Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,143,328 members, 7,780,848 topics. Date: Friday, 29 March 2024 at 12:25 AM

Pregnancy Symptoms You Should Never Ignore - Health - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Health / Pregnancy Symptoms You Should Never Ignore (1908 Views)

5 Common HIV Symptoms In Men You Should Not Ignore / My Wife Has Pregnancy Symptoms But Not Pregnant, What Could Be Wrong With Her? / 4 Health Signs You Must Never Ignore (2) (3) (4)

(1) (Reply)

Pregnancy Symptoms You Should Never Ignore by ProfDumbledor(m): 4:50pm On May 23, 2016
Even if you've read lots about pregnancy and spoken to other mums about your pregnancy symptoms, there will still be times when you wonder if what you're feeling is normal or not.

The following pregnancy symptoms should set off a few alarm bells. If you experience them you should call your midwife, doctor or your maternity unit straight away.

I have a pain in my middle
Severe or sharp pain in your middle or upper tummy, with or without nausea or vomiting could mean one of several things. You could have severe indigestion, heart burn a stomach bug, or it could be food poisoning.
If you're in the second half of your pregnancy this pain could indicate pre-eclampsia (, a serious condition that requires immediate attention.

I have a pain in my lower belly
Severe pain on either side or both sides of your lower belly needs investigating to be sure it's nothing serious. You could have pulled or stretched a ligament, which is common in pregnancy.

Less commonly, it may be a sign of:


• an ectopic pregnancy- a pregnancy in which the fetus develops outside the womb, typically in a fallopian tube.
• miscarriage
• premature labour
• a fibroid breaking down and bleeding into itself
• placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the lining of your womb (uterus)
I have a fever
If you have a fever and your temperature is above 37.5 degrees C, but with no flu or cold symptoms, call your doctor the same day.

If your temperature is more than 39 degrees C, call your doctor straight away. You probably have an infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and rest. If your temperature rises higher than 39 degrees C for a long time it may be harmful to your baby.
My vision is blurred and I see flashing spots
Call your doctor or midwife if, in the second half of your pregnancy, your eyesight is affected by:


• double vision
• blurring
• dimming
• flashing spots or lights before your eyes

These visual disturbances may be a sign of pre-eclampsia

My hands and feet are swollen
Swelling or puffiness (oedema) in your hands, face and eyes is common in late pregnancy. In most cases it’s not a cause for concern. But if your swelling is severe or comes on suddenly, along with a headache or problems with your vision, you may have pre-eclampsia. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your doctor or midwife straight away.

I have a severe headache that won't go away
If a bad headache lasts for more than two hours or three hours, and you have visual disturbances and severe swelling in your body, you may have pre-eclampsia. If pre-eclampsia occurs, it is usually in the second half of your pregnancy or soon after your baby is delivered.

I have vaginal bleeding
Spotting or very light bleeding without pain is common in early pregnancy. It may be breakthrough bleeding, which happens when the hormones that drive your menstrual cycle continue strongly enough to cause light bleeding. Try not to worry if this happens, as it usually resolves itself and is unlikely to harm your baby.
Even so, call your doctor or midwife if you bleed at any stage during your pregnancy. It may indicate a serious complication if it is:


• Bleeding that's different from your normal period, so lighter in flow or darker in colour than usual. This, with severe, persistent, one-sided pain in your tummy, may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy
• Heavy bleeding, combined with persistent back pain or abdominal pain. This may be a sign of miscarriage
• Sudden, painless bleeding. This may happen if you have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia) (, which will have been seen at your 20-week scan.
• Fresh or dark bleeding with or without clots in later pregnancy could mean you have placental abruption (. This is when the placenta starts to separate from the wall of your womb. Depending on the position and extent of the separation, it can cause either a small amount of bleeding or a gush, as well as pain and tenderness Heavy bleeding may mean you're going into premature labour, if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant

In the later stages of pregnancy heavy bleeding is uncommon.
I'm leaking fluid from my vagina
If you are leaking fluid from your vagina before 37 weeks it may mean that your waters have been broken early. Contact your maternity unit so that a doctor or midwife can check on your baby's health. You may need treatment if there are signs of an infection.
Once your waters have broken, your baby has less protection against infection. Or you could already have an infection that has made your waters break. You may need to prepare for a premature birth. You'll have a specialist team on hand in the hospital to make sure you and your baby get the right care.

