Belly Pain
Stomach pains are a normal part of pregnancy and can be brought on by indigestion, heartburn, a stomach bug or food poisoning. You could also be sore from the baby performing all those acrobatics inside you. However, if you develop a sharp pain in your central or upper belly, with or without nausea, during the second half of your pregnancy, it could indicate pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you develop severe pain on one or both sides of your lower belly, you should also get checked. While this could be nothing more than a pulled ligament, it could be a sign that you are experiencing:
● An ectopic pregnancy
● A miscarriage
● Premature labor
● A fibroid breaking down and bleeding into itself
● Placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the lining of the uterus
Fever
If you develop a fever of 101 degrees or higher during pregnancy, you may have developed an infection. You should make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible, who may prescribe antibiotics and rest. Monitor your temperature. A high fever for an extended period can harm your baby.
Blurred Vision or Spots
Pregnancy commonly affects a woman’s eyesight. However, if you are in the second half of your pregnancy and you develop any of the following vision-related problems, it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia. You should contact a doctor immediately if you develop:
● Double vision
● Blurring
● Dimming
● Flashing spots
● Lights that last for more than two hours
Swollen Hands or Feet
Pregnant women often develop swelling or puffiness in the hands, ankles, face and eyes late in pregnancy. Most of the time, this is just a normal symptom of late pregnancy and isn’t a cause for concern. However, if swelling is severe or comes on suddenly, especially when accompanied by a headache or vision problems, you may have pre-eclampsia. Call your doctor immediately for an evaluation.
Severe or Persistent Headache
If you are in the second half of your pregnancy and develop a strong headache that lasts for more than two to three hours, especially if you are having vision problems and/or severe body swelling, you may have pre-eclampsia.
Vaginal Bleeding or Fluid Leakage
Spotting or light bleeding is common during early pregnancy, often as a result of breakthrough bleeding, when the hormones that drive your menstrual cycle continue strongly enough to cause light bleeding. However, you should report any bleeding to your doctor or midwife. You may be experiencing a pregnancy complication if:
● You have bleeding that’s different from your normal period -- with lighter or darker flow or a darker color. If this bleeding is accompanied by persistent, severe, one-sided belly pain, you may have an ectopic pregnancy.
● Heavy bleeding, combined with persistent back or abdominal pain may be a sign of a miscarriage. Contact your healthcare provider right away.
● Sudden, dark bleeding with clots could be a symptom of a placental abruption, which happens with the placenta separates from the wall of your uterus. It can also be a sign of premature labor if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant.
If you are leaking fluid from your vagina, it may be a sign that your water has broken. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, you will need to see a doctor, who can examine you and check on your baby, as well as providing care to prevent a serious infection. You may have to be induced and deliver prematurely.
If you are farther along in your pregnancy than 37 weeks and you experience vaginal leakage, you’re probably right on schedule for labor. However, if labor doesn’t start within 24 hours of your water breaking, you should visit the ER so that they can evaluate you and possibly induce labor.
Sudden, Insatiable Thirst
Sudden thirst, especially when accompanied by dark yellow urine, is a sign of dehydration. However, if you have a sudden, insatiable thirst and you are urinating more often than usual, it could be a warning sign of gestational diabetes. Because gestational diabetes can put your baby at risk, it’s important that you contact your doctor or midwife to get tested.
Feeling Faint or Dizzy
Fainting and feeling light-headed are both relatively common, unfortunate symptoms of early pregnancy. They could indicate that you haven’t eaten enough that day, causing a drop in your blood sugar, or that you have low blood pressure, which is also common, because progesterone, a hormone released by the body during pregnancy, relaxes the walls of the blood vessels. If your dizziness is severe or persistent, or if you feel faint, make sure you schedule an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation. He or she can rule out major complications, and may check your blood sugar levels and blood pressure to help you develop a plan to minimize this uncomfortable symptom.
My Baby’s Movements Have Slowed
Babies are little acrobats in the womb, so when they slow down for periods of time, some mothers get concerned. While babies go through periods of rest, just like their moms, if your baby’s movements stop or slow down for a period of more than 24 hours, after the 21st week of pregnancy, it could be a sign of fetal distress. If your baby slows or stops for more than a day, contact your doctor or visit an emergency room to have an ultrasound and other tests to check on the well-being of the child.
Severe, Generalized Itching
If you’re pregnant during winter months or live in an arid climate, a certain amount of dry skin and itchiness is normal during pregnancy. However, if you have severe itching all over your body, especially itching that gets worse at night that is worst on the soles of your feet and palms of your hands, you may have obstetric cholestasis (OC). Other symptoms of OC include dark urine and pale bowel movements. These symptoms may also indicate jaundice.
Extra: Feeling “Off”
If there’s one thing you probably won’t feel during the duration of your pregnancy, it’s feeling like yourself. By the time morning sickness wears off, you’ll start having back pain as your belly continues to expand, and so forth. However, you know your body better than any doctor or health writer. If you aren’t sure about a symptom but you don’t feel right and the symptom makes you anxious, trust your gut and call your doctor right away. If you’re healthy, then you’ll get the reassurance you need and learn about one new symptom you can add to your fish tale list for your child’s later years (e.g., “You wouldn’t believe what I went through when I was pregnant with you!”) However, if there’s a problem, you’ll get the help you need right away so that you can tell those tales for decades to come.