6 warning signs during pregnancy

Some pregnancy symptoms are normal, but others are cause for alarm and do need swift attention by a doctor to protect yourself and little Your Child.

1. Bleeding
In the first trimester, bleeding with cramping could be a sign of miscarriage. If you are bleeding, have severe pain, and you feel like you are going to faint, it could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy — fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. Ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening.

In the third trimester, bleeding with abdominal pain may indicate placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine lining.

Any bleeding during pregnancy needs immediate attention by a doctor.

2. Severe nausea and vomiting
It’s common to have some nausea when you’re pregnant. But if it gets so severe that you can’t eat or drink anything, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated. That can harm Your Child. So, always contact your doctor if you think your nausea is excessive.

3. Your Child’s activity level declines
Early in your pregnancy, you may feel a few flutters now and then. But as Your Child grows, the kicks should grow stronger and more frequent. Once you reach the third trimester, it is a good idea to start counting kicks. There is no optimal or critical number of movements, but you should have 10 or more kicks in two hours as a general rule. 

To get Your Child moving, you can drink something cold or eat something, as the change in temperature and blood sugar often spurs babies to move. 

If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped, contact your doctor

4. Contractions early in the third trimester
Contractions could be a sign of preterm labor. However, it could also be false labor — Braxton-Hicks contractions — which may confuse many first-time expecting moms. These contractions are often irregular and do not get closer together. Instead, they might stop when you walk, rest, or change position. 

On the other hand, true labor won’t stop despite moving or changing positions. They come at regular intervals and get closer together as time goes on. So if you’re having real contractions before your due date, call your doctor right away.

5. Your water breaks
If you feel a flood of water rush down your legs, it could be that your water just broke or that you’re leaking urine as a result of pressure on your bladder. Go to the bathroom and empty your bladder first. If the fluid is yellowish and smells of ammonia, it’s probably urine. If the fluid continues and it doesn’t smell or smell sweet, it’s probably amniotic fluid. In this case, your water broke, and it’s time to go to the hospital.

6. Severe headaches, abdominal pain, or visual disturbances during the third trimester
These symptoms could be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious condition that can develop after the 20th week of pregnancy. The disorder is characterized by high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine. Call your doctor right away. Catching preeclampsia early can improve the outcome.