When your waters break after 37 weeks, you’re likely to go into labour within the next day or. Call your midwife or maternity unit to tell them what's happened. You'll probably be asked to go to hospital to be checked over, and to discuss what's best to do if your labour doesn't start within 24 hours
I'm suddenly really thirsty
If you're suddenly thirsty, and your wee is dark yellow, it could be a sign of dehydration. You need to drink more fluid when you're pregnant. If you're thirsty and weeing a lot more than usual it could be a sign of gestational diabetes although this often doesn't cause symptoms.

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of complications for you and your baby so tell your doctor or midwife.
I feel a burning sensation when I wee
You may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) if you:


• feel a painful or burning sensation when weeing
• have a frequent urge to wee, even if you've only just been, and may be wetting yourself when you get the urge
• pass cloudy, bloody or smelly wee
• have nausea, tiredness and cold sweats
• have a pain in your lower abdomen, or feel achy all over

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor, as she can give you antibiotics to treat your UTI.
I'm constantly vomiting
Vomiting more than a couple of times a day could dehydrate and weaken you, although it's unlikely to hurt your baby. You need to speak to your midwife or GP about severe and persistent vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum), especially if you cannot tolerate any food or drink. You may need treatment, possibly in hospital.

If you're vomiting during the second half of your pregnancy, you may also have severe pain just below the ribs, and sudden severe swelling in your face, hands or feet. These symptoms may be a sign of pre-eclampsia Vomiting accompanied by diarrhoea could be a sign of food poisoning or a tummy bug. If you're vomiting, feverish and have pain in your side, lower back or around your genitals, it could mean you have a kidney infection. If you have these symptoms you should contact your doctor.
I feel faint and dizzy
Fainting or feeling light-headed may be a sign that you haven't eaten enough that day. But it could also mean that you have low blood pressure, which is common in early pregnancy. That's because the pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the walls of your blood vessels.

Many women feel dizzy during pregnancy. But if you faint, see your doctor afterwards to make sure all is well.
My baby's movements have slowed down
If your baby's movements stop or slow down after 24 weeks it may mean he's in distresss. If you have noticed that your baby is moving about less than usual, contact your midwife or hospital, and if you're over 28 weeks do this immediately. Read more about your baby’s movement including when to seek help.

I itch all over
If you have severe itching all over, particularly at night, you may have obstetric cholestasis. OC is a condition of the liver. You may develop jaundice with OC, which can make your wee dark and your poo paler than usual.

If you have mild itching try not to worry too much. Some itching is normal as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby. However, it's best to have intense itching checked out. This is especially the case if the itching is worse at night and centers on the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands.
I fell and hit my belly
Falls or blows aren't always dangerous but call your doctor or midwife on the same day and explain what happened. If you slipped on the stairs and bruised your tailbone, you probably don't need to worry. Your baby is well cushioned by your womb and amniotic fluid. However, blows to your abdomen are more likely to result in complications, as are injuries to your bones, tendons or ligaments.
If you notice contractions, leaking fluid, or any bleeding, call your doctor or midwife right away, or go to your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E).

I just don't feel right
If you're not sure about a symptom, don't feel like yourself, or simply feel uneasy, trust your instincts and call your doctor or midwife. If there's a problem, you'll get help right away. If nothing's wrong, you'll go home reassured.  

