Pregnancy Symptoms to Never Ignore

A. Vaginal bleeding

Early on in pregnancy it is normal to experience spotting or light bleeding and this is known as implantation bleeding, Spotting or very light bleeding without pain is common in early pregnancy. It usually resolves itself and is unlikely to harm your baby. but into your second trimester, if you have any bleeding it can be a sign of placenta previa or even a cervical infection, if you are ever in doubt then please contact your health care provider, as it is always better to err on the side of caution.

Even so, always check with 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 previa), 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 uterus. 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 labor, if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant.

In the later stages of pregnancy heavy bleeding is uncommon.

B. Abdominal cramping, backache, regular contractions before 37 weeks

Although these sensations may be perfectly normal Braxton Hicks practice contractions, if your contractions persist (i.e. don’t stop when you move or change positions) and become painful or regular, it may be a sign you are in preterm labor. In this case, it’s very important to contact your doctor right away. Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or stomach pain, or six or more contractions in an hour before 37 weeks (even if they don't hurt). If you start feeling these symptoms, drink some water and rest to see if they ease up or go away within an hour. If they don't, or if symptoms increase in intensity and last longer than an hour, call your provider. Some abdominal discomfort is to be expected as the baby grows and expands the uterus. Any sudden, unusual or persistent abdominal pain could be a sign of a problem, though. Early in pregnancy, abdominal pain may signal an ectopic pregnancy, a condition in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. When the egg implants in a fallopian tube, another name for it is tubal pregnancy. A baby can’t develop in the fallopian tube, and without treatment, the tube may rupture. Later in pregnancy, abdominal pain or cramping may be a sign of preterm labor. Some treatments may stop or slow premature contractions.

C. Leaking fluid

Premature rupture of membranes, also known as your "water breaking," can show as a trickle, steady leaking, or a gush of fluid from your vagina before your pregnancy is full-term. Call your provider right away if you notice this. Depending on how many weeks pregnant you are, your healthcare provider will advise on the best course of action. Once you’re full-term, your water breaking is a sign that labor has started. If you are leaking fluid from your vagina before 37 weeks it may mean that your waters have broken early. Contact your doctor or midwife. 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. If you have a midwife, there are specific situations that trigger a transfer of care to a physician. What’s most important is to make sure that you and your baby get the right care.

When your waters break after 37 weeks, you’re likely to go into labor within the next day or so. Call your midwife or OB-GYN 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 labor doesn’t start within 24 hours.

D. Severe swelling, visual disturbances, or rapid weight gain

Changes in vision, such as temporary loss of vision, blurred vision, or light sensitivity, may be linked to complications like gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Sudden, large weight gain (not related to overeating!) is linked to the possibility of preeclampsia. You may notice this weight gain is combined with swelling of the face and hands (edema). Remember, some swelling of your feet or hands may be normal, but should be monitored. Persistent swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than a little swelling in your hands, or severe and sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, particularly in the morning. (Swelling is a concern when you press your thumb into your skin, and an indentation remains for a few seconds.) Visual changes are common during pregnancy too. However, if you experience occasional blurriness or any other unusual vision symptom, including flashing lights, light sensitivity, or “spots” in front of your eyes that doesn’t clear up within a few minutes, tell your doctor. These symptoms can also be a sign of preeclampsia. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure and urine to see if preeclampsia is causing your symptoms, or if something else may be to blame. Nearly all pregnant women experience swelling of the feet and lower legs, particularly toward the end of pregnancy. Swelling of the face and hands is less common, and can be a sign of preeclampsia. If your face or hands seem puffier than usual, call your doctor, especially if you’re also experiencing other symptoms of preeclampsia, such as blurred vision and headache. Sudden weight gain—a gain of 2 to 5 pounds in a week—can also be a sign of preeclampsia. Tell your provider if your weight jumps more than expected.

E. Persistent itchy skin

intense itching that has no rash might be a condition known as cholestasis of pregnancy, this is a liver condition that can occur in late pregnancy, Here’s another (completely annoying) pregnancy symptom that could mean nothing at all, or it could indicate a risk to you and baby. Your skin could be itchy simply because it’s dry and stretched or because you have a rash called PUPPP, which is aggravating but not harmful at all. But if you have all-over itching, or your itchiness is severe, talk to your OB. They may have to do a special test to rule out cholestasis of pregnancy, a rare liver disorder that can cause serious issues, such as preterm labor and stillbirth. Before you panic, take a deep breath and know that according to Gordon, cholestasis impacts only about 0.3 to 5 percent of pregnancies.