contractions start to increase in intensity and they are coming at regular intervals, you should call the doctor right away as they may be able to stop the labor if it is too early.
It’s always scary when unexpected symptoms come up but most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. However, if you experience any of these symptoms, you need to see a doctor right away.
