10 Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore

Well, as they say, every human being is different and comes with the uniqueness of its own. Similarly, every pregnancy and pregnancy symptoms are different. For that matter, I am sure we all speak to lots of moms about their pregnancy experiences and you must have shared your own. But, there are times when you wonder if what you are feeling is normal or not. Well, pregnancy is a roller coaster journey with raging hormones and body changes. There are several symptoms and changes that you will notice as you sail through the nine months.Most women have healthy pregnancies and will deliver a healthy baby. However, it’s important to know symptoms which might pose a concern and warrants a call to doctor. These symptoms are not meant to scare a mom but to make sure you don’t miss a red flag that there’s a problem with your doctor.

Pregnancy Symptoms you should never ignore

1} Bleeding
Talking from my personal experience this can actually be freaking as mosts of us relate blood spot with something really bad. However, don’t stress as mosts of the time a tinge of blood is no big deal as its just a sign of implantation and stress or sex. However, at times it can also be a sign of something serious like placenta abruption or Previa, fetal distress or miscarriage. If you bleed due to any reason definitely notify your obstetrician immediately.

2} Baby Movements are less than usual
From the second trimester, your obstetrician will ask you to count the number of times your baby kicks. Your baby’s movements will get stronger and around 24 weeks, you might notice that he’s quiet during the day and more active at night.If the baby’s kicks are normal, then it is reassuring. A day of rest is normal for your little one inside. However, if you notice that your little one’s movements have drastically reduced (less than 5 in half an hour) it’s better to consult your doctor immediately. Also, a small tip, till you reach your doctor you can drink a cup of water or orange juice as temperature change and the sudden rush of sugar will cause the baby to move.

3} Gush of Fluid
In pregnancy, it is normal to have some amount of vaginal discharge. However, if you are experiencing a gush of fluid trickling down, this isn’t your usual pregnancy discharge. Especially if you are experiencing this before 37 weeks of pregnancy it can mean that your water has broken. If you haven’t followed into labor, make sure you visit your doctor right away.

4} Abdominal Pain
Those two pink lines bring in a lot of anxiety and some pains and aches which are expected in pregnancy as your baby gets bigger by the day. Your ligaments and muscles stretch a lot and cause a lot of discomforts. This is commonly called the round ligament pain which isn’t worrisome. However, if your pain is persistent and severe accompanied with bleeding or discharge pick up the phone right away. Cysts, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriages are also reasons which can cause severe abdominal pain.

5} Fever
Pregnancy isn’t a disorder but it’s a condition when you are most sensitive and vulnerable to common flu and cold. It’s quite likely that you might suffer from fever in these 9 months of pregnancy. However, you need to be careful if you have the fever which lasts longer that 24 hrs to 48 hrs as you need to see a doctor right away. Longer duration of fever could be a sign of infection which needs immediate treatment and cure.

6} Blurry Vision
Dizziness in pregnancy is normal, but the blurred vision that is persistent with headaches, ear pain, swelling or weight gain can be a sign of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia both of which need medical attention.

7} Swollen hands and face
Swelling is expected in pregnancy as every part in your body is getting bigger to accommodate the growing baby. However, it is important to pay close attention to your face and hands. Also, keep a close check on swelling on ankles and feet. Puffiness and excess swelling could be a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. Early detection is important with preeclampsia, so that baby (and you!) can be monitored closely, so if you see the swelling, make the call.Bring this to the attention of your doctor immediately.

8} Itching
Well, this is one thing which we tend to ignore even normally unless it’s persistent and bothering a lot. Similarly, this is also very common and nagging symptom in pregnancy which is supposed to be normal.Your skin may itch due to changing hormones, or simply because it’s stretched and dry. But if your itchiness is beyond control and you are having the sensation all over your body, it can be due to a liver disorder that can harm your little one. Talk to your obstetrician and get a special test to rule out “cholestasis”.

9)Excessive Weight Gain
This is one phase of a women’s life wherein she should not be much bothered about weight again as she is supposed to gain weight. However, if you put on more than 2kgs in a week, that could be another sign of preeclampsia. Do check with your doctor.

10)Increased Thirst
Well, this isn’t considered to be a major harmful symptom but it can have different implications. If you are suddenly thirsty and your wee is dark yellow it could be a sign of dehydration which means you to need to drink more water while you are pregnant. It can also be a sign of gestational diabetes which can cause risk of complications for you and your baby so do tell your doctor.

Trust me, pregnancy is the most beautiful phase of a women’s life. Don’t let your spirits go down due to these symptoms. However, it’s imperative that you keep a check on anything that seems unusual to you. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the above-stated symptoms may or may not be serious as per the stage of pregnancy.  Talk to your practitioner about which signs warrant’s immediate attention, which call for an emergency and which can be ignored as your pregnancy progresses.

Happy Parenting!