Your doctor or midwife expects to get calls like these, and will be happy to give you advice. Your body is changing so rapidly that it's sometimes difficult to know if what you're experiencing is normal, or if it's something to worry about.

http://livehealthyafrica..com.ng/





References
Aguilera P. 2014. Pregnancy, round ligament pain. Medscape. www.emedicinehealth.com [Accessed March 2015]

BDA. 2013. Food fact sheet:fluid. The Association of UK Dietitians. www.bda.uk.com [Accessed March 2015]

Kenny LC. 2011. Antenatal obstetric complications. In Baker PN, Kenny LC. eds. Obstetrics by ten teachers. 19th ed. London: Hodder Arnold, 86-108

Cahill AG, Bastek JA, Stamilio DM et al. 2008. Minor trauma in pregnancy: is the evaluation unwarranted? Am J Obstet Gynecol 198(2):208.e1-5

Cannada LK, Pan P, Casey BM et al. 2010. Pregnancy outcomes after orthopedic trauma.J Trauma 69(3):694-8

Crafter H, Brewster J. 2014. Common problems associated with early and advanced pregnancy. In: Marshall JE, Raynor MD. eds. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 16th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 221-42

Dreier JW, Andersen AM, Berg-Beckhoff G. 2014. Systematic review and meta-analyses: fever in pregnancy and health impacts in the offspring. Pediatrics 133(3):e674-88

Gaufberg SV. 2013. Emergent management of abruptio placentae. Medscape. emedicine.medscape.com [Accessed March 2015]

HSCIC. 2013. NHS maternity statistics - England 2012-13. Main tables. Health and Social Care Information Centre. www.hscic.gov.uk [Accessed March 2015]

Murray I, Hassall J. 2014. Change and adaptation in pregnancy. In: Marshall JE, Raynor MD. eds. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 16th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 143-77

NCCWCH. 2008. Antenatal care: Routine care for the healthy pregnant woman. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health. London:NICE. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NCCWCH. 2010. Hypertension in pregnancy: the management of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Revised reprint January 2011. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, NICE clinical guideline. London: RCOG Press. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NCCWCH. 2012. Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management in early pregnancy of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, NICE Clinical Guideline. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NCCWCH. 2014. Intrapartum care: care of healthy women and their babies during childbirth. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, Clinical guideline, 190. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NCCWCH. 2015. Diabetes in pregnancy: management of diabetes and its complications from preconception to the postnatal period. Version 2.1. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, NICE guideline, 3. www.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NHS Choices. 2013. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NHS Choices. 2014a. Gestational diabetes. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NHS Choices. 2014b. Kidney infection. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed March 2015]

NICE. 2013. Nausea/vomiting in pregnancy. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed February 2015]

NICE. 2014. Urinary tract infection (lower) - women. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2006. Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes. Minor amendment October 2010. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 44. London: RCOG press. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2010. An ectopic pregnancy: information for you. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2011a. Placenta praevia, placenta praevia accreta and vasa praevia: diagnosis and management. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 27. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2011b. Information for you: a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia) after 20 weeks. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2011c. Antepartum haemorrhage. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 63. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2011d. Reduced fetal movements. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 57. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG 2011e. Obstetric cholestasis. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Green-top guideline, 43. London: RCOG press. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2012a. Information for you: when your waters break early. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2012b. Information for you: your baby's movements in pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2012c. Information for you: obstetric cholestasis. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

RCOG. 2014. Information for you: premature labour. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. www.rcog.org.uk [Accessed March 2015]

Trivedi N, Ylagan M, Moore TR, et al. 2012. Predicting adverse outcomes following trauma in pregnancy. J Reprod Med 57(1-2):3-8

van Oppenraaij RHF, Jauniaux E, Christiansen OB, et al, on behalf of the ESHRE Special Interst Group for Early Pregnancy (SIGEP). 2009. Predicting adverse obstetric outcome after early pregnancy events and complications: a review. Hum Reprod Update15(4):409-21. humupd.oxfordjournals.org [Accessed March 2015]

(1) (Reply)

I Need Help, I Think I May Be Suffering From Self Hate And Depression... / The Negative Effect Of Okra On Fertility - A Must Read / Where Can I Get Mistletoe Herbs, As Well As The Ionic Foot-detox Therapy?

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 34
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.